30+ Digital Marketing Stats about the True Potential of Smart Online Promotion

Updated · Oct 19, 2022

How many times did you go on the internet today?

Unless it’s early morning or you stayed all day here on Web Tribunal, it’s likely already more times than you can count.

How many ads or sponsored posts did you see?

Chances are – at least a few. Some of them don’t even look like ads anymore.

Everyone now has a double life – one in the real world and one online. In a similar fashion, digital marketing has pushed traditional marketing aside and is now the new trend.

It’s really easy to prove this, by the way.

For example, did you know almost half of the world’s population, or around 3.3 billion people, are on social media?

3.3 billion!

If you think that’s mind-blowing – we’re actually just scratching the surface. Let’s dive into the world of digital marketing stats head first and see what will come up.

Jaw-Dropping Digital Marketing Statistics (Editor’s Choice):

  • Content marketing is 62% cheaper than traditional marketing avenues.
  • 54% of users stated that they want more video content.
  • 70% of popular hashtags on Instagram are branded.
  • There are three million active advertisers on Facebook.
  • Blogging increases engagement with as much as 72%.
  • Еmail marketing reach is expected to grow by 4.4% each year for the foreseeable future.
  • An astonishing 49% of organizations do not have a clear digital marketing strategy.

Content Marketing Is Worth It in 2022

Content marketing is fundamental. It grants higher ROI than any other form of digital marketing.

Think about it: what is the internet but a massive collection of content?

1. Content marketing is 62% cheaper than traditional marketing.

(Source: VentureHarbour)

But what exactly is content marketing?

It’s a marketing strategy focused on creating, sharing, and promoting online content. That includes videos, blog, and social media posts.

Just to be clear, it has way more benefits than merely being cheaper.

2. For every dollar spent, content marketing generates around three times better ROI than traditional marketing.

(Source: Demand Metric)

That sounds great, honestly.

A good digital marketing strategy will not only be cheaper but will lead to a greater ROI.

So what’s the best content you can offer to users?

Easy.

Videos.

3. 54% of users want more videos.

(Source: SocialMediaToday)

It’s been stated again and again that video leads to more engagement than text posts. Videos are also easier to recall.

Another great thing about videos is that you can include a lot more information.

They are obviously in demand. It only makes sense to give the people what they want.

4. Videos on landing pages can increase conversion rate by up to 86%.

(Source: HubSpot)

Conversion rate indicates what part of a website’s visitors actually convert into clients.

Judging by numerous digital marketing statistics, videos make it more likely for people to buy things.

Okay, we figured out that people want videos.

Now the question is where?

Which are the biggest digital marketing channels?

Digital marketing stats have something very interesting to say about Instagram and video marketing.

5. Single videos make up 25% of Instagram content.

(Source: Smart Insights)

While Instagram posts are usually photos or “carousels” (meaning, two or more photos), videos are slowly making their way to the top in popularity.

And let’s not forget that Instagram offers the “stories” format – perfect for short videos and behind-the-scenes content.

Instagram doesn’t stop there. In 2018, it launched a new feature – IGTV. It allows users to post up to 1-hour videos, which allows a brand new level of advertising freedom. Given the popularity of the platform, it is not an overstatement to say that it boosted the already significant role video plays in digital marketing and ensured its growth in the new decade.

Finally, there’s another handy tool when it comes to reach.

Hashtags.

6. 70% of the most used hashtags on Instagram are branded.

(Source: Intercom)

Talk about jaw-dropping digital marketing facts.

Hashtags are those useful links that make your content easier to find. When used properly, they can be pretty handy for the reach and engagement parts of your marketing strategy.

When talking about social media, we can’t just forget to mention Facebook.

7. There are three million active advertisers on Facebook.

(Source: VPDM Digital Marketing)

Welp. That’s quite the competition.

It also gives us insight into the importance of Facebook and digital marketing as a whole.

Aside from the three million advertisers, Facebook is also the virtual home of billions of people. Even though Instagram (owned by Facebook) is growing in popularity, most social media trends are validated as such only after they sweep through FB.

In order not to get lost among all of the other marketers, you need to target your audience carefully.

Luckily for you, no one knows what the digital consumer needs better than Facebook. Its a gold mine for targeted ads.

Which leads us to FB conversions.

8. A good CTR for Facebook is between 0.1% to 24%.

(Source: KlientBoost

Not really helpful, is it? That’s because it heavily depends on the niche.

There are ways to get a better CTR, though:

  • Work on targeting your ads to the right audience
  • Narrow said audience down
  • Write engaging copy
  • Craft attention-grabbing headlines
  • Keep the text short
  • Focus on the benefits of the service or product

Also, make sure that your app and website are Facebook-friendly.

9. 53.1% of the time, apps and websites suggest Facebook as a login opportunity.

(Source: Omnicore Agency)

We’ve all become a bit lazy when it comes to typing in our login information. Many apps and websites now allow us to register directly with Facebook, which is a relief.

Facebook aside, blogging is another way to engage your audience.

10. Blogging increases engagement by as much as 72%.

(Source: Key Medium)

Blogging is a way to connect to your audience and raise brand awareness. You can use blog posts to educate clients, inform them about new products, and introduce solutions to their problems.

It’s no wonder marketers value it so highly.

11. 53% of marketers point to blogging as one of their top priorities.

(Source: HubSpot)

Digital marketing stats also show companies who blog regularly generate more traffic to their websites.

12. Images lead to 94% more views than blog posts that are text only.

(Source: Omnicore Agency)

Visual content is more attractive than simple text. Make sure that your blog contains images.

Make sure to post regularly too.

13. Companies that publish blog posts 16 or more times per month generate 4.5 more traffic than those who blog 4 or fewer times a month.

(Source: Key Medium)

Blogging statistics don’t lie.

Or was it hips?

Anyway.

Blogging generates traffic. Traffic means more customers.

There’s nothing to lose and so much to gain.

Speaking of this, I think it’s high time to welcome to the stage of digital marketing statistics one of the main players.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you the influencers.

Influencer Marketing

Modern, trendy, and intriguing influencer marketing has lots of potential but is not yet fully understood.

14. 94% of marketers think influencer marketing strategies are successful.

(Source: Relatable)

Influencers are simply people with a big social media following. Unlike celebrities, they have quite the authority among their followers and can influence their decisions and actions.

This is why one of the trends in digital marketing these days is collaborating with influencers.

15. Instagram is the number one influencer marketing platform, preferred by 87.6% of marketers.

(Source: Relatable)

It is followed by Facebook with a bit over 40%. YouTube takes third place with 37.3%. Twitter comes fourth with 15%, then LinkedIn with 12%, and lastly – Pinterest with 6.6%.

Those percentages do not tell the whole story, though. Different platforms have different audiences, and you need to pick the network closest to your market. (And then find the right influencer too!)

16. 79% of brands plan on setting aside a budget for influencer marketing.

(Source: Relatable)

Trust is the currency of the marketing world, and influencers have it. Naturally, brands have to turn to them for help. The latest digital marketing trends clearly show that most brands plan quite seriously to harness the reach and decision-swaying power of influencers.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing (AM) involves a product owner allowing other people to sell their product – in exchange for a percentage of the revenue the latter generate.

In other words – it may be yet another way for a company to benefit from influencers.

17. Affiliate marketing spend is rising by 10.1% each year.

(Source: BigCommerce)

With annual growth of over 10%, affiliate marketing is a low-risk, performance-based form of marketing that has the potential to reach everywhere.

It continues to grow thanks to its low-level entry and incredible flexibility. The competition is stiff, but the rewards are equally handsome.

18. Affiliate marketing spending is forecast to reach $6.8 billion in the US in 2020.

(Source: BigCommerce)

Brands don’t need to bother to create trust anymore. They pay people who already have it. Affiliate marketing allows brands to use digital marketing channels that are already developed and trusted. Bloggers, video reviewers, and influencers are but a part of the vast AM networks.

Of course, the offered products still have to be top notch or influencers will refuse to work with them.

Email Marketing

The latest online marketing stats may surprise many, but the numbers are clear: despite the rise of social media, the oldest form of digital marketing, emails, still pack unmatched potential.

19. Еmail marketing reach is forecast to grow by 4.4% in the next years

(Source: Design Roast)

With the influx of various social media platforms, many (including me, not gonna lie) thought email marketing would just… disappear.

Turns out it’s not going anywhere. In fact, it is going to grow even further in 2022.

Email marketing has evolved to become a highly personalized form of marketing. Customers receive emails with offers carefully tailored according to their previous purchases. (Or any other information the seller might have about them.)

20. The average open rate for emails is 32%.

(Source: HubSpot)

Digital marketing statistics vary from one industry to the next, but on average, emails enjoy a healthy open rate.

The highest amount of emails are opened in the fields of arts and entertainment, human resources, real estate, construction, and legal industries.

Advertising and marketing have the lowest open rates. The people there are harder to impress than most, as they know most tricks in the book.

21. 53% of email marketers complain about low CTR.

(Source: SuperOffice)

The good news is you can fix that.

You need to make your email content relevant. Know your audience (or find out more about it) and give them the type of content they crave.

Nowadays, there are powerful digital marketing tools that combine automation, personalization, surveys, workflows, and much more to help you perfect your email strategy and optimize your efforts.

These tools will help you make your emails mobile-friendly too. People are glued to their phones. You can bet they open most emails there – and they do a lot of their shopping on mobile as well.

Speaking of mobile…

Mobile Marketing & Local Search Is all the Rage

Smartphones permeate all spheres of life and drastically change the ways we interact with one another and the world at large as well. For several years now, mobile devices have generated more than 50% of the global internet traffic.

22. In 2018, 262.4 million people were surfing the web on mobile.

(Source: Statista)

See?

People are becoming more and more comfortable using their phones for… well, everything. Including online shopping.

Make your website and emails mobile-friendly and see your sales skyrocket.

The trend of increased mobile usage certainly skyrocketed the mesmerizing numbers we see in online advertising statistics.

23. In 2019, companies spent an estimated $166 billion on mobile ads.

(Source: BusinessofApps)

According to digital marketing stats, that’s a 25% increase from last year.

Mobile usage is only expected to expand in the near future, so bravely jump on that bandwagon.

24. Instagram's mobile revenue was $6.84 billion in 2018.

(Source: HubSpot)

I put the above stat in the off-chance you needed more proof that Instagram generates a ton of money for marketers.

Why else would they buy billions of dollars worth of ads every year?

25. 80% of social media content is viewed on mobile.

(Source: Omnicore Agency)

Crazy, right?

These digital media statistics further reinforce the importance of a mobile-friendly website and ad designs.

26. Google has a mobile-first indexing policy.

(Source: Google Webmaster Central Blog)

As traffic from mobile devices grew, mobile-responsive design became a top priority for Google ranking. Since 1 July 2019, Google has put more weight on the mobile versions of new websites.

In other words, a mobile-friendly website will not only increase your conversion rate, but it will actually give you more traffic!

This is particularly true if targeting local visitors.

27. 46% of the performed Google searches are about seeking local information.

(Source: SEO Expert Brad)

If you have a local business, this information is a game-changer!

Almost half of all Google searches made on mobile devices explore information about local businesses and attractions. Recent digital marketing statistics suggest that optimizing your web presence for voice search (which is only growing with the more widespread usage of smartphones) can be mightily beneficial too.

Search engine advertising stats for the win!

28. 97% of people look online to find a local business.

(Source: HubSpot)

People tend to search for “local hairdresser” or “wine store nearby” from their smartphones while chilling on the sofa.

Listing your working hours, phone number, address, and the areas you serve go a long way if you are to get your desired SEO results.

SEO has also proven to be the best inbound strategy when it comes to sales conversion vs. effort.

SEO Shouldn't Be Neglected

29. Search outperforms by as much as 300% social media as a traffic source.

(Source: SEO Expert Brad)

Truly a mind-blowing number.

And just another reason to up your SEO game.

However complex search engine optimization may be, don’t forget that website speed impacts it a lot. We shared several easy-to-implement techniques for speed optimizations, but everything starts with having a host that delivers top performance, like Hostinger or WP Engine if you have a WordPress site.

Digital marketing statistics paint a convincing argument for keeping up with search engine marketing as well.

30. According to 85% of retailers, search engine marketing (SEM) is the most effective customer acquisition tactic.

(Source: SEO Expert Brad)

As much as social media gets attention these days, SEM silently works from behind the scenes to make businesses successful.

Indeed, if you let yourself be drowned in all the noise they make, you might be left with the erroneous impression that social media rule supreme.

They don’t.

Better focus on checked and well-researched statistics for marketers and direct your efforts accordingly.

31. SEM is rated as 15% more effective than direct mail and 8% more effective than traditional advertising.

(Source: SEO Expert Brad)

SEM increases brand awareness and visibility. It also leads to an increase in targeted leads.

Good guy SEM!

It also boasts better ROI than direct marketing. This is a key reason why digital marketing stats firmly suggest that digital marketing is pushing traditional marketing aside.

Yet, surprisingly, not all organizations are up to date with the digital marketing trends of 2022.

32. 49% of organizations do not have a clear digital marketing strategy.

(Source: Smart Insights)

Part of why digital marketing is so successful is because there’s less competition there. As weird as it sounds, if you create your digital strategy now, you’ll still be fairly early to the party.

In business, being early is a good thing. It allows you to reap all the rewards.

Hopefully, our digital marketing stats have cleared the fog for you, and you’re now in the other 51%.

Till next time!

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Branko Krstic
Branko Krstic

Branko is a round-the-clock tech geek and loving it. His ideal vacation destination is the Akihabara District (or really any place he can take his computer). If there’s a server out there, count on him to find out what it’s made of… and tell you all about it.