There are plenty of marketing strategies that are evolving consistently. Whether you’re new to marketing or a seasoned marketer, understanding the basic types of marketing can help create a good marketing plan.
Fractional Marketing
Fractional marketing is becoming increasingly popular with small to mid-size businesses. They offer marketing expertise without the full cost of hiring a senior marketer. A fractional marketer or a marketing team works with companies part-time or on a contract basis to help create a marketing strategy.
This method offers cross-functional support, high-level marketing insight, and scalability while being a
cost-effective option for companies with tighter budgets. Fractional marketing can work with any of the types listed below by ensuring each campaign aligns with the company’s goals and filling gaps within the company.
Business-to-Business Marketing (B2B)
B2B marketing strategy is to market your products/services to other businesses rather than consumers.
It lets other companies see the value of your products/services and how they can positively impact their return on investment (ROI) and profits. It’s able to build trust and create long-term partnerships between businesses. Companies can also do B2B and B2C, opening their business to a wider audience. Some examples of B2B businesses are Slack, Microsoft and Adobe.
Business-to-Consumer Marketing (B2C)
On the contrary, B2C marketing is marketing your products/services to the consumers themselves. It involves selling the products/services through e-commerce websites or retail stores. Its main strategy on advertising can include social media, email and/or physical flyers that are centred towards building brand awareness and creating sales. It builds an emotional connection with their customers, it highlights the benefits and values the customer receives from the product/service. Some examples of B2C businesses include Discord, Netflix and Amazon.
Traditional Marketing – Before the internet, businesses had to rely on traditional methods of using paper mail, phone calls or radio/television ads.
Print Advertising – This includes flyers, newspaper ads, billboards, postcards, and brochures. You might’ve gotten these in the mail advertising the local pizza place or seen one while reading through a magazine.
Broadcast Advertising – These are seen through television or radio ads. You might’ve heard one on the radio or seen one while watching TV.
Telemarketing – This is when people call to market their goods or services to potential customers.
Although digital marketing is taking the lead in marketing, traditional marketing is still effective for local businesses and the older demographic.
Digital Marketing
Digital marketing uses online platforms to market services or goods. It’s able to reach a broader audience as it can be found through many types of forms.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – By optimizing your website with SEO, you can rank higher on search engines like Google and possibly be the first link that shows.
Email Marketing – They send emails to potential customers or existing customers promoting their brand.
Social Media Marketing – It promotes ads on social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.
Content Marketing – This involves creating content such as blogs, vlogs and infographics to attract an audience or to keep their existing customers content.
Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC) – These can be found as online ads on websites such as Google.
Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Word-of-mouth is another strategy that relies on customers who share their positive experiences with your brand. Businesses encourage this marketing tactic by having excellent customer service, implementing referral plans, and creating happy customer testimonials. It is also low-cost as it relies on how customers see your brand and how your brand interacts with them.
Influencer Marketing
With the rise of digital media, so have influencers. Influencers have large followings, so sponsoring them can bring more awareness to a larger audience. If you’ve ever watched a video on YouTube or TikTok, they show that they have a sponsored brand that the influencer is promoting. This can positively promote your brand by showing that their favourite influencers are using it, which may make them want to use it too.
This marketing type is good for promoting long-term, as it builds brand awareness and trust. It encourages
long-term customer engagement through loyalty programs, personalized messages and excellent customer service.
Guerrilla Marketing
Guerrilla marketing uses unusual strategies to grab the audience’s attention in creative ways. This could include street art, flash mobs, interactive public setups or viral campaigns. It can be cost-effective and relies mostly on creativity. They’re often used for ‘edgy’ products and are targeted towards younger consumers as their more likely to respond positively. However, it has a high chance of failing and is more unpredictable.
Sponsorships
Hosting or sponsoring events is another way to market your brand. This type of marketing is dependent on customer engagement and can be a webinar, trade show, product launch or community event.
Similarly, affiliate marketing is when businesses collaborate with individuals or organizations to market their goods. They are often given affiliate links, which gives them a commission sale when they are used. This strategy is often used on e-commerce sites.
Experimental Marketing
Experimental marketing’s main goal is to have consumers interact with their immersive experiences. This type includes pop-up shops, interactive campaigns and hands-on products.
Final Thoughts
Marketing comes in many types and forms to choose from, with each having its own advantages and ideal use cases. By understanding and strategically combining them, businesses can make a complete marketing plan that successfully reaches their target audience.
Whether you’re choosing traditional or digital methods, knowing the difference and what’s best for your brand is the first step to a successful marketing strategy.
For more information about marketing strategies, book your free consultation here and we can have a chat about it together.