Digital Marketing vs. Traditional Marketing

February 10th, 2020 by Madison Nims

If you’re having trouble deciding where you should spend your marketing dollars in 2020, then you’ve come to the right place. As the world becomes more digital, the way we market will continue to evolve. While traditional marketing has its successes, digital marketing is changing the way businesses are marketing to their consumers. Continue reading to find out the top four reasons you should be taking advantage of the benefits of a digital marketing strategy.

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What Is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing helps you promote your brand online, increase website traffic, and deliver high-quality leads through a holistic marketing approach. The average person spends 24 hours a week on the Internet, which tells you it’s likely that the internet is where the majority of your potential consumers are spending most of their time. If you want to market your company’s brand in the right place at the right time, then it’s important you are being found online.

The top four reasons your business should be taking advantage of the benefits of digital marketing are:

  1. Target ideal buyers
  2. Trackable and measurable results
  3. Communication and engagement
  4. Cost-effective

1. Target Ideal Buyers

When you market to your potential customers, you want to make sure you’re marketing to the right person at the right time. Digital marketing consists of different tactics that work together to get your brand in front of your ideal buyer. One tactic, Search Engine Optimization, will help to ensure your business is seen when a person is searching for a product or service applicable to your company. Other tactics like Google and Facebook Display, Paid Search, and Social Media Advertising will allow you to market to people who are likely to be intrigued by what your business offers. Though traditional marketing can be successful and does allow you to reach certain audiences, it certainly does not have the advanced targeting proficiencies of digital marketing.

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2. Trackable and Measurable Results

The only way to know if a marketing campaign is successful is to measure its success over time. Tracking the results of a traditional marketing campaign can be extremely challenging, and, at times, impossible, while every tactic used in a digital marketing campaign can be measured. Susan Bogle, the Associate Vice President of Product Marketing at Southern New Hampshire University writes, “Today, analytics allow marketers to track user behavior at a highly detailed level: how many times they click on a link, how much time they spend on a web page, how often they open emails, and much more.” Being able to track results in a digital marketing campaign gives you the opportunity to see which tactics are performing well and which tactics could be altered for better success.

3. Communication and Engagement

According to a Hubspot blog written by Kayla Carmichael, “recently, 50% of marketers said they believe digital marketing has an edge over traditional because of the interaction digital marketing opens with customers.” Digital marketing allows for continuous engagement with your audience through different digital media channels. You are able to interact with your customers to ensure you have met all of their desired needs. A marketing team is able to create, support, and withstand a two-way conversation with its customers in a digital marketing campaign, while traditional marketing has little to no interaction with consumers.

4. Cost-Effective

Using digital marketing tactics is one of the most profitable ways to market your business. Investing a large amount of dollars in marketing and advertising can be a financial burden that many businesses have to deal with. Traditional marketing makes it almost impossible for smaller companies to compete with larger companies for advertising space. In contrast, digital marketing allows businesses both big and small to market on the same platforms and get more for their marketing expend. According to LyfeMarketing, “Social media is cheaper than any form of advertising available today. Unlike traditional, digital marketing is one of the only forms of media that can expose your business to over 1,000 people for less than $3.”

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Traditional Marketing Is Good, But Digital Marketing Is Better

Traditional marketing has been an exceptional form of advertising over the years, but the world has become more digital, so it’s important for your business to do the same. There is a time and place for both marketing strategies, but if you’re looking for tactics that will allow you to target your ideal buyers, track results, and communicate with your customers all at a reasonable price, then it’s time to invest in digital marketing.

Are you looking to get into the digital marketing landscape? Don’t worry, the experts at Search Influence can handle all of your company’s digital advertising needs. Request a digital marketing analysis today—it’s our gift to you.

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Images:

Tina Fey

Keith Urban

Pageant Girl

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