If you’re reading this, I assume you’ve already jumped into the world of online marketing and are now wondering: What are the different types of online marketing?
Well, the answer to that question is pretty simple. Just like there are various types of print marketing, radio ads, and television spots; there are also several distinct types of online marketing.
Let’s examine each form of online marketing and how to approach each one.
Blog Posting
If you’ve never given blogging a thought, you might assume that it’s just a form of content that appears on the website. But that’s not true at all. Blogging is a broad category that encompasses both traditional and digital forms of blogging (and sometimes even hybrid forms).
Traditional blogging is when a website publisher posts a steady stream of content to attract and engage an audience. These days, that often takes the form of a popular blog post that is republished on other sites and even sometimes turned into a best-selling book.
While that form of content can be found on any blog, the preferred method of delivering that content today is through digital channels like platforms like Medium.
Digital or content marketing is a type of marketing that focuses on creating valuable content that people want to read, watch, or listen to (and hopefully, share). This content could be delivered through a variety of platforms like email, websites, blogs, and podcasting.
The most obvious example of digital marketing is someone like Scott Heim, the President of SEO Company Nimble, who teaches his clients:
“Convert complex sales and marketing processes into automated workflows that can be scaled and reproduced across organizational boundaries.”
In other words, he helps businesses create content that people want to consume in order to drive their business forward.
Heim also advises businesses to focus on high-quality content and brand building when using this form of marketing. He argues that this strategy will make customers look at your product or service in a new light – potentially leading them to buy what you sell.
Why should you focus on brand building? Well, let’s take a quick look at the statistics. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 87% of consumers have a negative impression of companies that they feel do not treat them with respect. Further illustrating the need for a brand overhaul, research from the Digital Marketing Association finds that only 7% of consumers have a favorable impression of companies that they perceive as spammy.
That’s a lot of potential damage and a strong argument for brand loyalty.
Video Content
Blogs aren’t the only form of digital content that businesses should be using to grow their business. After all, people now browse the web with their eyes rather than their fingers, and video content gets a much better response from this audience.
According to HubSpot Blogs research, people on the web prefer videos to text based content. In fact, the audience is more likely to engage with videos, click on them, and even remember what they’ve seen than they are to engage with text based content.
With videos, you can utilize a variety of platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Kik to reach your audience. This means you don’t necessarily need to have a functioning video camera to shoot and upload videos to YouTube – all you need is a smartphone or tablet.
You can also use platforms like TikTok to quickly and easily create video content for your business.
And, speaking of platforms, remember: Communities are vital parts of the social media landscape, and you should definitely be engaging with your target audience on these forums to spread the word about your business. While you’re at it, why not even create a YouTube channel for the community you’re creating? That way, when they need information, they can come back and find the answers they’re looking for right where they are.
As with all forms of content, videos can be a great tool to establish your authority and gain credibility with your target audience. When done right, videos can also provide valuable insights into your industry and how you can better serve your customers.
Why should you establish your authority in your industry? Well, let’s take a quick look at the numbers: According to HubSpot Blogs research, only 5% of customers trust online reviews as much as they trust a personal recommendation from a friend. Further illustrating that most people trust brands and people associated with those brands, the research also finds that:
“73% of customers feel safer purchasing from established brands, while 48% prefer purchasing from brands with a clear identity.”
In other words, people want to support and associate with brands they know are going to be around for the long haul.
Product Review Blogs
Now, I’m not suggesting that every business needs to start an in-house product review blog, but if you’re looking for ways to diversify your online marketing efforts, why not? Especially, if you can find products that are relevant to your niche and have an audience that shares your enthusiasm for these products?
In this form of marketing, you’ll be reviewing products that are either directly related to your niche or are associated with brands that are popular within your niche. While you’re performing the reviews, you can also establish yourself as an industry expert by citing your relevant knowledge and linking to authoritative articles that back up your claims.
Why should you review products that are directly related to your niche? Well, if you can find a product that is a fit for your niche, you can potentially reach a more engaged audience that shares your interest in your niche. Further, if you can find a product that is not available in your area, your review will likely spark interest among your audience, who will then seek out the product or service you’re reviewing.
Why should you establish yourself as an expert in your industry? Once again, it comes back to establishing your authority within your industry. If you can become known as an expert, you’ll likely be able to secure interviews and even partnerships with relevant businesses. Further, if you can become a recognized authority on a specific subject, you’ll be able to cite that expertise when necessary. For example, if you’re doing a review on web hosting and the company you’re reviewing has a WordPress blog, you can integrate that expertise by citing specific requirements for a good WordPress hosting plan.
How to Blogging: Everything You Need To Know
If you’re looking to start a blog to build your business, how should you proceed? Where should you begin? What should you include? To help you answer these questions, let’s take a quick tour of the different types of blogs and how to create one that will serve your needs.
Traditional or general blogs are the foundation of any successful blog. These types of blogs are very easy to create and require only a small amount of expertise to run. They’re typically less than 500 words and include content that is either educational or entertaining. While there is no set formula for what makes up a traditional blog, these types of blogs include things like how-to articles, event coverage, product reviews, and the like.
As the name implies, a general or traditional blog should be focused on covering general topics and providing generally useful information. If you’re looking for more guidance, check out these blogs that cover SEO, content marketing, and social media.
Quasi-Traditional or Miscellaneous Blogs
If you’re looking for a place to publish your creative work, why not consider a miscellaneous or a quasi-traditional blog? These types of blogs are a bit of a hybrid between traditional and creative blogs. They might include everything from personal diary entries to illustrations or photography. However, the content is not as structured or as analytic as it is in a traditional business blog. For instance, a good creative blogging platform like Squarespace makes it easy to set up a free blog in no time at all. With just a few clicks, you’ll have a fully functional blog in less than five minutes.
Although these types of blogs often include personal illustrations or photography, the content isn’t actually very personal. In fact, many of these blogs are published by marketing departments or company executives, who use the blog to demonstrate their thought process and provide insights into the workings of the company.
Creative or Artistic Blogs
If you have a creative streak, why not express it through a blog? There are many platforms designed for creative bloggers, like WordPress and Tumblr, so you don’t necessarily need to have your own blog to get started. You can simply log in to either of these platforms and start creating your art blog.