A smartphone weather app, a racing game on a video game console, and an ultrasound imaging device in a hospital are all examples of digital media products. They are successful because they are engaging, simple to use (even enjoyable in the case of games), and effective. Digital media is a combination of technology and content. Creating digital media products necessitates teams of professionals with a wide range of skills, including technical, artistic, analytical, and production coordination abilities. These abilities must be balanced on a team, with all team members focused on providing the best user experience possible. Today's world is populated by digital media products. These digital media products enable and deliver experiences in various industries, including those not typically associated with digital media, such as health, government, and education.
Digital Media Definition
Any form of media distributed via electronic devices is considered as what is digital media. Electronic devices can be used to create, view, modify, and distribute these types of digital media. Software, video games, videos, websites, social media, and online advertising are all examples of digital media. Even though digital media is ingrained in our culture, business owners are still hesitant to replace traditional print advertising with internet marketing services. However, given the constant changes in technology, it is impossible to deny digital media's influence on our way of life. It alters how we educate, entertain, publish, and communicate with one another daily. As a result of this influence, digital media propels the business world from the industrial to the information era. Business plans are being revised to accommodate a digital strategy. We no longer write things with pens on paper but rather communicate with digital devices.
Investigating Different Types of Digital Media
Traditional (nondigital) media encompasses many communication technologies, some of which date back hundreds of years. Among the first forms of traditional media were newspapers, magazines, books, and other printed materials. These forms of media continue to exist, having been joined in the nineteenth century by the telegraph and in the twentieth century by radio and television, the first examples of mass media.
On the other hand, the digital era brought with it a whole new set of media transmission methods and devices, with more being developed every year. Most types of digital media nowadays fall into one of the following broad categories:
1. Audio
The digital media we listen to is referred to as audio. We can listen to the audio by streaming it online or offline by playing.mp3 or.mp4 files (among others).
- Songs created for video streaming sites are an example of digital audio (e.g., YouTube)
- Digitally distributed songs (via marketplaces like iTunes and Google Play)
- Soundtracks from video or computer games
- Internet-based audio transmission (VoIP)
2. Video
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
Video has both visual and auditory components. It, like audio, is accessible both online and offline. Here are some digital video examples:
- Videos created for video-sharing websites
- Streaming or downloading movies from the internet
- Live video (for example, webcam chats or online conferencing)
3. Photos / Illustrations
On digital devices, photos and illustrations can be found everywhere. This type of static media is an essential component of computer, phone, and tablet user interfaces. Take a look at your computer's desktop: each icon is a miniature illustration. Aside from the interface of digital devices, photos and illustrations are also widely distributed on the internet. They are as follows:
- Used to illustrate blog posts and articles
- Sold as standalone pieces of digital art
- Used in the design of website and software interfaces
4. Text
Text is present in almost all digital media. The text allows you to navigate digital device and software package user interfaces. Text is used by search engine crawlers to help you find web pages online.
- Assist you in navigating a website with digital text
- Inform or entertain you as part of a blog post or article • Show you how to use software
5. Types of Content
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
Now that we've covered some digital media format examples, let's move on to some different content types. While "format" refers to how we perceive a media piece, "content-type" refers to how the media is used.
6. Ebooks
An ebook is a book that has been published in digital form. This could range from a 10-page PDF on weight loss to a work of literature purchased digitally and accessed via an e-reader. Ebooks serve a variety of functions. White papers, for example, are a type of short commercial ebook that demonstrates an organization's expertise on a specific topic. Others, such as the aforementioned weight loss ebook, are used as lead magnets in digital marketing. However, many ebooks serve the same purpose as traditional books: they are meant to be read and enjoyed on an e-reader or other digital device. This ebook is available through marketplaces such as Amazon's Kindle Store.
7. Articles/Blog Posts
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
Another type of digital media is blog posts and articles. They are shorter than ebooks, are available online, and can usually be read in five to twenty minutes. A blog post or article's purpose is to quickly inform the audience about a specific topic. They could be written by:
- a personal blogger
- a journalist
- a business
8. Social media
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn are examples of popular social media networks. Anyone can post content on social media. Individuals use social media to share content with friends and family.
- Commercial brands, advertise their digital media products and communicate with customers
- Media companies, share their articles and engage readers in a dialogue
9. Advertising
Another type of digital media is online advertising. Examples of digital media advertisements include:
- Banner ads on websites
- Search ads
- Video ads
- Social media ads
10. Digital Art
As a form of art, some digital media creators create illustrations, videos, music, or photographs. Getty Images (photos), iTunes (music), and YouTube are all marketplaces where digital art can be sold or monetized (videos).
11. Video Games
Video games are intended to entertain people. They are typically played on a gaming console, though some can be played on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. A video game combines various types of digital media, such as art, text, and video.
12. Virtual Reality (VR)
Finally, virtual reality is a new type of digital media that is becoming increasingly popular. Wearing a headset and viewing an immersive digital experience constitutes virtual reality. Colors, sounds, or highly realistic graphics and video may be included in this experience.
How Can Digital Media Help?
In our daily lives, we can all see the effects of media. But how does this benefit your company? We'll go over three options.
- facilitates social interaction
- levels the playing field for small businesses
- aligns with how consumers shop.
a. Social Interaction is Facilitated by Digital Media
People are being connected in ways that were not previously possible. Because 7 out of 10 Americans use social media, people can maintain friendships across time zones, regardless of distance. 79 percent use social media to share life milestones with friends and family. Facebook encourages this interaction by emphasizing words like "congratulations." This contributes to a more engaging feed for users! One thing all special moments have in common is that they are all highly emotional. While not all brands have a product or service that lends itself naturally to this narrative, all businesses can find a way to carve out a place for themselves within these special shared moments. The goal is to have your brand associated with these landmarks. This is a good way to boost your social media presence and thus brand recognition.
b. For Small Businesses, Digital Media Levels the Playing Field
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
We've all witnessed it. A large corporation moves into town and destroys all of the small specialty shops. Amazon is the only online equivalent. It's difficult to compete with big-name recognition or millions of dollars spent on marketing by larger corporations. Small businesses benefit from digital media, both in physical locations and online selling sites. Smaller businesses can achieve top rankings by utilizing digital media and marketing strategies. As previously stated, the effectiveness of social media is determined by engagement. This gives the small business owner an advantage over larger competitors. A company's social media marketing will fail if it does not actively engage with its customers. The use of digital media platforms to promote a brand aids in collecting customer feedback. Using digital media to promote your business can also be an effective and cost-effective form of advertising when managed correctly using preset metrics.
c. Digital Media Corresponds to Consumer Shopping Behavior
The average American uses the internet for more than 24 hours per week. Over 1 trillion searches are conducted online, and over 8 billion Facebook video views are recorded every year. Customers are increasingly turning to the internet to find products and services. If customers find your business through a friend sharing a life event (and how your brand made it better), the result of a search query, or a promotional video, you can thank digital media. To be relevant to the vast majority of your customers, you'll need an online presence. This is why digital media marketing is so crucial in the business world.
Conclusion
As you've figured out what digital media is, it's time to put everything you've learned into context. If you want to work in the digital world, this can be a great way to narrow down your options. You must be clear about the aspect of the digital industry that interests you. Is it the graphics, the blog posts, the web development, or something else? You can use a high-quality website builder like Strikingly if you want to start a freelance business. You don't have to be concerned about your budget because this website builder allows you to create websites for free. Furthermore, you do not need a programming degree from a prestigious university. You need a creative mindset to customize our pre-made website templates to fit your niche. The journey can be exhausting, but your efforts will be rewarded if you rely on Strikingly.
