In the world of advertising, it can be difficult keeping up with the latest technologies and the new marketing techniques they spawn. One distinction that must be made is the difference between Digital Marketing and Social Media. Although they are often mistaken as interchangeable terms, there is a difference, and it is quite simple; one encompasses the other.
Digital Marketing. It is the promoting of a brand using all forms of digital advertising channels. Digital marketing includes “online” techniques and practices contained within the category of Internet Marketing. However, it also extends beyond by including other “offline” channels that reach people without internet. As a result of this non-reliance on internet, the field of digital marketing includes a whole host of elements such as mobile phones, SMS/MMS, display / banner ads and digital outdoor.
Digital advertising channels include:
- Pre-roll advertising on websites with video content
- Internet banner advertising
- Internet Search Engine Marketing, including search engine advertising (ie Google Adwords)
- Other forms of online advertising such as Kijiji, Teambuy, Groupon, WagJag, Yelp, etc.
- Mobile
Social Media. It lives online as a powerful tool that uses web-based technologies to combine online social interactions with brand awareness. Think of social marketing like attending a cocktail party. You’re not in peoples’ faces trying to sell something – you join the conversation, politely listen a lot more than you talk, offer your perspective, and perhaps make a subtle sales pitch.
Social Media channels include:
- YouTube
- Blogs
Digital Marketing has had more time to mature than Social Media. Another way to compare the two is by execution.
Digital Marketing is much more aligned with traditional media through these steps:
- Find an audience
- Figure out the channel they access
- Place media buy
- Review the results
- Buy more or less or in different places depending on the outcomes
Social Media is like a hand written letter campaign with faster feedback cycles:
- Reach out and figure out what people are talking about
- Determine where they are having these conversations
- Engage in the conversation
- Add your opinion/facts/insights (content) to the conversation
- Encourage contributors to track, follow, bookmark you and your company, blog, fan page, etc.
- The top goal of a social marketing campaign is to influence and drive credibility. It enables you to have equity with your target market
- No media buying necessary - conversation engaging.
At Revolve, we excel at researching your brand’s reach, crafting your digital marketing mix, and then executing your Social Media plan.
http://www.socialmatica.com/social-media-investment/digital-marketing-vs-social-media-marketing/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_marketing
authored by
Yazeed Sobaih
Social Media Strategist
Revolve
