The Great Debate:

Digital or Traditional Marketing Marketing has proven to be a key factor in attaining success in the business industry, while the

Internet has increased its value to people with the emergence of technology. The digital landscape

is now a trending ground for marketers, as most potential consumers can be accessed through the

World Wide Web.

Before, advertisers used flyers, television and radio plug-ins, posters, and direct phone calls to

market their product. These traditional techniques are now slowly losing grip as a modern method

of publicity – digital marketing – is gradually entering the surface.

Here are a few of the differences between the traditional and digital methods:

Type of Conversation

The Agenda-Setting Theory states that the news media cannot dictate what people should think,

but they can manipulate what people can think about. Traditional method works well for the

business as it uses multiple outlets, but they cannot measure the depth of the ad. In the digital

method, meanwhile, companies have a better way to converse with the audience as people have

more control in digital space.

Traditional is a one-way conversation and mass marketing; while digital is a two-way

conversation and one-to-one or many-to-many marketing.

Number of Audience

Digital method reaches a range of people, but traditional methods have a wider reach, as almost

every home has a television or radio. Not every person has an access to the Internet and most

adults are not into the idea of browsing online. Depending on the target audience, old-fashioned

techniques may still work better than modern approach.

Costing and Immediacy

The Internet is known as the free space for many reasons. Putting up something online barely

costs anything. Using the digital method can help a business save a lot of money. Money is a big

asset of companies, which is why owners will take ways that can help them save without

sacrificing quality. Ads on posters and media outlets cost time as well, unlike on the Web where

you only need to upload it.

Some people are convinced that the traditional method is still the best way of

marketing, while others note that the digital method is now on the driver’s seat.

Business owners, meanwhile, almost have the same opinions – seasoned

companies remain loyal to the old style and newbies lean towards innovation.

Experts say that an individual cannot determine which technique is better as it

still depends on the type of business and the target audience. Understanding the

components of each approach allows marketers to decide which is better to use

for the business.

Sources: http://www.seoservices.com.au/industries/for-small-business http://masscommtheory.com/theory-overviews/agenda-setting-theory/ http://evanwright.hubpages.com/hub/Digital-vs-Traditional-Marketing http://digital-marketing-strategy.weebly.com/digital-marketing.html http://digitalstuart.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/traditional-media-vs-digital-media-the-differences/