Traditional Marketing vs Digital Marketing

6 minute read
Traditional Marketing vs Digital Marketing

To lead in the business field, it is important for every business to build engagement with the audience. Marketing is that tool that keeps the conversation going as it allows businesses to promote and build brand awareness, increase sales and engage consumers. There are a lot of ways through which businesses choose to catch the attention of their niche audience. The marketing strategies in today’s time have shifted from Traditional Marketing to Digital Marketing and almost every business is switching to digital methods of marketing. However, there are still a lot of businesses that use Traditional Marketing in the marketplace. Let’s explore why Digital Marketing is dominating the business world, leaving behind traditional marketing strategies. This blog includes the key differences between Traditional Marketing and Digital Marketing, the pros and cons, and more. 

Comparison Chart

The comparison table below will help you understand the key differences between Traditional Marketing and Digital Marketing:

Parameters of Comparison Traditional Marketing Digital Marketing
Target Audience Local Audience Global Audience
Marketing Cost Expensive Less Costly/Affordable
Communication One-Way communication Two-way communication 
Interaction Direct Interaction Online Interaction 
Methods of promoting Through hardcopies such as Magazines, Newspapers, etc. 
And
Radio, Television Ads, etc.
Digital Platforms such as Websites, Social Media, etc.
Marketing Results Weeks or Months  Quick Results 
Engagement Low Comparatively High
traditional marketing vs digital marketing
Source: Google

What is Traditional Marketing?

Traditional marketing is a marketing strategy that takes place offline through print media, broadcasting, direct mail, phone interactions, and outdoor advertisement. Traditional Marketing has been in use for decades. Traditional Marketing is meant to reach a local audience and is more expensive than other forms of marketing.

Forms of Traditional Marketing

The different forms of traditional marketing methods are listed below:

  • Billboards
  • Direct mail
  • Print advertising
  • Event marketing
  • Referral marketing
  • Broadcasting
  • One-to-one Marketing through calls, SMS

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital Marketing is used for promoting and advertising businesses through online mode. Advertising and promotional activities for a business are delivered through digital forms of marketing such as Websites, Search Engines, Social Media, Email, and Mobile. Digital Marketing is capable of reaching a global audience and is a lot more affordable than the traditional method of marketing. 

Forms of Digital Marketing

The various forms of traditional marketing areas are listed below:

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Content Marketing
  • Inbound Marketing
  • Social Media Marketing (SMM)
  • Pay-per-click (PPC)
  • Affiliate Marketing
  • Native Advertising
  • Marketing Automation
  • Email Marketing
  • Online PR (Public Relations)

There are other types of digital marketing methods that are also gaining traction.

Pros and Cons of Traditional Marketing 

Listed below are the pros of using Traditional Marketing:

  • It becomes easy to reach the local audience through Radio Advertising.
  • Traditional Marketing is done through various offline methods such as print media including flyers, posters, and pamphlets that can be reused and do not require an internet connection to be viewed.
  • There is a large population that still believes in traditional marketing, older customers specifically. They prefer traditional forms of marketing over digital marketing as they are not used to the digital world.

Listed below are the cons of using Traditional Marketing:

  • Static Text is used in traditional marketing which does not allow you to edit your advertising, unlike digital marketing where you can update and edit whenever needed.
  • Traditional Marketing is quite expensive as you have to pay every time for putting up advertisements, billboards, flyers, or pamphlets.
  • Customized Marketing is not at all possible in Traditional Marketing as only specific markets are targeted.
  • Not capable of providing enough information as the space provided in print media is limited. 

Pros and Cons of Digital Marketing

Listed below are the pros of Digital Marketing:

  • The best part about using Digital Marketing for business is that it is extremely affordable and some platforms even allow you to use it free of cost. Hence, you can get the same or even more outreach at less cost. 
  • Digital Marketing allows businesses to reach a global audience, unlike traditional marketing where you can only reach out to the local audience.
  • Digital Marketing provides a variety of customer services through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and e-mail marketing.

Listed below are the cons of using Digital Marketing:

  • Digital Marketing consumes a lot of time. It has been reported that digital marketers spend more than 11 hours a day working online. 
  • Digital Technology has undoubtedly made our lives a lot easier but it has also increased online scams. Digital Marketing is also a victim of online scams as there are many scammers and trolls who may want to destroy your reputation by giving the business a negative response intentionally.
  • Digital Marketing Campaigns and ideas are prone to plagiarism as it takes seconds to copy-paste your ideas online. 

Traditional Marketer vs Digital Marketer- How to become one?

You can become a Traditional Marketer by completing your higher secondary education, preferably in Commerce. Pursue a bachelor’s degree in the business field such as BCom, or BBA and for career advancement, you can opt for an MBA program. Apart from the educational qualifications, you must also possess the following skills:

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To become a Digital Marketer, you must complete your higher secondary education and go for a bachelor’s degree in marketing, digital media, communication, website/graphic design, English, or liberal arts. To excel as a Digital Marketer, you must have the following skills:

  • Organization and Project management
  • Data Analysis
  • Content Creation
  • SEO and SEM
  • Communication Skills
  • Social Media 
  • Knowledge of Graphic Design software such as Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Top Universities offering Marketing Courses Abroad

Due to the rise of Digital Marketing in today’s world, the demand for professionals in the Digital Marketing field has increased. This is the reason why many top universities have been offering Marketing Courses. Listed below are the top universities offering Marketing Courses abroad:

QS Ranking 2023 University Name Country Course Offered
1 HEC Paris France MSc in Marketing
2 ESSEC Business School France MSc in Marketing Management & Digital
3 Imperial College Business School UK MSc Strategic Marketing
4 ESCP Business School France MSc in Marketing & Creativity
5 Columbia University USA MS in Marketing Science
6 Esade Business School Spain MSc in Marketing Management
7 EMLyon Business School France Marketing and Strategie
8 SKEMA Business School France MSc International Marketing & Business Development
9 EDHEC Business School France Master in Marketing Management
10 WU Vienna University Austria Masters in Marketing

Which is better? Salary, Scope, and Career Options 

Digital marketing is dominating traditional marketing as digital marketing produces higher returns and brings extensive amounts of engagement to lead easily and effectively in the Business Field. Digital Marketing is a lot more affordable than traditional marketing which is one of the major reasons why the market is witnessing a drastic conversion in the use of Traditional Marketing to Digital Marketing. Even though both traditional marketing and digital marketing are potent in their own ways, Digital marketing is still way ahead of traditional marketing due to the rise of the Digital Revolution. 

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Digital Marketing leads in terms of career opportunities as well. A career in Digital Marketing has a great scope as it offers a lot of career roles. Here are the popular career options for Digital Marketing:

  1. Digital Marketing Manager
  2. Brand Manager
  3. Social Media Manager
  4. Online Content Developer
  5. Business Analytics Specialist
  6. Search Engine Optimisation Specialist
  7. Web Designer
  8. Professional Blogger
  9. Mobile Marketing Specialist
  10. Email Marketer

Even in terms of pay, Digital Marketers are paid higher than traditional marketers. Digital Marketing is a growing field and growth means more demand for professionals in the field.  Here’s the average salary of a Digital Marketer in various countries:

Country Average Salary per annum In INR
USA USD 69,292 52 Lakhs
UK GBP 33,910 33 Lakhs
Canada  CAD 51,499 31 Lakhs
Australia AUD 82,912 47,64,575
India  INR 7,00,000

FAQs

Should you build career in digital marketing or traditional marketing?

Both the digital marketing and traditional marketing is essential for a business’s growth. But in general, building a career in digital marketing is more beneficial.

Is digital marketing better than traditional marketing?

Both digital marketing and tradition marketing has its pros and cons. Smart business owners combine them both in their marketing campaign.

Which might go obsolete first?

Neither digital marketing nor traditional marketing will go obsolete.

With its growing popularity, lucrative career options, and high-paying salaries, pursuing a career in digital marketing has become a trend. Many students are now opting for Digital Marketing Courses to gain expertise in the field. Hope now you about Traditional Marketing vs Digital Marketing. Want to build a career in Digital Marketing but are confused about how to start? If yes, then reach out to Leverage Edu Experts who will provide you with all the necessary assistance and guidance. Call us at 1800 57 2000 to book a FREE 30-minutes counseling session now!

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