No matter how small your business is, you need to utilize the marketing resources around you to really propel your business to the forefront of your industry. But what kind of resources should you be investing in? Well, it can be hard to find the ideal balance between traditional and digital marketing materials—especially when there’s hefty costs involved if you really want to see a difference. So, we’re here to address the big question: where should you be generating your hard-earned money to boost the prospects of your business?
First of all, it is important to understand the fundamentals of traditional and digital marketing. They’re both designed to achieve different objectives, but they can also intertwine to maximize the benefits of branding. Regardless of which method you opt for, a digital marketing company has the ability to expand their skill-set across both marketing methods. But let’s focus on their differences to begin with.
1. What is Traditional Marketing?
Traditional marketing is the oldapproach of brand promotion and advertising. It is an offline method of promoting your company and reaching out to your target audience. The five most common traditional marketing methods are:
- Live Broadcast via television, radio, and etc.
- Outdoor (fliers, posters, billboards)
- Printing the advertisement in newspapers, magazines, and etc.
- Telephone or SMS marketing
- Direct mail
Traditional marketing has revolutionized over time, but it still depends on the four Ps of marketing i.e., Product, Place, Promotion, and Price. There’s no doubt that traditional marketing allows companies to reach out to their target audience. However, it offers little interaction and there are high-costs involved. Additionally, there is little freedom to customise, edit or update your marketing material to keep up with the competition and changing consumer demand.
2. What is Digital Marketing?
In the simplest terms, any promotion or marketing efforts that are carried our online arereferred to as digital marketing strategies. The main reason why digital marketing is gaining a lot of traction is because more and more consumers are utilising search engines and social media platforms to obtain their information. It offers multiple opportunities to promote your brand across different networking channels; honing in on your target audience in the process. You’re also able to track your progress and see which areas of the web your consumers are most active. Some of the common digital marketing methods are:
- Search engine marketing (SEM)
- Social media Marketing (SMM)
- Email Campaigns
- Digital Display Advertising
- Mobile Marketing
- Affiliate Marketing
- Content Creation
- Search Engine Optimization
A digital marketing company will offer an inbound marketing approach, where businesses don’t have to step out and find their customers; instead, your customers find and approach you. Digital marketing is the most effective way to generate more leads, create more conversions, and develop a better sales funnel overall.
3. Which One Should You Choose?
Considering the advanced marketing methods of digital marketing? It is pretty safe to assume that digital marketing methods will soon override traditional advertisements like television and radio. This is simply because people want fast, easy access to information around the clock. But with that said, some of the more traditional methods can also leave a stronger impression by enforcing brand identity through voice, image and creativity. A digital marketing company can generally lend a hand in both areas, so it’s worth seeking the professional advice before making any large,traditional investments! So, what are you waiting for? Hire a digital marketing company who provide comprehensive consultations to take your business to the next level!
