Are you currently thinking of ways to capture your target market’s attention? Have you taken the time to research the best strategy for your new business? As a startup business, gathering all the requirements is a challenge. There are numerous things a first-time entrepreneur has to do for a business run like a well-oiled machine, including choosing a marketing strategy.
There are two main marketing categories: digital marketing and traditional marketing. The debate between digital and traditional marketing has been around for years. But with the rise of new technology and platforms, it’s only gotten more heated.
So, which is the best strategy for startups?
What’s Digital Marketing?
The typical digital marketing strategies include the following:
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Website content
- Content marketing
- Social media advertising
- Affiliate marketing
- Email campaigns
- Clickable advertisements
Thanks to creative minds and evolving trends, digital marketing has risen to the top and is commonly used by business owners today. In addition, there’s a high percentage of people on social media, so it makes sense to market digitally (and through social media).
For example, students rarely go to the library to search for information. We all have the information we need online, and that’s why many opt for their Google search bar when they need to search or learn something. That’s also true for local people looking for the best products or services.
Reaching your local target customers can be done by hiring local digital marketing services near your area. For example, if you want to opt for SEO as your marketing strategy and your business is in Western Australia, make sure to find the best SEO Newcastle has to offer. It’s a good company focused on helping you achieve your startup goals.
Why Digital Marketing?
We all can agree that this world is a fast-moving world. It’s evident how far the technologies have evolved, and digital marketing strategies are included in this achievement.
Nowadays, business owners can market online without the need to go out or pay thousands of dollars for traditional commercials. Moreover, these strategies are far from physical, so they cut off the costs of transportation, inventory, and other related expenses.
With over 4.62 billion people using social media applications and 4.95 billion using the Internet in general, digital marketing is suitable, especially for a startup business that wants to save on marketing funds.
Moreover, digital marketing and its effectiveness are easy to track due to the availability and accessibility of data. It’s also relatively easy to collect all the data to check the improvement of the marketing method.
What’s Traditional Marketing?
Traditional marketing is the opposite of digital marketing. It uses strategies that were used before the invention of the Internet and technology for decades. It’s a form of marketing without utilizing the Internet. It’s less used nowadays since more and more people are inclined to follow what they see online. However, they also have their strengths.
These are the common traditional marketing strategies:
- Billboards
- Fliers
- Telephone calls
- Text notifications
- Newspaper and magazine advertisements
- Television or radio commercials
- Directly mailed coupons, postcards, and informational packets
- Referrals
You may have encountered these marketing strategies without thought; we go through them every day just by listening to television commercials while watching your favorite TV series or while commuting home and listening to the radio. So they’ve become a part of daily life.
Why Traditional Marketing?
The usage of traditional marketing has become very limited due to the advancement of technology. However, we can see the strategies in our daily life. You can see flyers distributed while walking through the street and huge banners and billboards.
There are also film ads that are shown on a huge television. Film ads are a great way to capture people’s attention and make them stop in their tracks (safely) and watch the film.
Traditional marketing methods and their effectiveness would depend on the type of business. It would also depend on the target audience’s age. This type of marketing is popular among people who are in the older population. They would rather take time to read about a product or service.
This strategy is also helpful if you want to establish and develop your business and spread the news locally. Startups and small businesses typically grow better when they use flyers and billboards as a marketing method. It’s a good strategy since they can attract the attention of locals near the business area.
Another advantage is that you can play it repeatedly. In digital marketing, people can skip the advertisement without a thought.
Final Thoughts
The battle between traditional and digital marketing is among the most common topics among entrepreneurs. Both marketing methods have their pros and cons. The best marketing strategy for your startup business would depend on numerous factors.
To get a concise answer, you would have to evaluate your business goals and what’s more effective for your business in terms of cost and longevity.