Getting our leadership team on podcasts is one of the best forms of lead generation that we have but to land podcasts we take a different approach. We use a tool called Respona which is a platform that allows you to identify and outreach to guests based on the topic of the show. We've landed multiple shows from high-profile podcast hosts through this outreach strategy.
One unconventional digital marketing platform we've explored is Twitch, a live-streaming platform primarily used by gamers. Although it may seem like a niche platform, Twitch has over 15 million daily active users, offering a significant audience for certain brands. We decided to try Twitch as part of a campaign targeting younger, tech-savvy consumers for a client launching a new gaming accessory. We partnered with popular streamers who fit our target demographic and had them use and promote the product during their streams. The results were impressive. Not only did we see an uptick in brand awareness among the target audience, but we also saw a significant increase in sales, particularly from consumers who cited Twitch as their source. Furthermore, the feedback and engagement on Twitch were authentic and immediate, providing us with valuable insights about our product. This certainly wouldn't be the right platform for every campaign or target audience. But this experience taught us not to dismiss "niche" platforms out of hand - they can offer unique opportunities to connect with your target audience in a meaningful way.
An unconventional digital marketing platform we experimented with was Quora, particularly using its ads feature. Quora, primarily known as a question-and-answer forum, offered a unique opportunity to engage with a target audience in a more conversational and authentic manner. We started by creating relevant questions related to our industry, which we posted anonymously. These questions were crafted to naturally lead to discussions where our product or service could be a solution. Following this, we answered these questions, providing detailed, informative responses that highlighted our expertise and subtly promoted our offerings. The next step was to leverage Quora's ads feature to promote these answers. This strategy allowed us to position our content in front of a highly targeted audience actively seeking information or solutions in our niche. The results were surprisingly positive. We noticed a significant increase in referral traffic from Quora to our website. More importantly, the traffic was high-quality, with users spending longer durations on our site and showing higher engagement rates.
So, I took a plunge into the world of Discord, initially targeting the tech-savvy and gaming communities. It was not the usual Facebook or Instagram, but the results were electrifying. Here's how the experiment panned out: Hyper-engaged audience: Users actively discussed our products, shared tips and tricks, and provided valuable feedback. Micro-influencer magic: Partnering with Discord community leaders and streamers gave us instant access to niche audiences. Gamified shopping: We integrated Discord bots for interactive quizzes, polls, and even virtual treasure hunts within the server. Brand loyalty: It allowed us to build genuine relationships with our customers by responding to questions in real-time Of course, Discord was not without its challenges. The platform's specific culture and organic engagement required adapting our content and communication style. But the rewards far outweighed the initial hurdles.
Chief Marketing Officer at Scott & Yanling Media Inc.
Answered 2 years ago
In the world of digital marketing, sometimes it pays to think outside the box. One unconventional platform I experimented with was Twitch, a live-streaming platform primarily used by gamers. Initially, it seemed like a long shot. Our target audience was travel enthusiasts, not necessarily gamers. But we decided to host a virtual "travel game" event where participants could explore different destinations and learn about various cultures. The response was surprisingly positive. The event attracted a large number of participants and viewers, many of whom were interested in travel but hadn't previously interacted with our brand. This experiment showed that unconventional platforms can often yield unexpected results. By stepping out of our comfort zone and trying something different, we were able to tap into a new demographic and expand our reach.
We've had great success in Reddit. Sharing valuable, helpful advice and being honest, authentic and trustworthy really helps in being seen as an expert on the platform. Reddit now ranks high on Google, so it's a great way to get organic traffic to your services, websites, and products. One time, we went viral to the point of being the first post on the front page of Reddit, this brought us a million visitors in just a few days.
An unconventional digital marketing platform I tried was a niche online forum related to our industry. Unlike mainstream social media, this platform had a highly engaged community deeply interested in our specific field. It was a bit like finding a hidden treasure trove of potential customers. To engage with this audience, we didn't go in with hard sales tactics. Instead, we participated in discussions, shared expertise, and provided value to the community. This approach helped us build credibility and trust. The results were surprisingly positive. We saw an increase in website traffic coming from this forum, and the leads were highly qualified because they already had an interest in our area of expertise. It was a clear case of quality over quantity; while the audience size was smaller than on major platforms, the level of engagement and conversion was significantly higher. This experience taught us the value of exploring less conventional platforms where our target audience might be more concentrated and engaged.
At JetLevel Aviation, we ventured into unconventional digital marketing by targeting high-end lifestyle apps and platforms. These are not typical avenues for aviation marketing but align closely with the affluent clientele we cater to. This strategic move allowed us to tap into a niche market that directly resonates with our services. The outcome was quite promising. We saw a noticeable increase in brand visibility and received direct inquiries from this targeted approach. It reinforced the value of stepping beyond traditional marketing channels and connecting with potential clients in their preferred digital environments. This strategy was a testament to the power of innovative, audience-specific marketing in the private jet charter industry.
I've tried utilizing some lesser known blockchain based blogging and social media platforms like Steemit, Hive, DTube and others, basically crypto related social media and blogging platforms. They do expose us to a different audience and bring some decent traffic, nothing amazing but I'm just repurposing content that we're posting on social media and Youtube so it's not a lot of effort to also post it to these channels.
Stepping into innovative digital marketing spaces may lead to many unexplored opportunities for a niche market. One of the unusual websites that I used beneficially was Reddit – a place with an environment whereby it goes beyond traditional social media. Reddit as an Unconventional Platform: Reddit is a massive collection of content created by users and organized into communities called subreddits, with various topics. It provides a distinct environment where real conversations, advice, and content can be exchanged in a more natural way than traditional social media. My Experience: When promoting a niche product linked to sustainable living, I pinpointed the relevant subreddits that attracted my target audience. To avoid direct advertisement, I interacted with the community by publishing useful materials, taking part in discussions, and responding to users’ questions credibly. Performance and Benefits: Authentic Engagement: The users of this site respect the value of authenticity and as such, by contributing actively to discussions without promoting a product overtly I provided a sense of community engagement. Targeted Reach: Targeting on subreddits is narrow and specific because they are tailored to particular interests. This helped target individuals who were actually concerned about the product, thus improving the quality of interaction. Feedback and Insights: Reddit offers instant feedback through comments and upvotes/downvotes, which can give an idea about the mood of the community. This feedback loop helped improve marketing strategies. Community Building: Through such valuable contributions, I became credible in this community. This not only resulted in enhanced product exposure but also made the brand a reliable player of the niche. Unorthodox yet Reddit was a powerful digital marketing tool establishing meaningful relationships and allowing bespoke interaction with the niche audience. The idea is in understanding the culture of the platform where participation must be genuine and deliver value to the network, resulting in effective and bizarre marketing results.
NicheForumAds While going through my digital marketing journey, I learned about various platforms; during that, I started experimenting with NicheForumAds, which proved effective for me. I’ve been leveraging targeted forums related to our industry, which helped us directly engage with our audience, ensuring we established an authentic conversation. The specificity of it allows hyper-targeting, yielding a good uptick in brand affinity and conversions. As per me, its success lies in its tailored approach, building trust within the niche communities and achieving good results surpassing traditional methods.
Using personal life and career as a marketing platform can be unconventional yet impactful in digital marketing. When done right, it creates an authentic and relatable brand image. For instance, sharing behind-the-scenes insights or personal stories related to work can engage audiences more deeply. It can resonate particularly well with target audiences that value transparency and authenticity.
An unconventional digital marketing platform that we experimented with was a niche podcast advertising campaign. Podcasts have been gaining popularity, but they are often overlooked as a marketing channel, especially in niches not directly related to technology or entertainment. Our target audience was professionals in the finance sector, and we identified a few niche podcasts that catered to this demographic, discussing topics like financial planning, market trends, and economic insights. The performance of this campaign was surprisingly effective. We sponsored specific episodes of these podcasts and crafted tailored messages that resonated with the audience's interests. The ads were not just promotional but provided value, such as insights into financial strategies and brief mentions of how our services could assist in these areas. The response from this campaign was more positive than anticipated. We saw an uptick in website traffic attributed to the podcast, and more importantly, the traffic had a higher engagement rate compared to other sources. Listeners spent more time on our site, and the bounce rate was lower, indicating that the audience was genuinely interested in our content. Moreover, we received direct inquiries and leads mentioning the podcast, showing that the message had effectively reached and engaged the target audience. This approach also helped in building brand credibility, as being featured on a reputable and relevant podcast was perceived positively by the audience.
At Startup House, we believe in thinking outside the box when it comes to digital marketing. One unconventional platform we've tried is TikTok. Yes, you heard it right, the app known for its viral dance challenges and lip-syncing videos. We decided to tap into its massive user base and create engaging and entertaining content related to our software development services. Surprisingly, it performed exceptionally well for our target audience. We were able to showcase our expertise in a fun and creative way, attracting a younger demographic who might not have otherwise been interested in our industry. The key was to adapt our messaging to fit the platform's unique style and leverage popular trends to increase our reach. So, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and explore unconventional platforms – you might just find a hidden gem that resonates with your target audience.