Introduction 


A marketing budget is highly crucial for success and favorable return of investment. But, the question is do you know how to spend the marketing budget in the right direction? Many businesses are still confused when it comes to budgetary allocation between traditional marketing vs digital marketing. 

But for a fact to increase their brand's reach, reach the most significant number of targeted consumers, and create the most revenue, marketers, businesses, and organizations are rapidly transferring their attention from traditional marketing approaches to digital marketing platforms. The debate on whether conventional marketing approaches or digital marketing strategies should be prioritized remains unabated. Let us understand both of them in detail. 

What is Traditional Marketing?


The term traditional marketing refers to promotional strategies that do not rely on the World Wide Web. These methods have been used for many years that don't involve digital platforms.

The most common examples of classic advertising techniques are:

  • Commercial breaks on television
  • Advertisements in periodicals
  • Ads on the radio
  • Billboards
  • Flyers
  • Postcards, informational packets, and discount codes were mailed directly to consumers.

All of us have been exposed to ads like the ones described above numerous times. 

Traditional Marketing: Its Benefits and Drawbacks


Especially with the rise of digital advertising, many people see conventional marketing as irrelevant or outdated. Nonetheless, it retains several useful strategies for companies.  Check out the following list of benefits and drawbacks of traditional advertising to make a proper informed decision whether to stand by it or not. 

Pros


  • You should expect more success from conventional advertising strategies if your target audience is a bit from the older generation.  The majority of retirees spend their time glued to the couch with a newspaper or television. Therefore, it would be simple to get their attention with radio and TV adverts, as well as through print media in terms of advertisement or marketing. 

  • Traditional advertising is your best option if you want to attract a sizable local clientele. To attract customers, small businesses should focus on outdoor advertising like billboards and flyers. 

  • Commercials on TV and radio can't be fast-forwarded, so they will keep playing and reminding listeners of your company over and over again and eventually you will get their attention for the required products you are offering. In India, the radio has a solid following base and still seems relevant in terms of advertising. 

Cons


  • Success from conventional marketing strategies sometimes takes months or even years to materialize. It's a lengthy procedure that calls for plenty of patience.

  • It's expensive to send out postcards and coupons, and there's no guarantee that the receiver will be interested in what you have to offer.

What is Digital Marketing?


Digital marketing, popularly known as online marketing, is a way of promoting brands by connecting with potential customers via the internet and other forms of digital communication such as social media, SEO, email, and mobile apps. Fundamentally, digital marketing involves any form of marketing that involves electronic devices. 

Some of the common digital marketing methods include -
  • Web content 
  • Email campaigns 
  • Content marketing
  • Social media posts 
  • Affiliate marketing 
  • Search engine optimization 

Digital Marketing: Its Benefits and Drawbacks


There is constant evolution in the tactics used for digital marketing. In certain contexts, digital marketing is revolutionary while in others it's just the norm.

Pros


  • In today's global economy, advertising your company overseas is a viable option. Getting both the attention of locals and foreigners can help in increasing your customer base as well as retaining those for revenue and productivity. 

  • Listeners may be monitored and data can be collected easily. With such information in hand, you may come up with products that are aligned with the interest and preferences of your target audience.  

  • The expenses associated with digital advertising methods are cost effective. Instead of printing and mailing out postcards, you may save a lot of money by communicating with individuals through various digital mediums such as websites, social media, blogs, newsletters, emails and more. 

Cons


  • One needs to be technically sound  for browsing different products on digital platforms, that's a challenge for many out there. The technically sound ones can avoid seeing it by blocking or skipping websites that display it.

  • The best way to succeed in digital marketing is to constantly adapt to the new techniques that arise. This requires constant evaluation for the marketing campaigns to work and yield productive results. 

Is it possible to successfully combine traditional and digital approaches to advertising?


A new digital age has arrived. A lot of our regular routines, such as getting our news and doing our banking, have moved online. Since the digital world is rapidly expanding, it is prudent for marketers to shift their focus to digital advertising. The decline of the conventional market's audience may be attributed to the rise of the digital one. 

These days, a digital presence and online audience interaction are musts. Therefore, companies shouldn't abandon their tried-and-true methods of advertising, but rather, keep up with them while simultaneously making sure they have an established digital presence and ambitious plans for further expansion.

Differences Between Traditional Versus Digital Marketing 


Factors of Comparison 


Traditional Marketing


Digital Marketing


Definition
It is an offline marketing tactic that utilizes media, broadcasts, direct mail, telephone, etc. to advertise any businesss service or product. 
It is an online marketing tactic that utilizes the internet, electronic devices, or social media to advertise & promote a businesss service or products. 
Engagement
Quite Low 
Relatively High
Conversion
Slow & Not High Conversion 
Fast & Higher Conversion 
Nature 
Static and Stable 
Dynamic & Evolving 
Nature of Investment 
Cant be measured 
Can be measured 
Effectiveness 
Less 
More
Targeting 
More Standardized 
More Customized 
Tracking 
Not Possible 
Possible 
Reach 
Local 
Global 
Results 
Slow and Static 
Fast and Live

Traditional Marketing vs Digital Marketing Examples


Traditional Marketing Examples


1. Billboards


Billboards display advertisements and firm graphics. Billboards are an example of traditional marketing that feature images and text conveying a brief & notable message to the audience.


Print advertisements are another example of traditional marketing. It helps brands reach more prospective customers via outlets like newspapers or magazines. Print ads help a business generate more sales leads. 

3. Broadcasting 


Another way to enhance local brand recognition is broadcasting. This traditional marketing example helps customers learn more about a businesss brand and products. Broadcasting means making commercials for radio and television.

4. Direct Mails


Direct mail marketing casts print materials like letters or postcards to the potential customer residents. Hence, direct mail enhances service awareness of the company/business/firm.

5. Handouts


A handout is a printed document such as a flyer or brochure. Businesses used this traditional marketing form to promote a business, event, or sale. Flyers highlight details about a company or explain the features of a product in public.

Digital Marketing Examples 


1. Search Engine Optimization


Search engine optimization is the standard example of digital marketing. The target of SEO is to increase the visibility of the web pages of a particular brand so that they can rank high on the top of popular search engines like Google.

2. Social Media Marketing 


Social media marketing is highly popular in 2022. Large-scale and small-scale businesses advertise their work on social media platforms in the form of  blog posts, videos, and stories, reels, infographics and more to increase brand awareness and entice the targeted audience towards the brand. 

3. Content Marketing


Content marketing is a marketing strategy which is used to attract, engage, and retain an audience by creating and sharing relevant articles, videos, podcasts, and more. It's all about establishing expertise, promoting brand awareness, and keeping your business in the top of users mind when it comes to buying what you sell.

4. Mobile Marketing


Mobile marketing stands for multi-channel, digital marketing strategy aiming to reach the targeted audience via smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, or through websites, email, SMS and MMS, social media, apps and more. 

5. PPC

 

PPC stands for pay-per-click. It's a popular model of internet marketing in which advertisers need to pay a fee each time one of their ads is being clicked. Fundamentally  its a technique of buying visits to your website, rather than attempting to have those through organic visits. 

Digital Marketing vs Traditional Marketing: Which Type Should You Choose?


Now that you know all about digital and traditional marketing, you might ask which one to choose between the two! Well, opting between digital or traditional marketing depends on the businesss requirements and objectives. 
A business that aims to bring in local customers can go with traditional marketing. A business that aims to target the older generation, must choose TV or radio commercials, or flyers/banners to effectively promote their service. 
Now, there are some businesses that target the youth, they must make a choice for digital marketing. Why? Because youngsters use mobile phones, laptops, and the internet the most. Online marketing usually looks for a set of customers outside their local boundaries, hence its better to go digital.

Which One Is Better  Traditional or Digital?


Digital marketing is cost-effective as compared to traditional marketing. In online marketing, the potential audience can be more targeted. In comparison, traditional marketing is effective only when reaching a local plus larger audience. To decide which is better, you need to consider your budget and target market. Ultimately, the best type of marketing is the type that complements your business goals.