When you run your own business, you must invest in it. Gaining new customers and reengaging old ones depends on marketing efforts. Marketing is how people stay connected to your brand.

You can choose from countless marketing methods when outlining a plan for your company. Learn the difference between digital and traditional marketing to guide your strategy.

Types of Digital Marketing

Here are a few of the most popular types of digital marketing. Note that digital marketing trends change regularly, and it’ll take effort to stay on top of what’s trending each year.

Pay-Per-Click

Pay-per-click, or PPC marketing, is a must for e-commerce businesses and any company that sells products or services online. PPC ads take people to your site when they’re ready to buy. You pay for the ads every time a user clicks on them.

Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is great for the long-term success of a website’s organic search rankings. It’s what determines the key terms your site will rank for and how many people see your site. How often do you go to the second page of Google for search results? Your customers feel the same way.

Types of Traditional Marketing

Traditional marketing is more stagnant and predictable than digital marketing, making it easier to manage. Check out some of the important types:

Magazines and Newspapers

Print ads are a great way to reach a target audience without digital marketing. You can run an ad in a magazine or a newspaper relevant to the products or services you offer. These cost-effective options can help your ad circulate longer, as some people keep these ads to browse over time.

Billboards

Billboards along busy roads are a quick way to reach tons of people. However, you may not reach your specific target audience, and people only have a few seconds to see the billboard before they leave it behind. But it’s a great opportunity to get noticed and build brand recognition across a wide audience.

The Differences

There are many differences between traditional and digital marketing—even though their central goals line up. The main difference is the medium of the advertisement. Digital marketing ads show up through online or digital methods such as email, social media, PPC, SEO, and more. Traditional marketing uses non-digital methods like print ads, billboards, brochures, and more.

There’s more than one difference between digital and traditional marketing. Both forms can benefit you when you execute them in a way that makes sense for your company. Know your audience and the best ways to reach them.