Often used interchangeably, there has been some confusion out there as to what “digital marketing” vs “social media marketing” actually means. If you don’t have a clear understanding, this ultimately can be putting your business at a disadvantage. So what’s really the difference?
The short answer is simply that digital marketing is a sort of umbrella term for all online marketing channels, of which social media is just a small part of it. As for the long answer? Digital marketing vs social media marketing needs a little more breaking down.
Digital Marketing
As a method to build brand awareness and promote products or services by using all the available channels, digital marketing is essentially using a customized mix of digital outlets to make the business profitable. This can be in the form of internet marketing or through the use of digital channels that do not require the internet.
Internet Marketing typically includes:
- Search Engine Marketing (i.e. search engine optimization and pay per click advertising)
- Mobile Marketing (i.e. Apple Store and Google Play)
- Email Marketing
- Online Banner Ads
- Video Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
While other digital channels without internet would be:
- Television
- Radio
- Digital Billboards (indoor and outdoor)
It is important to note that while all of these channels are out there, you do not need to implement all available options in order to guide your target market through the marketing funnel. The key is to find the right online marketing strategy, which is ideally made up of a handful of the previously mentioned channels.
Social Media Marketing
As we already mentioned, social media marketing is simply one component of digital marketing and it is certainly a trending part of marketing. Whether your business is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or some kind of combination of the big social media networks, having a presence on at least one platform not only helps build awareness but also brand loyalty. Among the millennial generation, social media is a common platform to discover new things and it has been even used to engage with different brands.
Why you should also focus on other aspects of digital marketing.
Understanding the difference between digital marketing and social media marketing will ultimately help your marketing department understand what you are looking for and create the appropriate marketing strategy. And while there are a lot of benefits to including social media marketing in your strategy, please keep in mind that the percentage of traffic that comes from these platforms and convert into customers is fairly low.
For this reason, it is crucial to utilize other digital marketing channels to help turn prospects into clients as well as curate a well rounded online presence. When you have a combination of the right marketing channels for your specific business working cohesively, you are more likely to see growth and increased ROI over time.
Need to sit down with a professional? Schedule a free consultation and our Hawaii marketing agency can help walk you through the process!