Marketing Channels That Are Still Effective for Businesses

[This article was written by Alex Alabiso.]

Thanks to the emergence of new technologies, business interactions have improved tenfold. Unlike a few decades ago where brands were limited to traditional methods of marketing, the advent of digital age has made it easier for companies to expand their reach. Now that entrepreneurs can drive more sales through social media, SMS, and other relevant digital platforms, a strong online presence has become a necessity.

With so many disciplines under the digital marketing umbrella, you may be wondering which platforms will be most effective for your brand. Being aware of your options and how they work will help you identify which channels will generate the highest returns. To help you allocate your budget effectively, this guide will discuss the most effective marketing channels for businesses.

4 Marketing Channels That Are Still Effective for Businesses

1.    Email

Due to the mainstream adoption of instant messaging applications, many business owners tend to think that email marketing is a thing of the past. While there’s no denying the relevance of Viber, WeChat, and other similar platforms, one shouldn’t believe in this false notion. Up to this day, email remains one of the most effective marketing channels you can utilize.

Many businesses prefer using email since it’s a direct and intimate way to get in touch with clients. By delivering personalized content and messages, brands are given several opportunities to showcase their value, drive sales, and eventually build a better relationship with their customers. To convince you on how effective it can be, research states that marketers who use segmented email campaigns were able to acquire a 760% increase in revenue.

2. Search Engine Optimization

Did you know that over 70 000 search inquiries are made on Google every second? Considering this staggering amount, your next customer is probably searching for solutions online. If you have a website, wouldn’t it be great if the people who require your services can find your page instantly? This is where search engine marketing comes in.

Studies show that 25% of searchers click through the first website that shows up on the search engine results pages (SERPs). Since most people are guaranteed to visit the top links, you have to find ways to place yourself in this position. Fortunately, this is highly achievable with the help of different search engine optimization (SEO) tactics. By creating relevant content or betting on pay-per-click (PPC) ads, improved placement will enable you to drive more traffic to your site.

3. Social Media

In this age of smartphones, social media use is at an all-time high. Since people always want to stay in the loop with their friends, it’s estimated that the average user spends around 2 hours and 22 minutes on social platforms daily. As a business owner, this statistic should give you an idea of social media marketing’s potential.

Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are incredibly powerful marketing tools for several reasons. Other than being cost-effective and easy to use, it has many useful features that allow you to have genuine interactions with your customers. Especially in the case of B2C brands, being available on social media will enable you to address issues, provide valuable information, and conduct other tasks that can personalize and humanize customer experience.

4. SMS Marketing

 Given that people are highly attached to their phones, more and more businesses are starting to see the value of SMS marketing. Just like email, SMS is non-intrusive and allows you to have intimate engagements with your leads. While responses aren’t always guaranteed, its open rate of 98% can be highly beneficial.

With the help of an SMS gateway, businesses can make announcements and send new promotions with ease. Paired with other digital channels, a strong SMS campaign can be used to improve brand recall and drive future transactions. While it may not be as popular as other digital platforms, the relevance of mobile devices will make it an effective channel for years to come.

Choosing a marketing channel to promote your business can be confusing when you have tons of options in front of you. But it would help if you know which platforms your target customers are using and how they are using them. This way, you can confidently invest in the best channels that can help you market your business to the right people.

Author Bio:

Alex built Semaphore‘s tech backbone and keeps it running smoothly. In his spare time, he grows hydroponic tomatoes and plays video games.