Which Marketing channels to choose - Part 1, Overview
2018-08-17
There are over a dozen marketing channels to choose from and the list continues to grow. Newer concepts, social networks and platforms are being designed and released all the time, but only a few of them ever actually reach a significant level.
Businesses need to be very careful in their marketing selection process. Trying to be the master of all could be too much to handle in the beginning and consistency is the key, as always, to marketing success.
Keep targets concise and they will be on track. Choose the channels that you think will best target the audience you want to reach and don’t worry about the rest. With the abundance of excellent analytic programs, it is easy to monitor your marketing success and you can change your approach at any time should you need to.
Here are some of the most popular marketing channels to choose from:
1. Content Marketing & SEO
A great website, well-written content, an active blog and keyword research is the way to kick off content marketing and search engine optimization. Content marketing and SEO are fundamentals of marketing today and an ideal way to boost organic traffic from all around the web. Download our free SEO report here
2. Online Advertising
Through search engines and social networks, the ability to advertise in various ways according to any budget has given corporations a new outlook on business. Pay Per Click (PPC), several ad networks and display ads, while retargeting people who showed interest, has expanded business all around the world.
3. Offline Advertising
Television, print media and radio have always been a highly effective way of getting the message across. Locally targeting clients can carried out through these channels.
4. Email Marketing
The ability to reach a huge demographic with a click of a button is possible through email marketing. Working on building a genuine email list of people who have shown interest in the business is a viable way of building a community.
5. Influencer Marketing
Big name celebrities are not the only widely recognized people now. There are so many bloggers, YouTubers, Instagrammers who have made a niche market for themselves and they are always looking for clients to help promote products and services
6. Events Online/Offline
From holding a speaker series in a university to doing it on YouTube or a webinar is a great way to pull in new potential clients. These events build credibility for a business, allowing new paths into business expansion.
7. Community Engagement
Building a community of likeminded people, businesses and others to come together and discuss shared interests is a great way to enhance outreach. Conferences and dedicated forums do not decrease business, but actually end up increasing it for everyone involved.
8. Referral Marketing
Establishing relationships and strategic partnerships with other businesses will ensure expansion for both. Not only does this help in getting new clients, but also in building key, long-term relationships.
Research over the years, experiences shared by successful companies and best practices have always pointed towards one thing - finding out which marketing channels would best suit a business’s current and future needs. Without it, everything remains to be a guessing game. Long term goals need to be at the forefront of your mind.