What is a Marketing Channel?
Marketing products and services to end users is a vital part of any business. After all, a business cannot survive without clientele. Companies use various methods to get their message across to their customers, which all make up a part of the marketing channel. A marketing channel can be defined as the people, organizations and activities that make goods and services available to consumers.
Marketing vs. Distribution Channels
You may often find the terms marketing channels and distribution channels used interchangeably. While there is considerable overlap between the two (as methods of distribution should be a part of a marketing strategy), marketing channels are exactly what they sound like – ways to advertise your company. According to Tyler Willis, Vice President of Business Development at Unified, the distinction is this, ‘Marketers take an idea and spread it far and wide. Distributors build a channel that they control and that is used to connect things to people.’
Types of Marketing Channels
When it comes to marketing your products and services directly to consumers, the digital space is one of the biggest and most effective channels of marketing. Digital marketing has gone way beyond the traditional ‘internet banner ads’ with multiple different channels you can use to advertise your business. Read on to learn about the different types of marketing channels that can help you meet your marketing goals.
1. Digital Advertising:
Ads on various social media platforms or search engines like Google are a great way to reach highly targeted audiences. A huge advantage offered by online ads is that you can track every cent you spend and reallocate resources or change campaigns to increase ROIs at the click of a button. What we really love about online advertising is the ability to retarget potential customers who are on the fence to convert them into dedicated fans of your products.
2. Social Media:
Apart from placing advertisements on social media, social media platforms are a great way to reach potential clients organically through content that appeals to them. It also allows you, as a brand, to interact with them, making it a personal and conversational way of marketing.
3. SEO Marketing:
The first place people think of when they need information is the internet. A great way to let people know you exist is by having your website rank high up in the search results for particular keywords. The right SEO marketing strategy can be especially effective when you’re a growing local business.
4. Email Marketing:
Email marketing is back again. Automaton and AI have made sending personalized emails really easy. Effective email marketing campaigns have shown great ROIs. In fact, reports show that email marketing campaigns can deliver returns of $40 for every dollar spent.
5. Content Marketing:
Content marketing is an effective way of establishing yourself as an authority in your field. According to Statista, digital marketers worldwide agree that content marketing is the most effective digital marketing technique. Presenting content that is informative and interesting can mean you keep up engagement with your customers as they keep coming back for more.
6. Influencer Marketing:
Collaborating with the celebs of the digital world can make a huge difference in how your company is perceived. Social media influencers have the power to reach customers where ad-blockers cannot. Leveraging the authority of the right influencers builds trust with your target audience and can lead to more followers for your brand, which converts to customers.
7. Website:
It’s easy to get caught up in various marketing strategies and forget all about your website. Having a website that delivers a user-friendly experience to every visitor can have a huge impact on whether your leads convert to customers. You can also build custom landing pages and sales text for customers that originate from a particular place to aid conversions.
The right marketing channels make a huge difference in optimizing your marketing budget.
Agency Media has the expertise you need to streamline your digital marketing channels. We will take care of your website development, SEO strategy, video production, and even your digital ads. Let’s talk!