With so many platforms and outlets for communication, the marketing sector has grown to be a very broad field.

Marketing used to happen through the radio and television. Now, it primarily takes place online, where most of us spend our time.

Nowadays, there are dozens of different ways to market your brand, products, and business to a target audience.

Whether you are seeking new ways to drive traffic to your business site or you want to create an online course for free, we’ve got a comprehensive list of the top types of marketing strategies.

For more insight into how to market your new business, check out our article 22 Marketing Ideas for Startups! Here, you’ll find all you need to connect effectively with your target audience.

Types of Marketing

Before you create an online course for free or launch into marketing your brand, take at the different types of marketing strategies.

Although some marketing strategies are more effective than others, it is a great idea to diversify your approach.

Think about it. People who you may attract from one type of marketing may not have been caught by other types.

Companies that only focus on one or two types of marketing lose out on making connections. Therefore, their businesses don’t grow as quickly as those who use a variety of marketing strategies.

There’s no better way to find out what works best for your business than to test the waters!

By subscribing to a variety of different marketing strategies, you can efficiently connect with a broader audience.

Online Marketing

There are three types of marketing that fall under the umbrella of “digital marketing.” Online marketing, or digital marketing, refers to any type of marketing efforts conducted in the online space.

This includes social media marketing, email marketing, and even content marketing.

Influencer marketing and brand marketing are subcategories that can also be considered digital forms of marketing. You’ll read all about these later in the article!  

According to Datareportal, there are about 5.03 billion Internet users, which is around 63% of the world's total population.

With so many people scanning the Internet on a daily basis, it would be insane for businesses to ignore the potential for online marketing.

So, if you own a brick-and-mortar business or brand, consider heading online to attract more customers!

Social Media Marketing

Under the umbrella of digital marketing, social media marketing has quickly grown into one of the top types of marketing.

Think about how much time you spend each day on social media. You’re not alone!

Billions of people browse various social media apps every day. Therefore, businesses and brands should head straight for the top platforms to benefit from the marketing potential!

Need help getting started? Head to How to Create Content for Social Media for our top tips!

Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, etc., all provide trending ways in which businesses can advertise their services and goods.

Check out this Expert Guide to Create a Twitter Marketing Strategy for your Brand in 2022 for more Twitter-specific insight!

Content Marketing

From videos and images to blog posts, this form of marketing involves sharing some type of visual that your audience can digest.

By giving viewers something to watch, view, or read, you’re essentially entertaining them in a way that is relevant to your brand or product.

Wow your audience and influence them to make a purchase of your product or services through content marketing.

Start a blog, launch a YouTube channel, or even regularly post vibrant pictures on Instagram.

These efforts will also help you position yourself as an authority in your field. Customers love feeling as though they are purchasing from experts and professionals who know what they are doing.

There’s no better way to show your target audience that you’re an expert than to create informational content!

By testing out all of the forms of content marketing, you will quickly gauge what works for your audience and what doesn't.

Search Engine Marketing

Through paid ads, you can perform search engine marketing to increase your chances of driving traffic to your site.

Although search engine marketing often requires some money upfront, it can be quite beneficial as people are more likely to see your site when they search certain terms.

In addition to pay-per-click advertising, businesses can improve their chances of being found through search engines through search engine optimization (SEO).

This allows people to stumble organically upon her site when they search for your industry or a product you sell.

Email Marketing

Sending compelling and enticing emails to potential customers is a great way to market your business and products!

Email marketing includes gathering emails and sending ads, newsletters, and even videos to persuade viewers to “click” and make a purchase.

Consider sending your potential customers an exclusive coupon for signing up with their email. Remember, people love feeling like they’re getting a good deal.

You can gather emails through opt-in forms on your website, among other strategies. Review our article about Cold Email Copywriting for more valuable information!  

If writing isn’t your strong point, that’s okay! Hiring freelance copywriters to help you generate fresh content for your business is a great way to save time and money while generating business.

To get started in hiring freelance copywriters, we encourage you to take a look at these 6 Things to Remember When Hiring an Email Copywriter.

Traditional Marketing

When you think of the word “traditional”, what comes to mind? Often, when we hear this word, we think about the olden times or how things used to be.

Well, the same sentiment can be applied to traditional marketing. Before digital marketing, there was traditional marketing.

This form of marketing encompasses all of the marketing types that do not involve the Internet.

Traditional Marketing Includes:

# Broadcasting (Radio)

# Trade Show Presentations

# Print (Newspapers, Pamphlets, Fliers, etc.)

# Billboards

# Telemarketing

# Direct Mail

# Television

Although Traditional Marketing is thought of as all of the original modes of advertising, it can still be quite beneficial to some businesses!

Plastering your business on a billboard for drivers to see on their way into your city is an excellent way to generate business.

Radio advertisements also remind locals that you exist and where to find your building.

Especially if you have a physical location for your brand or business, advertising to those local to you through traditional marketing can send customers straight to your location.

Inbound Marketing

There are 2 types of marketing that are known for really connecting with pinpointed customers and clients.

Inbound marketing and outbound marketing should be used in conjunction for maximum effects. Inbound marketing refers to any content that is geared towards creating personalized experiences for individual customers.

Tailored email campaigns and built-in self-service tools on your website are two examples where inbound marketing can be utilized.

Connecting with potential customers through informational blog posts is another example! There’s no better way to retain customers than to provide a custom experience for each person.

Outbound Marketing

Think about outbound marketing as getting as much information about your business to as many people as possible.

Rather than tailoring your content to individuals, you’re simply relaying information to allow your target audience to learn more about what you have to offer.

Many forms of traditional marketing are considered to also be outbound marketing. This includes cold calling, cold emailing, and even billboards.

In many ways, outbound marketing relies on people to be searching for your specific niche. Although it can be quite valuable, it should be paired with inbound marketing efforts.

Video Marketing

Video marketing is exactly how it sounds. Marketing your business, brand, services, or products through video!

Businesses can choose to advertise through television ads, which is a form of traditional marketing.

Or, they can head online to start up a YouTube channel, Instagram, or TikTok account. Social media platforms are pushing for more video content, and there’s a reason why!

People love watching videos of their favorite influencers and brands. As such, they’re willing to consume hours of short and long form videos.

The more video marketing content about a brand someone consumes, the more likely they are to make a purchase from that business.

Take a deep dive into video marketing by reading more about VSL Marketing.

Influencer Marketing

YouTubers, TikTokers, and Instagrammers have quickly become some of today’s biggest influencers.

Where celebrities used to be the center of attention, social media influencers are now ideal brand ambassadors.

As a brand or business, if you can make a connection with a prominent influencer, you’re golden!

That influencer can market your services and product to their following, which will give you access to thousands of potential customers you wouldn’t have accessed otherwise.

It’s important for businesses working with influencers to be respectful of influencer time and cost. You don’t want to become known as “that” brand that doesn’t pay.  

Even if you’re working with a micro-influencer, set a good tone by paying them what they’re worth.

In recent years, it has become apparent that many businesses expect influencers to work for free or on a very low budget.

Retention Marketing

Congratulations! You have attracted customers, and you’ve made sales. Now, how do you retain those customers? How do you turn them into loyal customers that come back time after time?

It’s one thing to make a sale. It’s another thing to have a hoard of loyal customers coming back for years to come and recommending you to their friends.

Retention marketing is geared towards those who are already your customers. This form of marketing provides customers with a personalized experience that entices them to come back for more.

After you've made a purchase from a business, have you ever received a follow-up email with a coupon? That’s retention marketing!

Through email, social media, and even direct messages, you can make customers feel appreciated. Going this extra mile will ensure those people come back to support you further.

Personalized Marketing

Using data, businesses can provide their target audience with a highly personalized experience. Amazon does this best when we log in to Instagram just to see a list of Amazon picks, selected just for our taste.

Of course, you have to pay these social media platforms and search engines for this level of marketing. Even though it costs, personalized marketing has been proven to be highly influential.

Tailoring your approach to subgroups within your target audience is an excellent way to “speak” to those individuals.

Appealing to exactly what they want to see is a quick way to get potential customers to click, add, and buy.

Brand Marketing

Rather than promoting individual products or services, try selling your brand. That’s right, make your brand the big seller.

Brands such as Nike, Lululemon, Apple, and even Trader Joes have cult followings based on their branding alone. People like the idea of belonging to a brand.  

Oftentimes, people who follow these brands don’t care if their purchase is the best choice. All they care about is that it contains the ideal branding.

Therefore, building up a solid brand reputation will have masses flocking to your site to buy everything and anything that will make them feel included.

Brand marketing is one of those types of marketing that may take quite a bit of time to accomplish. However, once you do, the benefits are endless.

Partner Marketing

Similar to influencer marketing, partner marketing involves another brand or business to help you promote your services, products, or business.

Ideally, partner marketing is mutually beneficial for the two brands who are joining together.

Whether you pay another brand or you both agree to swap advertisement services, both brands should benefit on some level.

In addition, the two businesses working together shouldn’t be direct competitors. Their products or services can be related, but it wouldn’t make sense for the brands to be in competition for business.

Examples of Partner Marketing:

# A workout clothing brand partners with a pre-workout brand

# A swimsuit brand partners with a company that sells sunscreen

# A makeup brand partners with a company that sells makeup bags

# A growing health food store partners with eco-friendly skincare brands

The possibilities are endless! Similar to partner marketing, there is affiliate marketing. Take a look at Affiliate Marketing; Everything You Need to Know for more details!

Controversial Marketing

Use this form of marketing wisely! There’s no doubt that the thought of stirring up a controversy makes many business owners shudder.

However, it can be quite effective in gaining attention (both positive and negative). Just to gain traction, many brands decide to publicly support political movements or figures.

For example, Goya foods, a prominent food company, experienced controversy when a leader of the company openly praised President Donald Trump.

Hobby Lobby has also experienced quite a bit of controversy over its religious-based business decisions.

With global warming at the forefront of our minds, many brands are choosing to promote politicians and political movements that support sustainability.

Brands considering controversial marketing should definitely weigh the pros and cons beforehand!

Music Marketing

Music marketing involves relating to your audience through music. Whether you create your own jingle or buy the rights to a popular song, there’s a variety of ways to market through music!

So many brands that are popular today have a jingle that will forever live in our minds.

McDonald’s “I’m Lovin It” tune, O’Reilly Auto Parts’ famous jingle, and even Folder Coffee's “The Best Part of Waking Up” won’t be forgotten anytime soon.  

Famously, Coca-Cola and even Pepsi partnered with celebrities such as Britney Spears and even Michael Jackson through music marketing efforts.

More recently, TikTok star Addison Rae can be found dancing to popular music to promote brands such as Samsung.

Through TikTok, brands can pair their content with trending songs to connect with audiences of all demographics.

Guerilla Marketing

Guerilla marketing was interestingly inspired by the term “Guerrilla Warfare”. Essentially, the idea is to use creative marketing strategies that shock, surprise, and stop customers in their tracks.

Innovating marketing tactics that send people running to your website can be quite challenging.

Brands such as Trojan and Buzzfeed are notable for designing shocking, yet successful, marketing campaigns.

There’s an art to effective Guerilla Marketing. Get started by reading Guerrilla Marketing: The Ultimate Inspiration Guide [9 Real-Life Examples]!

Types of Marketing: Frequently Asked Questions

Here at Legiit, we understand that marketing strategies can make or break your business.

As such, we’re committed to providing you with all the resources needed to pull off successful marketing campaigns!

We’ve answered your most frequently asked questions about marketing. Read on to see if your marketing question has been answered below!

What are the main types of marketing?

The 3 types of marketing that would be considered the “main” would be digital marketing, traditional marketing, and retention marketing.

Under these forms of marketing are a variety of other marketing strategies.

These three forms of marketing are considered the “main” forms, because they serve as the umbrella for other subcategories of marketing.

For example, digital marketing includes social media marketing, email marketing, and even content marketing.

Traditional marketing encompasses telemarketing, print marketing, and broadcasting. Similarly, retention marketing includes inbound marketing as well as personalized marketing.

It’s essential for brands to explore each form of marketing to determine what works best for their individual brand.

What are 4 C's of marketing?

Brands who successfully market their business often closely adhere to the 4 C’s of marketing. These terms serve as a reminder of what each marketing campaign needs to include to be effective.

The 4 C’s of Marketing:

# Company

# Customer

# Competition

# Consistency

Company, customer, competition, and consistency are the 4 C’s of effective marketing. All marketing strategies should focus on these four aspects.

For example, marketing campaigns should tell the target audience about the company. In addition, they need to be consistent and customer-focused to be effective.  

Furthermore, by focusing on what the competition is doing, companies can compare data to narrow strategies down to what is most effective.

Which type of marketing is the best?

The “best” marketing strategies are the ones that work for your individual niche and business. However, there are 7 types of marketing that have been most effective in the online space.

Best Types of Marketing:

# Content Marketing

# Brand Marketing

# Personalized Marketing

# Social Media Marketing

# Influencer Marketing

# Email Marketing

# Partner Marketing

The majority of the best marketing strategies take place on the Internet. This is because around 63% of the world’s population spends ample amounts of time browsing online.

Businesses who resist taking their brand online are quickly finding out what traditional marketing strategies are not sufficient by themselves.

Traditional marketing strategies are still quite effective when they are paired with digital marketing techniques.

What are the types of sales?

When businesses begin marketing their deliverables, it is important that they consider the types of sales they will make.

Whether they are selling directly to other businesses or are focused on individual customers, these facts should be factored into marketing tactics.

Types of Sales:

# B2B (business-to-business)

# B2C (business-to-consumer)

# SaaS (software-as-a-service)

# DTC (direct-to-consumer)

Although there are subcategories under these topics, these are the main types of sales.

Product creators who sell directly to consumers will have different marketing strategies than businesses that sell services to other businesses.

Likewise, companies selling software as a service (SaaS) will market themselves much differently than B2C companies.

Final Thoughts

Our team here at Legiit is passionate about helping businesses flourish in their respective niches. As such, we provide expert-level insight and freelance professionals to help you grow and expand.

Are you worried about hiring individual employees to help you run your business? Why not save some time and money and hire freelance experts?

By contracting projects to freelancers, you can rest assured knowing you are in expert hands.

Furthermore, you can relax knowing that you don’t have to spend time and money training someone to complete the job to your satisfaction.

Join us at the Legiit Official Facebook Group to connect with professional freelancers. From content writers to marketing professionals, we are a one-stop-shop for all of your needs.