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What do we mean by “marketing channels”?
A marketing channel is any path or medium you use to get your message out - where people see, hear, or engage with your brand. Channels can be physical/traditional (print ads, radio, direct mail, in-person events) and/or digital (social media, email, SEO, paid ads, content marketing, etc.).
 
Using multiple channels means you’re reaching people in more than one place. Why does that matter?
Let’s dig in!
 
Traditional vs. Digital Channels: A Quick Comparison

Traditional Marketing Channels
These include more “offline” methods such as print ads, billboards, flyers, radio or TV commercials, direct mail (this is not dead!), and in-person events or trade shows. They’re great for building local awareness and trust - especially with audiences who may not spend a lot of time online. Traditional methods are often memorable and provide high visibility, but they can also be expensive, harder to measure ROI, and less flexible in terms of change.
 
Pros of Traditional Channels:

• Great for local and in-person visibility
• Effective for older or less digital-savvy audiences
• High trust and credibility from tangible formats
• Memorable and attention-grabbing

 
Challenges with Traditional Channels:

• Can be costly (print, air time, materials)
• Difficult to track ROI accurately
• Harder to adapt or adjust in real time
• May not reach a digitally engaged audience

 
Digital Marketing Channels
These include social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok), email marketing, websites, blogs, search engine optimization (SEO), paid online ads (like Google Ads or display ads), podcasts, webinars, and online video content. Digital channels allow for targeting, real-time feedback, and often lower costs. They’re data-rich and flexible but can be crowded or complex if not handled with a clear and compelling strategy.

Pros of Digital Channels:

• Easy to track and measure performance
• Typically, more cost-effective than traditional methods
• Targeted and personalized messaging
• Real-time feedback and flexibility
• Scalable across wide or niche audiences

 
Challenges with Digital Channels:

• It can be overwhelming and sometimes oversaturated
• Requires consistent content creation and tech know-how
• Platforms change frequently (algorithms, formats)
• May feel impersonal if automation outweighs connection

 
Why Your Business Should Use Multiple Marketing Channels

Marketing isn’t a one-size-fits-all - and neither are your customers. Relying on a single channel to reach your audience is like fishing with one hook in a wide ocean. To truly connect, engage, and grow, your business needs to show up in more than one place. Here’s why embracing a mix of marketing channels is not only smart - but essential:
​
Reach more people/meet them where they are.
Different customers prefer different channels. Some still read magazines. Others are glued to Instagram or LinkedIn. Podcasts influence others. If you only pick one, you’ll miss out on people who aren’t active there. Using multiple channels broadens your reach.

Reinforce your message and build trust.
Seeing your brand in more than one place makes it more memorable. When someone sees your content on social media, then gets a postcard in the mail, then an email, your voice becomes more familiar, and trust builds. Consistency across channels is key.

Cover all stages of the customer journey.
Different channels work better at different stages:

• Awareness - billboards, social ads, events
• Consideration - blogs, reviews, email series
• Decision - paid search, offers, product pages
• Retention & Loyalty - newsletters, community, follow-ups

               Having multiple ways to touch people at these stages means fewer gaps and losses.

Adaptability & resilience
Trends change fast - what’s hot one year (say, print or a certain social platform) can fade. If you invest in only one or two channels, you’re exposed if those channels underperform, change their rules, or lose audience interest. Diversifying means you can shift more weight to what works.

Better use of data and smarter decisions.
Multiple channels produce multiple data points. You can compare what’s working best, see where customers prefer to interact, where they drop off, and which channels yield the highest ROI. That helps optimize spending, content, and offers.

Maximize conversion opportunities
Often, potential customers need several touchpoints before they make a decision. Multiple channels can mean more opportunities to convert them - in different ways. A radio ad can provide awareness, while Instagram content engages them, and an email finally nudges them to take action. More channels = more paths to conversion.

How to Choose the Right Channels for Your Business
It’s not about doing all the channels. It’s about choosing the channels that align with our audience, budget, and goals. Here are key considerations and steps:

Know your audience well
Who are your customers or clients? What media do they use? Age, location, habits, preferences. Do they read local newspapers? Are they active on social media? Do they attend local events? Do they prefer digital or more traditional forms? Map out where they spend their time consuming information.

Clarify your goals
Are you trying to build awareness, generate leads, sell directly, grow loyalty, or something else? Different goals pair better with different channels. For instance, launching a new service might require a big reach first (traditional + digital awareness channels), then more nurturing (content, email). For nonprofits, donor acquisition and community involvement may be key goals, which suggests a mix of in-person engagement, storytelling in content, social media, and email.

Evaluate your budget & resources.
Budget isn’t just dollars - it’s time, staff, and creativity. Some channels are cheap in media spend but require lots of content or design. Other channels cost more to buy ad space or print. Don’t stretch too thin - you want quality and consistency. It’s better to do a few well than many poorly.

Test & measure
Pick a couple of channels, run a few campaigns, and monitor your results. Use metrics that matter: reach, engagement, lead generation, conversion, cost per lead, or sale. See which channels outperform others. Then shift investments toward what works. Also, be ready to stop or reduce channels that underperform. Understanding how different touchpoints contribute to worthy conversions (multichannel attribution) is very helpful!

Ensure consistency across channels.
Your brand voice, message, look, and feel should be unified - no matter where you are sharing your message. Even if execution (style and format) differs from channel to channel, the underlying identity should be unmistakable. That builds credibility and trust with your audience and customers.

Scale over time.
You might start with one or two channels, then add more as you learn what works. It’s OK to begin small! Use early wins to justify scaling and growth. Think of channels as tools in your toolbox - you don’t need them all at once. But having options lets you respond to changes and new opportunities.

Why Diversifying Marketing Channels is Smart AND Rewarding
When it comes to marketing, putting all your eggs in one basket is risky business. You could be a nonprofit looking to grow awareness or a small business trying to boost leads - relying on just one or two channels limits your reach, and ultimately, your results. Diversifying your marketing channels means you’re spreading your presence, reducing risk, and opening the door to greater impact and return. Here’s why it works so well:
 
It minimizes risk and boosts adaptability.
Change is a constant in marketing, and marketing platforms are changing constantly. Algorithms shift. Costs fluctuate. What worked great last year might not deliver the same results today. When you diversify your marketing mix, you’re not over-relying on any single platform. If one slows down, others can carry the weight. That flexibility gives your business more staying power, no matter what’s trending!

It increases your return on investment over time.
Multiple channels create multiple data streams. That means you can compare what’s working, double down on high-performing efforts, and cut back where results lag. This leads to smarter spending over time and more efficient marketing strategies - ones that will keep improving the more you test and learn.

It strengthens your brand’s presence and authority.
Being visible in more than one place reinforces your credibility. When someone sees your brand on social media, reads a blog, hears a podcast mention, or gets a direct mail piece, they start to recognize you as a trusted, established voice. For nonprofits and businesses alike, consistent visibility fosters long-term trust.

It improves the customer experience.
We all know that every customer is different. Some love email. Others scroll on Instagram. Some prefer local events or in-person networking. Diversifying your channels means you’re giving people options for how they want to engage with your brand. That makes their experience smoother, more comfortable, and more personal. This will surely lead to stronger loyalty among your customers and could turn them into ambassadors for your brand!

It creates compounding effects across channels.
When your marketing channels work together, the impact multiplies! A blog post boosts SEO, drives website traffic, and becomes social media content. A podcast interview increases awareness and links back to your newsletter. These touchpoints feed into each other, building momentum that’s hard to replicate with just one channel alone.

Putting It All Together: Big Deal Company’s Approach

​Here’s how we help clients build diversified and strategic channel mixes - because we believe no business has to grow alone:

• We begin by researching you and your audience. We track where your followers spend their time, how they make decisions, and which channels they trust.
• We work with you to set clear goals (awareness, lead gen, sales, loyalty, etc.) so that each channel’s role is defined.
• We build an integrated strategy. We select a few core channels to launch and work to make sure that your message is consistent, creative, and on-brand.
• We implement with measurement in mind - tracking what works, where attention is strong, and where tweaks might be needed.
• As we learn, we fine-tune channel mix - adding or reducing channels, redirecting resources so you get the best returns.

We also lean on community and creativity. We do this by tapping into local networks, storytelling, partnerships, and content that resonates. Because - no matter how many channels you use, your story, your values, and your authenticity are what make you stand out.
 
You don’t have to try every channel. But using multiple marketing channels - chosen strategically, executed thoughtfully, and measured carefully - can take your business beyond standalone reach. It means more visibility, more trust, more opportunities to connect with prospective clients, donors, or customers - on their terms.
 
Diversifying your channels gives you levers you can pull when things shift. It helps you build stronger relationships and ultimately grows your impact in a way that feels creative and sustainable.

Marketing Channel Selector: A Quick Checklist for Your Business 
Use this worksheet to determine which marketing channels best align with your goals, audience, and available resources. Grab a pen - or copy into a doc - and check off what applies to you!

Step 1: Define Your Primary Goal(s)What do you want your marketing to accomplish? Check all that apply.

• Build brand awareness
• Attract new customers or donors
• Generate leads or inquiries
• Increase sales or registrations
• Strengthen loyalty or repeat engagement
• Drive traffic to a website, storefront, or event
• Educate or inform your audience
• Build authority in your industry or community

Step 2: Know Your AudienceWhere are they spending time? What do they respond to? Check all that apply.

• They spend time on social media (which platforms? _______)
• They regularly check their email
• They read local newspapers or magazines
• They attend in-person events or conferences
• They search online for services like mine
• They listen to podcasts or watch YouTube
• They respond well to direct mail or printed materials
• They prefer in-person contact or phone calls

Step 3: Assess Your ResourcesHow much can you realistically commit to each channel?
 
Budget Availability:

• High (can afford advertising, hiring help)
• Medium (can do a mix of organic and paid)
• Low (need to focus on free/low-cost channels)

 
Time & Team Support:

• I have a team that can help with marketing
• I’m mostly doing this solo or with limited help
• I can consistently create content (blogs, videos, posts)
• I need marketing to be mostly automated or “set and forget”

Step 4: Evaluate Channel FitMatch your answers to these common marketing channels:

Step 5: Prioritize & Plan Your Channel Mix
Pick 2-3 core channels to focus on first based on your goals, audience, and resources. List them here:
1.
2.
3.

Optional: List 1-2 channels you might test or add later:
4.
5.
 
Bonus Tips:

• Start small and grow. You don’t need to master all channels at once.
• Reuse content across platforms (e.g., turn a blog into a newsletter or social post)
• Track your results and adjust monthly or quarterly.
• Stay consistent - marketing takes time to show results!

Understanding Event Attendees Through Their Values
​As event planners and marketers, one of our primary goals is to connect with our audiences on a deeper level. Traditionally, we’ve relied on demographic data such as age, gender, location, and income to understand attendees and help design experiences tailored to their needs. However, there is a revolutionary new approach called Valuegraphics that is changing the way we perceive our audiences by focusing on shared values rather than traditional demographics.
 
What are Value Graphics?
is a concept designed to shift the focus from surface-level demographics to the varied core values that drive human behavior. This term was coined by researcher David Allison, who has spent years studying how values influence human decisions. His work emphasizes understanding what truly matters to people, what motivates them, and how their values typically shape their choices. By identifying shared values within a target audience, event planners and marketers can create experiences and promote products that resonate with them on a profound level.

Why Focus on Values?
Focusing on an audience’s shared values can help build deeper connections. This connection goes beyond just meeting basic needs - it can create a sense of belonging and understanding that encourages long-term loyalty.
 
Understanding attendees’ values also allows planners and event curators to design experiences that align with what they care about most. Whether it’s an event, fundraiser, or company culture initiative, focusing on values leads to more impactful and memorable interactions.
 
It can also lead to increased and more meaningful engagement. When people feel that their values are recognized and respected, they are more likely to engage with the event or brand. This can lead to higher attendance rates, more enthusiastic participation, and stronger relationships overall.
 
Values - Implications for Event Planning and Beyond
Valuegraphics offers a transformative approach to event planning and other initiatives by focusing on the values that drive attendees’ behavior.

• Event Planning: By understanding the values of event attendees, planners can create events that resonate deeply with their target audience. Valuegraphics can influence theme choice, event speakers, and event activities.
• Nonprofit Fundraisers: For nonprofits, aligning with donors’ values can lead to more successful fundraising campaigns. Donors are more likely to contribute when they believe their support is going to causes they genuinely care about.
• Company Culture Building: Focusing on values within a company can help build a culture that attracts and retains employees who also share those values. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and a more cohesive and motivated team.

​A Positive Impact for Business and Beyond
By shifting our focus from traditional demographics to values, we can create a positive impact for both businesses and the world at large. When we focus on what truly matters to people, we can foster deeper connections, drive meaningful change, and create experiences that leave a lasting impression.
 
Utilizing Valuegraphics in event planning and marketing campaigns can raise the bar - creating elevated events and new ways to engage with audiences. It’s a simple but transformative shift that can lead to greater success and fulfillment for all involved!
 
Want to see how Valuegraphics can help elevate your next event? Contact our team of event professionals - we will walk your business through the entire process. Let us help bring joy and lasting success to your job today: https://www.bigdealcompany.com/

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Does this article interest you? Reach out to BIG DEAL Company. For more industry tips and ideas, follow BIG DEAL Company on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

As a collective of experts, BIG DEAL Company specializes in creativity. With superior organization, marketing experience and original ideas, we pull off amazing events and campaigns! 
BIG DEAL Company makes business personal by bringing JOY to the job in everything we do.
​As purveyors of fun with BIG DEAL, we support businesses and individuals in the growth of their ideas, events and marketing strategies. Our creative aptitude allows for unique ideas. Our passion for perfection makes every client a priority! Serving Colorado & Wyoming. We travel too!

Contact BIG DEAL Company
​​*** Bringing Joy to the Job ***
Phone: 970-613-1455  or  303-886-3068
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​Analytics, insights, results – These are all words used by different online platforms to describe one thing: data about users. Modern business marketing involves gathering a wealth of it, and many websites are already doing this for you behind the scenes. Let’s talk about how you can use these analytics to drive your own small business marketing decisions.

​What are analytics?
 
By definition, analytics means, “the analysis of data, typically large sets of business data, by the use of mathematics, statistics, and computer software.” Analytics can also refer to Google Analytics, Google’s own web analytics service that you can use to gather data from your website (learn more at Google.com/grow).
 
Other examples of analytics programs include Meta Business Suite’s Insights for Facebook and Instagram and Pinterest’s Analytics.
 
In the age of information, data is a gold mine. Analytics, in marketing, is the art of transforming this raw data into meaningful insights about your customers. This means understanding your audience better, optimizing your marketing strategies, and ultimately driving success.
 
How can analytics help me?
 
Ultimately, the purpose of analytics is to understand what your website and social media users are like and how they behave. You can use analytics to learn which marketing strategies are working for your business, and which are not. All of these things enable you to make better business decisions.

​Tailoring Marketing Strategies
Effective marketing begins with understanding your audience and their preferences. Analytics empowers you to gather and analyze data related to customer demographics, purchasing behavior, and interactions with your marketing campaigns. This information allows you to tailor your marketing strategies to resonate with your target audience, increasing engagement and conversion rates.

• Customer Segmentation: Analytics enables you to categorize your customer base into distinct segments based on various parameters such as age, location, interests, and buying habits. Understanding these segments allows for personalized marketing strategies that are more likely to capture attention and drive conversions.

• Campaign Performance Analysis: Analyzing the performance of past marketing campaigns provides valuable insights into what worked and what didn't. Metrics like click-through rates, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI) can guide future campaign planning and optimization.

• Content Optimization: By analyzing the engagement and response to different types of content, you can refine your content strategy. Analytics can help identify the most effective content formats, channels, and messaging to resonate with your audience.

Data-Driven Decision Making
Incorporating analytics into your marketing and events company culture promotes data-driven decision making at all levels. By utilizing accurate and relevant data, you reduce the guesswork, minimize risks, and increase the likelihood of success in your marketing initiatives and events.

• Predictive Analytics: Leverage predictive analytics to forecast future trends, consumer behavior, and market demands. These forecasts enable proactive decision making, ensuring your marketing and event strategies are aligned with anticipated market shifts.
• Performance Benchmarking: Regularly benchmark your marketing and event performance against industry standards and competitors. Analytics helps you identify areas for improvement and establish achievable goals to stay competitive and successful.
• Cost Optimization: Analyze the cost-effectiveness of marketing campaigns and events to allocate budgets more efficiently. Understanding which strategies yield the best results for the least cost allows you to maximize returns on investment.

Analytics isn't just about numbers and graphs – it's about understanding your audience, refining strategies, and making informed decisions. In a rapidly evolving landscape, where consumer preferences are as dynamic as ever, making informed choices can be the difference between thriving and falling behind. 

​Overwhelmed with analytics? We can help. With over 20 years working in advertising, marketing and media software, the BIG DEAL Company team proudly specializes in full and partial service marketing campaigns.
 
For more business marketing tips and ideas, follow BIG DEAL Company on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.