Although social media marketing and digital marketing are strongly connected, these are different statements. They are intertwined, hence a lot of people mix them as one. SMM was developed from digital marketing and nowadays this is a separate sphere of this industry. In this article, we will take a closer look at the distinctions between social and digital media marketing.
What is Digital Marketing?
The first matter to discover is the identification of it. This concept is beyond the internet, despite the common idea about it. Digital tactics are older than you might think, and their heritage goes back to the invention of the radio. Yep, the radio commercials amid programs and music is a sort of digital as well. Television and modern electronic billboards are also a kind of digital promotion. Today, the recognition of digital shopping also includes the online issues of magazines, websites, and the most important thing - SEO tactics for significant search engines. Social networks can be included in the list of instruments of digital marketing, but often, these two spheres are organized and launched by different teams of specialists. The digital marketing strategy doesn’t include things such as the need to buy 20 Instagram likes or any other stats for accounts. This is the prerogative of the tactic for social networks rather than for more wide digital strategy.
What is Social Media Marketing?
This is technically a branch of digital marketing, but with the current level of influence, that holds social platforms, this industry has separated into a unique mechanism that can function independently. The idea of SMM is more focused on trendsetting and personalities as the prominent levers for brand promotion and sales. In many cases, sales aren’t the primary goal for social media advertising campaigns. Brand awareness and reputation come to the first place when the tactic is in progress. Also, social networks have an additional feature that is very useful for businesses - it is an excellent tool for collecting feedback from consumers and examining the market along with likes.
Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing Difference and Comparison
These two industries have different goals in the focus. Internet marketing is more vast, yet it is targeted at sales and visibility of the merchandise. Social media, on the other hand, are aimed at establishing relationships with potential clients and surveilling the reputation of the brand, and popularizing its values. However, social platforms are also a good way to sell products nowadays. Powerful platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest are already implementing a decent range of features that will make the process of purchase easier and needless of leaving the app. Both Instagram and Facebook are providing an opportunity to run a fully-functional internet shopping:
● Catalogs,
● Pricing,
● Customer service
Top 4 Reasons to Use Social Media Marketing Features
1. Many opportunities to gain curated content
Most social platforms are providing enough ideas for creating engaging promo content. Trends are changing very fast, and it is hard to create something truly unique. Viral trends are often occasional, so for businesses, curated content is a great method to attract more users to the product, as they take part in something bigger.
2. More feedback from customers, that can be used for the sake of promotion
This is called “User-Generated Content”. To understand the concept better, let’s see the simple example of it in motion: on Instagram, brands often encourage buyers to post stories or upload other kinds of posts after they made a purchase, and for good reason. Reposting genuine content from real clients is a good improvement for brand reputation and an original infusion of fresh content and more likes.
3. More organic engagement and deep connection with the audience
Social networks are based on communication, and brands should use them for a better connection with their target audience. Reaching potential customers is easier and less formal on socials, and it makes the connection between you and your clients more strong. There are many ways you can reach out to your public:
● Replying to comments
● Participating in discussions
● Offering topics to talk about
● Discovering new trends and experimenting
4. Faster results
The main perk of social networks is speed. SMM is the perfect option for startups and local businesses, who need to break the competition with established companies. With the right instruments, accumulated content plan, better visibility because of a huge number of likes, and settled goals social platforms can become a trampoline for business.
Top 3 Reasons to Use Digital Marketing Features
1. Expanded influence
Many platforms are tightly intertwined with the search engines, or basically are like search engines themselves - Pinterest is a huge store of pictures that redirect users to the product or YouTube which is a part of Google corporation and holds one of the primary places in this niche. The Internet is a broad web that maintains the connection with the power of keywords. The search will lead potential buyers to your links on social media as well if you have a decent position in the rating and a great amount of engagement such as likes.
2. Personalized promotion
Nowadays tendencies in online promotion, including social networks, are based on careful examination of user’s preferences and interests. Digital marketing agencies specialize in this type of research. Simply when they use the search bar and start browsing the products they are interested in, the giant machine of advertising begins recording and interpreting the data, offering relevant services and goods. Social networks play a role in it too, as they provide more data for the personalization of the Ads.
3. Not all people have an account on social media platforms
Yep, such people still exist. They prefer using the internet for other purposes but not likes, however, they can still be your potential clients. You shouldn’t lose the opportunity to drive their interest in your production simply because you are focused solely on social networks. A classic digital strategy will help you to reach the public beyond apps like Instagram and Twitter.
Conclusion:
There are many contrasts between digital marketing methods and social media strategies. And if you require to develop your business successfully, you must learn at least the basics of each tactic, to gain the best result in shorter terms.
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