Are you stuck in the days of traditional marketing? Have you thought about online marketing and what it may be able to do for your business? While you can make an argument for either as being “superior”, in the end it is more than likely that a combination of both is what leads to the most success. So, what are the differences between the two? Let’s take a closer look at online vs traditional marketing methods.
What is Online Marketing?
Online marketing is something that has really taken over the world of marketing in the past decade or so. It is often referred to as “Internet marketing” as it takes place in the digital world. In a nutshell, it is a way to advertise your company/products/services online through the company’s website, social networks, blogs, and other avenues.
What’s interesting about online marketing is that it has morphed from a strictly advertisement type message to something more subdued that doesn’t come across as an ad. It’s not that in-your-face type of ad that has been common traditional marketing. Digital marketing gives companies a way to provide in-depth information and value added features that allow them to connect and even inform potential consumers.
What is Traditional Marketing?
Traditional marketing is all those typical types of advertising and networking that people are familiar with. This can include business card printing so you can pass around your card, brochures, leaflets, pamphlets, radio ads, TV commercials, magazine ads, cold calling, door-to-door sales/advertising, etc. While these may not be the first methods companies reach for, they are still incredibly effective.
Which One is Best?
Because each type of marketing reaches its own audience, it’s hard to look at them next to each other and say which one is “best”. Often it comes down to what the company is selling/offering, who their target audience is, and how big/small the company is. In general, the companies who are using the traditional forms of marketing in terms of TV and radio ads tend to be medium to large sized companies, whereas Internet marketing tends to be a bit more common with small businesses.
Part of the process in deciding which is best is figuring out what the marketing budget will be. There is no question that online marketing is a much more cost-effective way of marketing. Many will argue that it also allows companies to be more responsive since they can react to changing trends, pricing, and information quickly.
In comparison, if you are looking at a print, TV, or radio ad campaign it has likely been made a couple of weeks, if not more, in advance. This doesn’t allow for it to be quite a flexible and fluid.
A Combination of Both
For many companies, regardless of their size, the best marketing plan is usually one that combines a little of each. Including traditional marketing with the online marketing efforts can bring about the most effective results in the shortest amount of time.
