Coating steel with zinc is generally referred to as "galvanizing". It's one of the most commonly-used ways to rust-protect steel. ALL bolts and nuts you get in the hardware store are zinc-coated.
There are a variety of industrial processes used for zinc coating, and they differ considerably in terms of cost and durability.
Cons: It results in a much thinner layer of zinc than hot-dip, and the substrate bond is much weaker (see that link's table — 500psi compared to 3,600psi).
Because the zinc layer is sacrificial, thickness and durability are inherently linked.
Cons: It requires a several vats of extremely hot, extremely toxic, and extremely expensive chemicals. It's hard to do this in a small workship.
Pros: Results in a thick layer. Considered one of the best zinc coatings.