Digital marketing refers to the use of digital channels, platforms, and devices to promote products or services and connect with current and potential customers. It differs from traditional marketing in that it involves the use of online strategies and is characterized by its high level of interactivity, measurability, and real-time nature.

Types of Digital Marketing:

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Targets increasing a website’s visibility in search engine results pages through organic means, including optimizing content and website structure.

2. Content Marketing: Focuses on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience, ultimately driving profitable customer action.

3. Social Media Marketing: Involves creating content for social platforms to promote products/services, engage with audiences, and drive traffic to a business’s website or storefront.

4. Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC): Is an online advertising model where advertisers pay each time a user clicks on one of their online ads.

5. Email Marketing: Uses electronic mail as a means of communicating commercial or fundraising messages to an audience, often to drive sales, improve customer loyalty, or provide important information.

6. Affiliate Marketing: A performance-based marketing arrangement by which an online retailer pays commission to an external website for traffic or sales generated from its referrals.

7. Influencer Marketing: Brands partner with individuals who have a large following on social media to promote products in a more authentic way compared to traditional advertising.

8. Mobile Marketing: Targets users via smartphones and tablets including SMS messaging campaigns, mobile app advertisements, and more.

Strategies & Best Practices:

1. Understand Your Audience: Develop buyer personas and tailor your marketing strategy to meet their needs.

2. Set Clear Objectives: Define smart goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) that align with business objectives.

3. Choose Appropriate Channels: Select the digital marketing channels that will most effectively reach your target audience.

4. Optimize for Mobile: Ensure all digital marketing content is optimized for mobile devices given the proliferation of smartphones.

5. Use Data Analytics: Collect data and analyze it for insights that can guide your decisions and strategies.

6. Create Quality Content: Focus on creating high-quality content that adds value for your audience.

7. Be Consistent: Maintain consistency across all digital channels in messaging and branding.

8. Engage with Your Audience: Interact with your audience through comments, messages, and social media posts to build relationships.

9. Keep Up With Trends: Stay current with digital marketing trends and incorporate new successful practices into your strategy.

10. Test and Adapt: Continuously test different aspects of your marketing campaigns and learn from the results to adapt strategies accordingly.

Integrating these types into a synergistic approach can maximize the effectiveness of your digital marketing efforts in reaching business goals while fostering meaningful connections with consumers.