The True Value of Digital Marketing

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If you’ve been thinking about changing up your advertising strategy, it might be time to consider switching to digital marketing. Traditional marketing certainly has its benefits, especially if it’s used in conjunction with digital marketing. However, as technology advances, the need for widespread brand awareness is becoming more important. Here’s what you need to know about digital marketing and the value of high-quality SEO. 

What is Traditional Marketing? 

Traditional marketing refers to any form of advertising that occurs offline. As the name implies, these methods have been used for decades and continue to be utilized today. Even so, traditional marketing has fallen out of style with the rise of digital advertising. This isn’t to say that it doesn’t come with its own strengths alongside its weaknesses.

Generally speaking, traditional marketing will encompass anything that doesn’t require digital communication – think of your average billboard or TV commercial. The reason marketers still use traditional methods of advertising is because of their proven effectiveness. Plus, traditional marketing tends to do a great job of reaching target audiences. 

What is Digital Marketing? 

Digital marketing is exactly what it sounds like: advertising strategies that utilize technology to reach a wider audience. Although digital marketing is still relatively new, there’s no doubt that it’s effective. Now more than ever, businesses need to find ways to keep track of current trends and technology to keep up with other competitors. 

Due to vast changes in technology and societal shifts, the popularity of digital marketing only continues to grow. It also helps that digital marketing is usually less expensive while reaching international audiences at the same time. According to DataReportal, about 4.95 billion people actively use the internet while 4.62 people are active social media users. 

Examples of Traditional Marketing 

If you’re unfamiliar with traditional marketing, you’ve already come across it without even realizing it. Some of the most commonly used traditional marketing methods include the following:

  • TV and radio commercials
  • Magazine or newspaper ads
  • Directly mailed coupons, postcards, or other informational packets
  • Billboards
  • Phone calls and text messages
  • Posters and fliers

Even a simple walk to your mailbox could mean running into any of these traditional marketing strategies. An advertisement could appear in your mail or you could read about a certain service through a newspaper ad. Since these advertisements can be presented for long periods of time, many local businesses use traditional marketing techniques to reach their target audience. 

Methods of Digital Marketing

Technology never stops evolving. Thus, neither will digital marketing. While traditional marketing techniques have been mastered for decades, learning how to use digital marketing strategies can take some time. As a business owner, it’s important to know the latest information and advancements in technology surrounding digital marketing. 

Examples of digital marketing include the following:

  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization): One of the most commonly used digital marketing strategies, SEO aims to highly rank your business on search engines like Google. Reach even more with newer technologies like voice-driven search through Siri or Alexa.
  • Social Media Marketing: Using social media sites like Instagram or TikTok to post videos, photos, and content promoting your business.
  • Email Marketing: Sending electronic mail to target audiences.
  • PPC (Pay-Per-Click): Paid advertisements that appear on the web for temporary periods of time.
  • Content Marketing: Advertising by means of storytelling and information (e.g. blogs).
  • Mobile Marketing: Advertisements reaching target audiences through laptops, smartphones, and tablets. 
  • Affiliate Marketing: Advertising your products or service through a famous influencer or celebrity. 

Why is Digital Marketing Effective? 

At its core, digital marketing reaches evolving audiences. While certain traditional marketing strategies are still effective, people are capable of learning new information in the comforts of their homes. Today, users can simply open up their smartphones to learn more about nearby businesses. Digital marketing also allows them to learn about businesses all over the world. 

For businesses, this means less of a need for physical advertising requirements. You’ll no longer need to worry about advertisement inventory, transportation, or other related investments. In other words, digital marketing is effective because it’s less expensive. Plus, your marketing is more likely to get noticed with many people using the internet daily.

The Pros and Cons of Traditional Marketing

While digital marketing is currently the more popular advertising strategy, traditional marketing shouldn’t be ignored. Like any marketing campaign, traditional methods come with pros and cons. This doesn’t make them inherently outdated or ineffective. Used wisely, traditional marketing strategies can be just as helpful as digital methods. Even so, you’ll need to figure out if traditional marketing works for your business and target audience.  

Pros

Generally speaking, traditional marketing does a good job reaching an older audience demographic, usually above 50. Traditional marketing also works best for businesses interested in gaining the attention of local audiences. Instead of competing against global competitors, you’re more likely to be noticed by the surrounding community. Plus, since certain methods like commercials can’t be skipped, viewers are more likely to be exposed to your business. 

Cons

Traditional marketing is expensive. Depending on the type of advertising you’re presenting, the price point can elevate even further. Something as simple as printing can still be a large investment and there’s no guarantee that your information will resonate with audiences. Even if your marketing campaign is successful, it can take weeks or even months to see results. Data can’t show you when someone has read a newspaper ad, making it difficult to analyze your campaign. 

Advantages of Digital Marketing 

Marketing is about reaching your target audience, and digital marketing has become the key to making that happen. With its cost-effectiveness and ability to reach users across the globe, digital marketing only continues to grow. It also enables you to view analytics to make any necessary adjustments to your marketing campaign. As a business owner, it’s important to keep up with current trends. Right now, billions of people are using the internet for their needs, and you can use that for your advertising. 

Audience Reach

While traditional marketing can be great for local advertising, you’ll be restricted to that particular community. However, digital marketing allows your business to expand beyond the confines of your local area and reach customers regionally. Plus, utilizing local SEO can ensure that you’re still reaching people within the community. Better yet, this can all be accomplished without needing to pay hefty amounts of money. 

Decreased Costs

Speaking of money, digital marketing is much less expensive than traditional marketing. This can be especially useful for small businesses competing against larger companies within the same industry. If you can manage to reach a wider audience without needing to spend large amounts of money, it automatically benefits your business. There are even a few digital marketing strategies that are completely free such as SEO, content marketing, and social media. 

Improved Engagement

Digital marketing comes with the ability for audiences to engage with your content. Unlike traditional marketing choices like billboards and commercials, users can tangibly interact with your business. This can take form in actions such as likes, shares, and clicks. Plus, these interactions can be measured to improve brand awareness. In other words, the higher your engagement, the more loyal your customers become. 

ROIs of Traditional and Digital Marketing

As mentioned previously, traditional marketing is far more expensive than digital marketing. A seemingly simple print advertisement can cost between $2,000-$160,000 dollars. Considering the average costs, of traditional marketing, digital marketing tends to have a better ROI. This is primarily due to its ability to reach a wider audience with fewer costs. Traditional marketing still has its benefits, but digital marketing is currently contributing to increased revenue. 

The Power of SEO

SEO is one of the most cost-effective and useful digital marketing strategies you can use. When people look for certain products or services, they’re most likely to rely on search engines first. This number increases when considering high-ranking websites. Generally speaking, users are more likely to focus on the first page of Google and click its first recommendation. 

SEO can also include your local community, which further increases website traffic and conversions. Following trends and digital marketing changes closely can help you stay ahead of your competitors, as SEO is continually evolving. When looking at its overall value, the average business only spends between $1,500-5,000 dollars per month on SEO projects – that’s an incredible deal!

Can Digital and Traditional Marketing Work Together? 

Absolutely, and you should definitely try to incorporate both into your marketing campaign. Granted, if your business can’t afford to do both, consider focusing on digital marketing. However, traditional marketing strategies can still be of great benefit to your business, especially for local brand awareness. 

One example of using both strategies could include a CTA within your traditional advertisement. To emphasize, you could have a newspaper ad stating “please visit our Instagram account for further information.” You can use high-quality SEO that results in a fantastic Google ranking while still creating a TV commercial promoting your business. 

Digital Marketing and SEO Contribute to Business Success 

While you shouldn’t completely ignore traditional marketing techniques, there’s no doubt that SEO and digital marketing are the future of advertising. SEO is a cost-effective way to reach a local and global audience. When your business is one of the first results to appear on Google, your brand gets more visibility. Granted, SEO is just one strategy among many. Thus, the power of digital marketing can’t be understated. Simply put, businesses thrive when they use digital marketing and SEO. 

Are you interested in learning more about what high-quality SEO can do for your business? Bauertech has the strategic solutions you need to earn a high ranking on search engines. Contact us for a free strategy consultation today!

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