Marketing in 2019 requires knowing the story behind traditional marketing vs. modern marketing tactics. Many companies struggle to figure out what type of marketing is right for them—analysis paralysis, if you will. That can leave an organization in limbo.

In this series on modern marketing, we’ll give you a quick breakdown of the two types of approaches. Here’s what you need to know regarding the difference between traditional and newer (read: digital) methods of marketing, so that you can decide what works best for your needs and budget.

Traditional Marketing vs. Modern Marketing

For many industries and niches, traditional marketing still has a lot to offer. Think of conventional advertising like print, broadcast, or direct mail. These avenues reach semi-targeted audiences and rely heavily on the age-old “four Ps” you learned in Marketing 101: product, price, place, and promotion.

Traditional marketing’s tried-and-true methods can work in today’s marketplace—as long as they’re carefully customized. Many companies use large agencies to help with the overall marketing plan, whereas outsourced marketing and freelance marketing professionals can provide specialized service. When used effectively, traditional marketing can help guide potential customers into the sales funnel and lead to conversions.

Yet in today’s connected world, businesses can quickly fall behind if they aren’t using modern marketing. Modern methods revolve around digital media that allows for hypertargeting and new ways to connect with customers. Any business, regardless of type or size, can leverage digital channels to reach their target market—even new audiences—and build loyalty.

Make the Most of Your Marketing

What do you need to be aware of when it comes to modern marketing? A part-time marketing consultant can help you weigh traditional marketing vs. modern marketing approaches for your company’s needs. Here are a few main principles worth noting.

1. Just about everyone is online, from kids to baby boomers. If you’re leaving digital efforts out of your marketing plans, you’re leaving opportunities on the table. Statistics show that more than 80% of shoppers do their research online before buying.
2. Digital channels tend to create inbound forms of marketing. That means instead of spending money to go out and find your audience, they are coming to you. What’s more, you’re attracting people whose interest is already piqued, thereby creating warmer leads.
3. Digital marketing can offer remarkable ROI when done effectively. Newer methods offer an even more targeted reach as well as amazing automation and reporting technologies. However, these have a real science to them that can be tricky to learn. You might want to consider partnering with an outsourced marketing specialist—we can help you with your most important initiatives.

In our next post, we’ll dive into some details on newer marketing methods and what they might mean to you. If you’ve focused on traditional methods in the past and have questions, we’d love to hear from you!

Get in touch to learn more about JABR Marketing’s fractional marketing management services.