Is the digital marketing vs social media marketing debate a bit confusing for you? A lot of other people wonder how these two marketing approaches differ. Both can boost your business, but each works in its own way.
You will find everything you need to know about digital marketing vs social media marketing here. A little help about the new findings never hurt. We made learning about digital marketing vs social media marketing a lot easier, so you can focus on applying the right strategies instead of getting lost in the details.
What is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing covers all the online actions a business takes to connect with its customers. It focuses on building a strong online presence and attracting potential customers.
Digital marketing includes:
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Pay-per-click advertising (PPC)
- Email marketing
- Content marketing
- Website optimization
- Online advertising
- Social media marketing
When people talk about online growth, the terms digital marketing and social media marketing often get mixed up. The truth is, they’re connected. Social media marketing is actually just one part of the broader world of digital marketing.
What is Social Media Marketing?
Social media marketing is focused on giving your business an identity through social platforms. Like Linkedin, Instagram, and other social networks.
Social media marketing activities include:
- Engaging with followers
- Influencer partnerships
- Creating and sharing posts
- Running social media ads
- Live streaming
- Social media contests
Key Differences: Digital Marketing vs Social Media Marketing
The discussion about digital marketing vs social media marketing comes down to a few differences that everyone should know.
Scope and Reach
When you look at digital marketing vs social media marketing, the difference in scope is big. Digital marketing covers the whole online space and helps you reach people through search engines, websites, emails and social platforms. Many people miss this in the social media vs digital marketing talk. Digital marketing simply reaches more places.
Social media marketing only works on social platforms. It is good, but it limits where you can find new customers.
Cost Structure
Digital marketing costs vary. Some methods, like SEO, cost mainly time and effort. Others, like PPC ads, require an ongoing budget. The investment depends on which channels you choose.
Social media marketing also gives you the option to promote your content for free if you only post organic content. But paid social ads can get expensive quickly. Especially on competitive platforms.
Time to See Results
Digital vs social media marketing also have different timings. SEO and content marketing take longer to show results. Email marketing and PPC ads work faster.
Social media gives quick engagement. But is it hard to build a genuine following right away. Paid social ads work immediately. However, they stop when you stop paying.
Audience Control
Digital marketing gives you more power as you can choose who to target. While with SEO, you target people searching for specific terms. Social media platforms control your reach. And algorithm changes can ruin that overnight. This makes social media marketing less predictable.
Which Strategy Should You Choose?
Picking between digital marketing and social media marketing starts with knowing which one matches your business best. Read the reasons below to see which one is better for you:
Choose digital marketing if:
- You want steady, long-term growth
- Your customers look online for what you offer
- Your products or services need clear explanations
- You want more control over your marketing
- You have the budget to use different channels
Choose social media marketing if:
- Your audience spends a lot of time on social platforms
- Your products or services are visually friendly
- You want to build a loyal community
- You’re working with a smaller budget
- Your business fits well with social media content
Why You Might Need Both?
The truth about digital marketing vs social media marketing is that the best results come from mixing both approaches. Our marketing agency will tell you that social media marketing services work better when they are supported by other digital marketing efforts.
For example:
- Email marketing nurtures leads
- Social media ads retarget website visitors
- SEO brings people to your website
- Social media keeps them engaged
Professional Help and When to Consider Agencies
Managing both strategies takes time as we all know. Many businesses work with agencies that offer b2b social media marketing solutions.
Going for social media marketing can help you figure out what strategies you need without hiring full-time staff. DigiEvolve Agency can handle that for you.
How Do You Know That It Is Working?
There is never a single way you can use to measure your progress in two different things. They have different results because they are different marketing strategies.
Digital Marketing:
- Website traffic
- Search rankings
- Email open rates
- Conversion rates
- Return on investment (ROI)
Social Media Marketing:
- Followers and fans
- Engagement rates
- Shares and comments
- Social media traffic
- Social conversion rates
The Final Thoughts
The digital marketing vs social media marketing debate has no single right answer. Digital marketing gives a wider reach. And social media marketing is better for building engagement and community.
It is suggested that businesses should mix them both. In the digital marketing vs social media marketing choice, combining them is better than going for just one thing. Start with what fits your budget and then add more as you grow. And also, these strategies only work when you are consistently posting and staying active. In the end, the digital marketing vs social media marketing decision should be taken once you know what you would like to work with more. Choose what fits your business and stick with it.
