There are many key differences between inbound marketing and outbound marketing. Outbound marketing typically involves proactively going out into the world to seek customers to create interest in a new product. Whereas inbound marketing focuses on creating and distributing written content that attracts readers to a website, thus, drawing them to the site. One of the biggest questions marketers ask is what is inbound marketing vs outbound marketing?
A strong inbound marketing strategy allows you to create interest in your company’s products or services through various channels, such as print, television, the internet, audio stocks, and others. A well-planned digital marketing strategy also helps you to reach your audience more effectively. But how do you know which strategy to use to best reach your prospects? What are the differences between the two strategies?
Inbound methods of marketing include the following: creating websites, including a landing page for your company; distributing written materials, such as newsletters and business reports; and distributing digital media, such as videos and podcasts. While these techniques all have their place, they often work in tandem with traditional marketing efforts. When used in combination with traditional marketing efforts, inbound marketing can strengthen your position in the marketplace and increase the quality of your product or service. Below are some of the key benefits of using inbound marketing in addition to traditional marketing.
Inbound techniques allow you to reach a larger audience, especially if you plan to distribute written content and other media. Many companies choose to submit articles to article directories and then distribute them via email, blogs, and social media. Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook allow you to reach an audience of global consumers. This type of inbound marketing can be used to increase the number of followers on your social media pages, as well as to provide an opportunity to connect with your audience in new and unique ways.
Outbound is a strategy that focuses on identifying your audience and then crafting unique ads or promotions that are more likely to appeal to your prospects. One strategy that some companies employ for outbound is to focus on a specific niche and build keyword-rich ads that directly address your prospects’ needs. Other companies work on an inbound/outbound approach by sending prospects ads in the mail, distributing press releases to local media outlets, and attending trade shows where they can showcase their product or service. With this approach, you can determine who your audience is and then focus your inbound marketing efforts on capturing their attention.
An inbound marketing campaign can often be more effective than traditional marketing efforts because it does not force customers to make a purchasing decision before they can evaluate the product or service. Traditional methods often force customers to make a choice between accepting your offer or losing out on a possible deal. With inbound marketing, customers are given the opportunity to weigh out both options before making a purchase. Many times this results in more customers choosing to buy online.
The definition of what is inbound marketing will vary depending on the business or agency that you are using for your inbound marketing campaign. However, many agencies view content marketing and traditional marketing as similar types of strategies. Content marketing often includes creating news releases, distributing press releases, writing blogs, participating in forums, and participating in social media sites. Many inbound marketing agencies also include SEO (search engine optimization), PPC (pay per click), and SMO (social media marketing).
When inbound marketing takes place online, it usually includes techniques such as email advertising, search engine optimization, content marketing, and webinars. In addition, many businesses use pay per click (PPC) in order to promote their website in front of the target audience. This type of advertising utilizes pay-per-click ads, where the advertiser only pays if a visitor clicks through the advertisement and is directed to the company’s website. SEO, PPC, and digital distribution also help to increase companies’ online presence and profile. Therefore, these four marketing methods can all be classified under inbound marketing strategies, because they all fall under the realm of digital distribution.