Digital marketing is synonymous with ‘finding your business online. It is basically the marketing and promotion of various products and services through one or more forms of digital media. In this evolutionary world, it is thought that digital marketing has completely overpowered traditional marketing, with its many facets including websites, search engines, social media mentions, and so on.
Traditional marketing, on the other hand, is the marketing of products or services using media excluding digital means. This uses business cards, printed advertisements such as newspapers, posters, or magazines along with TV or Radio commercials, etc.
Even though both methods are aimed to achieve the same results, they are advantageous and disadvantageous to not only the company/individual being promoted but to consumers as well.
Differences (Pros and Cons)
The longevity of the traditional method allows consumers to more accustomed to it. Placing advertisements on billboards and in magazines is still common. This method, however, does not allow interaction with the audience. Subsequently, digital marketing has evolved since its introduction and allows the audience to access information on the business in the easiest and most convenient way to them. It has given consumers the chance to express their views or queries on a platform that can be used as feedback and thus used to improve the offerings of the business within a short time frame.
Digital marketing appears to be the most effective way of reaching an infinite number of consumers within the shortest possible time while allowing them the opportunity to voice their concerns. Digital channels are relatively cheap, compared with traditional media, making them accessible to practically every business of every size.
The cost to implement a traditional marketing method far outweighs that of digital marketing. Traditional methods are done for strict time periods and attract a cost accordingly while Digital methods are done for time periods and are more flexible. The latter can be canceled/removed or edited as requested by the business while the former is strict in its offerings once made available to the public. Once digital marketing is used, less will be spent on Capital Investment and can contribute to higher Returns on Investment
Digital Marketing levels the playing field between large and small-scale businesses where none is given an advantage over the other as is the case with Traditional methods. Consumers have access to electronic media and once both types of businesses employ digital methods, their services and products will be equally accessible to potential customers. Traditional methods give large affluent companies an edge over the small upcoming businesses and may b considered a bad marketing strategy for smaller businesses.
How We Use Both Digital & Traditional Marketing
It is with no doubt that traditional marketing supports our digital marketing efforts. The two do not operate in exclusion from each other. But we only use hard copy marketing materials to further strengthen a relationship with a contact, referral partner, or client. We don’t invest in
television or radio ads, for example, but we will give brochures to someone who is interested in our services.
Rather than taking an all-or-nothing approach, it appears that a multi-channel approach that leverages the unique benefits of paper with the convenience and accessibility of digital will perform best.
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