When you’re running your own business, marketing can be confusing. This is why there are professionals out there with degrees and experience to help. Before the dawn of computers and the internet, corporations and businesses depended on these experts to launch their businesses or keep them in the forefront of the minds of consumers. Thanks to worldwide connectivity, however, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and even larger companies have started to launch social media marketing campaigns, which can cost much less and seems even easier to accomplish than traditional marketing ever has been. This leads us to question whether one might be better than the other.
Defining Marketing
Traditional marketing is also known as offline marketing. This can include tactics and strategies that include anything printed, such as newspaper ads, magazine ads and articles, mailers, flyers, or even TV commercials or radio advertising. Many newer business owners may overlook this kind of advertising, but it is a tried and true concept that still works.
When it comes to social media marketing, or digital marketing, it can include anything related to the internet. This can include social media, sponsored advertising through Google, or even banners and reciprocal advertising on partner websites. As the name suggests though, social media marketing goes out of its way to leverage popular social media platforms that target a specific audience and customer. When you use these two concepts together, it can help your business maximize its reach to potential customers.
Similarities and Differences
Both traditional and social media marketing build awareness of your product or service with the public at large. In both instances, the goal is to foster public engagement. Whether you’re seeking out potential clients, or maintaining relationships with existing customers, both of these marketing concepts can help build word-of-mouth reputation that is necessary for a business to thrive.
Even though both of these marketing concepts have the same goals, each approaches the goal differently. They are both tied to the nature of their respective techniques. Social media concentrates on interactive platforms where engagement is more immediate, and traditional marketing concentrates on static tactics that give businesses a broader reach and wider audience.
Both approaches use key performance indicators to measure how successful they are, however each tactic should measure different engagement factors. An example of this might be followers versus foot traffic into the store.
Make a Difference in Your Marketing Plan
Regardless of which marketing tactic you’re more comfortable with, the reality is that you will be more successful when you have an expert ready to help you extend your company’s reach and foster its growth. Remember, at Annek Marketing Group, we can help your business find the perfect balance when it comes to your marketing and advertising budget. Our goal is always to help you do more of what you do best. We’re here to help, so contact us today to learn more about the different options we have to get your business buzzing!