The field of marketing is more diverse and complex than ever. It may seem overwhelming, but when you know how to recognize key approaches and philosophies, you’ll know how to apply them to your business. Let’s look at the differences between inbound and outbound methods.
Outbound Marketing
We can consider outbound marketing to be the traditional philosophy that has guided marketing efforts for centuries, indeed long before “outbound” itself was even a term. It is characterized by advertising, public relations, promotional tactics, and other practices that address leads and clients directly and continuously without focus on reciprocal engagement. Whether it’s a TV ad, a print ad, a sales rep at a trade show, or a cold call, the communication flows primarily in one direction. While these traditional forms of marketing are of course still utilized quite often, they have been significantly displaced by the emergence of inbound marketing.
Inbound Marketing
The advent of inbound marketing has led to a fundamental transformation of how business and marketers view commerce. While outbound marketing efforts are geared towards delivering a message to a lead or client, inbound marketing is focused on building and fostering a dynamic, multi-directional flow of information. It is structured around many key practices, such as the creation and sharing of content, mutual engagement on review sites and other online platforms, or the creative fine-tuning of brand identity. Digital technologies such as the Web and social media have made inbound marketing possible and continue to shape its uses and implications.
Why It Matters
It will always benefit a business owner to develop a perception of marketing that fully accounts for its creative and technical possibilities. Outbound and inbound marketing practices may differ from one another, but you should formulate a marketing strategy that integrates these two philosophies. For instance, social media platforms and content management systems have certainly revolutionized how brands enrich their relationships with their audiences, but web technologies have also enhanced the way we learn about leads and design ad campaigns that are relevant to their needs. Think holistically and utilize the best tools at hand!
Only a fully modernized marketing plan will allow you to achieve the kind of growth your business is capable of. Our job is not simply to provide you with the latest tools and strategies, but to help you fully harness their potential. To get started with CAYK, call (403) 456-0072 today!
