How are you marketing your product or service to your audiences? Is it working?
If you’re struggling to find the best marketing tactic for your business, or you just need some backup ideas for the future, look no further! We have a list of 35 of the best marketing tactics you’ll need to reach your current and future marketing goals. If your strategy answers the “why” behind your marketing practice, then tactics are the “what” that you’ll actually execute to achieve your goals.
Let’s dive in.
What Are Marketing Tactics?
Marketing tactics are the strategic actions that direct the promotion of a product or service to influence specific marketing goals.
Essentially, these are the high-level ideas. The content you create falls into your tactics.
Content types are not tactics. Nor are content types specific to a single marketing tactic.
For example, a marketing tactic is a case study. The content you create to execute that marketing tactic may include blog posts, white papers, and videos.
Use the following list to plan the strategic actions you’ll use to direct your content creation efforts.
35 Marketing Tactics You Need to Succeed
The purpose of this list is to help you choose the options you’ll execute to make your goal a reality.
Which of these are most likely to help you influence that goal? Which of these can you realistically execute?
Read this chapter, and at the same time, use the Marketing Tactics List tab in your marketing strategy template spreadsheet to document your chosen tactics.
Paid
Buying brand or content placement in a publication, website, search engine, social network, etc.
Common content types:
- Magazine ad
- Billboard
- Facebook ad
Pay Per Click (PPC)
A paid marketing tactic that displays digital advertising in media where you pay only when someone clicks on your content.
Common content types:
- Google AdWords ad
- Bing ad
- Retargeting display ad
Advertorial + Native Advertising
Typically a type of paid marketing tactic in which you buy placement of content that looks like the typical kind of piece that appears in a publication or other medium.
Common content types:
- Magazine ad
- Sponsored blog post
- Sponsored conference speech
Sponsorship
Also typically a type of paid marketing tactic in which you provide money in exchange for your brand representation in an event, etc.
Common content types:
- Event
- Podcast
- Webinar
Event Sponsors for the NFL Superbowl in Minnesota.
Endorsement + Influencer
When someone of fame publically provides positive review of your brand, product, or service.
Common content types:
- Ad
- Web page
Endorsement ad example on Selena Gomez’s Instagram for Coach.
Testimonial
A form of endorsement in which a customer provides positive review of your brand, product, or service, but need not have fame.
Common content types:
- Home page
- Signup page
- Social media message
Case Study
A positive customer story which typically details the problem they were facing, how your product or service solved the problem, and the results your solution produced for the customer.
Common content types:
- White paper
- Web page
- Video
LinkedIn Case Study Example for Callaway.
Advocacy
An earned marketing tactic in which a customer or fan shares positive sentiment for your brand, product, or service with others in your target audience.
Common content types:
- Social media message
- Blog post
- Meetup
Advocacy Example from Stitch Fix’s Facebook.
Referral
A cross between earned and paid in which you incentivize your customers or fans to share positive sentiment for your brand, product, or service with others in your target audience.
Common content types:
- Social media message
- Blog post
- Website badge
Referral Example for Barkbox.
Affiliate
A cross between earned and paid similar to endorsement in which you incentivize an influencer to share positive sentiment for your brand, product, or service with your target audience.
Common content types:
- Blog post
- Webinar
Crowdsource
A method of gathering ideas from your customers + target audience to create new content that attracts more prospects like your best fans.
Common content types:
- Blog post
- Podcast
- Webinar
Crowdsource Blog Post Example from Buzzfeed.
Engagement
The strategic connection to customers + target audience through content types that foster and build relationships.
Common content types:
- Social media message
- Blog post comment
- Survey
Event
A planned occasion in which you either physically or digitally meet your customers or target audience at a specific time.
Common content types:
- Conference
- Webinar
- Meetup
Event Example from Neil Patel.
Live Streaming
An event marketing tactic in which you record and share your meeting in real-time as it unfolds.
Common content types:
- Conference
- Facebook Live
- Podcast
Live Streaming Example From Our Facebook Live Video.
Personalization
Including the actual name of the person you’re communicating with in the content you’re sharing.
Common content types:
- Email subject line
- Website
- Popup
Personalization Example Via Facebook.
Marketing Automation
Strategically (and automatically) sending content to customers + target audience based on their activity and interests.
Common content types:
- Popup
- Ad
Co-Branding + Partnership
When your brand collaborates with another business to create content that attracts a mutually beneficial target audience.
Common content types:
- Webinar
- Podcast
- Ad
Co-Branding + Partnership Example With The S3 Agency in CoSchedule’s Podcast.
Content Curation
When you gather content from sources you don’t own (and mainly content you haven’t created) to share with your customers + target audience.
Common content types:
- Content hub
- Social media message
- Blog post
Content Curation Example via CoSchedule’s Twitter, sharing Social Media Examiner’s content.
Content Syndication
When you publish content first on your owned channel, then provide rights for other publications to republish your content.
Common content types:
- Article
- Video
- E-book
Syndication Example via CoSchedule’s Original Blog, then syndicated on Social Media Today.
Earned
When another brand, influencer, publication, etc. mentions or covers your brand, product, or service in content they create and publish.
Common content types:
- Article
- Social media message
- Podcast
Earned Example via Hubspot.
Gamification
Applying game playing techniques into content to engage your customers + target audience.
Common content types:
- App
- Quiz
- Ad
Gamification Example via Adweek.
Tool
Interactive content that helps your customers or target audience solve a problem.
Common content types:
- Analyzer/optimizer
- Calculator
- Tester
Research
Can be curated or original, presenting findings or answers to specific questions your customers or target audience often ask.
Common content types:
- Survey
- Report
- Blog post
Repurpose
When you take existing content and turn it into a new piece to maximize the work you’ve done with minimal effort.
Common content types:
- Blog posts into e-book
- Webinar into video
- Social media messages into blog post
Republish
When you publish the same piece of content in the same medium, often after optimizing it to increase its results.
Common content types:
- Social media message
- Blog post
- Course
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Developing content and enhancing your web properties to help those searching for specific information to naturally find your content.
Common content types:
- Web page
- Blog post
- Guide
Contest
An engagement marketing tactic in which you give your customers or target audience the chance to win something in exchange for their participation.
Common content types:
- Poll
- Social media message
- Landing page
Media Outreach
An earned marketing tactic in which you strategically provide information to a media outlet to encourage someone to create content that positively covers of your brand, product, or service.
Common content types:
- News release
- Pitch packet/kit
Guesting
When you provide content, information, or appearances to other sources to reach your target audience.
Common content types:
- Blog post
- Webinar
- Podcast
Guesting Example for Productivityist via Smart Passive Income.
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
Strategic enhancements to increase the number of people who take a desired action.
Common content types:
- Ad
- Landing page
- Home page
Blogging
A content hub that distributes primarily written content but also often includes audio + visual + video.
Common content types:
- Blog post
- Infographic
- Video
Social Media
Online communities where users share information often via micro-messaging, images, and links.
Common content types:
- Forum
- Wiki
- Q&A
An electronic letter you send to your customers’ or target audience’s inboxes with the intent of influencing a specific action.
Common content types:
- Newsletter
- Blog post email
- Behavior-driven email
Marketing A.I.
Behavior-driven recommendation and recognition technology that delivers specific content to individuals.
Marketing A.I. Example Via Amazon.
Common content types:
- Product recommendation
- Content recommendation
- Display ad
Guerrilla
Unconventional actions + content that aim to attract the most attention possible.
Common content types:
- Dirty sidewalks cleaned to show only your logo
- Public bus wrap
- Beer coaster postcard
Choose the marketing tactics that are most likely to influence your goal. Open the Marketing Tactics tab in your marketing strategy template spreadsheet, and fill in column A.
You may also opt to add your tactics into the PowerPoint deck also available in the marketing strategy template kit.
Congrats! You’ve chosen your marketing tactics.