Back in the day, outbound marketing wasn’t just a marketing method – it was the only marketing method. In order to attract customers, businesses created a one-way conversation about their products through strategies such as cold-calling, pop-up ads, newspaper and TV ads, and billboards in what is now known as outbound marketing. 

Thanks to the advent of social media, blogging, search engine optimization and more, those days are no longer, and now, many businesses focus on these strategies in what is known as inbound marketing. However, there can be a place for both inbound and outbound marketing in your overall marketing strategy. Here’s what you need to know about each to make the best decisions for your business. 

Outbound marketing

Outbound marketing can typically categorize any type of marketing that interrupts a customer to get their attention through the aforementioned techniques as well as direct mail campaigns, widespread email blasts and banner ads. It’s an ideal strategy to reach the highest number of customers possible, which is directly correlated with how much spend goes into the marketing technique. 

Although it can help to find people who aren’t aware of your product or service, outbound marketing doesn’t help customers to foster a deeper connection with your brand, leaving customer loyalty by the wayside. It lacks interaction, as well as education. Plus, the return can be low, since it’s up to chance as to how many people the ad reached are actually interested in the product.

Inbound marketing

Conversely, inbound marketing lacks the traditional sales pitch and instead, holistically encourages customers to interact with your brand by providing valuable education and engagement about topics related to your products that customers are already looking for. It helps to establish your brand as a resource that hopefully, customers will utilize for years to come. Plus, it targets customers who are already interested in your products, eliminating unnecessary effort.

However, it isn’t always easy to execute successfully. Since it takes time to foster engagement, it can be difficult to track progress. Plus, as digital platforms change on a nearly constant basis, a commitment to learning and innovating is key, as is the investment in a knowledgeable marketing team that is up-to-date on current trends. 

Next steps

Balancing new and more effective inbound marketing techniques, while still utilizing some outbound marketing techniques to grow a customer base, can be a delicate task, but that’s where experts can help you to create the best strategy for your business, budget and needs. 

Mint Zebra offers guidance on developing your distinct marketing strategy, tailored just for you and your business goals. To date, we’ve helped countless businesses create comprehensive marketing strategies to drive strategic growth. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help. To share these tips with your followers, click the ‘Share’ social icons below.