Traditional Marketing vs. Digital Marketing

When it comes to choosing marketing strategies for your business, digital marketing strategies are going to allow you to reach the biggest possible audience. This is because digital marketing is done online, and more than five billion people use the internet every day. Some of the most common digital marketing strategies include SEO (search engine optimization) marketing, content marketing, PPC (pay per click), and affiliate marketing.

Traditional marketing, on the other hand, is marketing done offline. Even though digital marketing methods reach a wider audience, traditional marketing methods are still used— and successful— in today’s digital world. Here are some of the most successful forms of traditional marketing.

Best Traditional Marketing Methods

Planning Business Events

Whether it’s a seminar, convention, or conference; a festival or a fair, look into planning an event where you can create a booth to showcase your business. Even if you don’t plan this event yourself, it’s likely that there are similar business events going on nearby that you can attend. These events allow you to network with other business owners while also giving you a chance to interact with potential customers who are outside of your target audience (the people you’re constantly marketing toward) but are still within your target market (the people who are interested in what your business sells). Your current loyal customers may also want to attend these events.

Printed Ads

Printed ads include brochures, flyers, magazines, and newspaper articles. This is one of the oldest forms of traditional marketing that is still in use today— and has even been converted into digital formats (e.g., online newspapers and magazines, flyers sent through email). However, the non-digital forms are just as effective as the digital forms. So if you’re an in-person business or an e-commerce business, give this marketing technique a try.

Promotional Merchandise

Businesses that sell promotional merchandise increase their popularity and overall brand awareness greatly. Promotional merchandise is any everyday item (or item that complements what you sell) that bears your company name and logo. The most common type of promotional items includes clothing items (hats, jackets, and T-shirts), functional items (phone cases), and items that fit a certain lifestyle or interest (coffee mugs or candle lighters). Research your target audience and look at what you’re already selling to determine what type of promotional items will sell the best.

Other Traditional Marketing Methods

Billboard Ads

Billboards can still be seen along interstate highways, advertising to the drivers passing by. However, because these ads are seen while people are driving, they may not be remembered. Usually, billboard ads are used by personal injury lawyers who specialize in motor vehicle accidents. If you’re not in this industry, then this type of traditional advertising may not get you the results that you want.

Broadcasting

Broadcasting refers to radio and TV commercials. This type of marketing works great for local businesses that advertise to their local community. Broadcasting can also be used in a digital format, such as ads on YouTube. This method tends to work better for e-commerce businesses.

Cold Calling

Cold calling is also known as telemarketing, and it’s a method of selling that is also still in use today. Basically, the premise of cold calling or telemarketing is calling individuals in order to sell them your product or service. You’re probably already aware that this isn’t the best marketing technique because oftentimes these telemarketer calls are flagged as spam calls and don’t get through in the first place. If they do get through, only a small percentage of them are effective and result in a sale.

Event marketing, printed advertisements, and selling promotional merchandise are some of the best forms of traditional marketing that give you a higher return on your investment. This isn’t to say that other forms of traditional marketing won’t work for your business. It’s important to try different techniques to determine what works best for your company.

Even though traditional marketing methods tend to work better for in-person businesses that serve their local community, e-commerce businesses can also benefit from many of these methods— just as the opposite can be said for in-person businesses. For the most part, one method should not be used in favor of another, although a business may use one type more often than the other. All types of businesses should try a combination of traditional and digital marketing in order to reach as many people as possible.