Before we can answer the question of how to find the right balance between online and offline marketing, we should begin by clarifying what these two methods of marketing are – and what makes each unique in its way.
Online marketing can be defined as the new era of marketing where businesses can leverage the power of the internet and technology devices such as laptops, cell phones, and other digital media platforms.
Offline marketing is more traditional in its approach and is typically carried through platforms such as billboards, newspapers, radio, television, and leaflets.
The Balance Between Online and Offline Marketing
In today’s era, you can’t direct all your advertising and marketing efforts toward just one method. That will only get you so far. To truly increase your reach, you must integrate both online and offline marketing into your business strategies.
Due to budget constraints, many companies may assume that online marketing alone might be the best fit for their organization. What they may not realize is that with the right mix of online and offline marketing strategies, the company can optimize its interactivity with current and prospective customers.
When incorporating both online and online marketing into your business strategy, it’s important to create a healthy balance between the two. If you shift your strategies to one side more than the other, your marketing may not be as effective as it could otherwise be.
Sometimes, these different marketing methods end up playing against each other, creating competition within your own strategies and complicating the overall process. In addition, budget restrictions may play a role in what type of strategy you ultimately choose.
Many businesses tend to rely more heavily on online marketing, as they believe it can have a larger reach with a limited budget. While this may be true, by incorporating offline marketing schemes into your overall strategy, you can enjoy the unique benefits that these provide as well, such as creating deeper relationships and loyalty with customers.
Factors to Consider When Creating a Balance
Be well aware of what impacts your business and where you stand in the business community.
To be able to successfully promote your business, you need to know every detail about it. You might be surprised by the number of owners and managers who think they know their business but can’t answer even the smallest questions.
Always take into consideration your audience and niche.
If you’re confused about who to target, your strategies will yield confusing results as well. Once you’ve locked in on your target audience, the strategies you choose to apply will naturally provide you with much more favorable results.
Last but not least, you must constantly ask for feedback.
Finding the right balance between online and offline marketing rarely happens on the first try. Sometimes it’s hit or miss until you finally achieve that perfect balance. By asking for feedback, you’re determining what methods are working and which aren’t fitting well with your target audience.
Start with a Solid Brand
Whether you’re considering online, offline, or some combination of the two, you shouldn’t start marketing until you have your branding nailed down. It’s crucial to create a brand logo that’s both unique and well-liked by your customers. A logo that truly stands out will remain in the minds of potential customers longer than one that’s simple, dull, or similar to other logos in the market.
Along with a great logo, you’ll also want to decide on other aspects of your brand, such as a slogan, font, color scheme, and mission statement. If your branding is inconsistent, your advertising campaigns might not penetrate the market in the way that they should.
Finding the Right Balance
So, what’s the right balance for your business? Fifty percent online and fifty percent offline? There’s no simple answer. You know your business better than anyone else, and you should do whatever best suits your specific business. For example, a house painter might choose to focus more on offline marketing methods, whereas a new local brewery might devote more of their efforts to online marketing where they know they’re likely to better reach their target audience.
While your business type may naturally lend itself to one form of marketing, it’s important not to focus exclusively on one avenue. It’s all about creating the right balance in order to generate the most impact from your marketing campaigns.
Need help getting started? HighClick Media can help! Our dedicated specialists can help develop a marketing strategy that’s geared specifically toward your business. If you’re just getting started, we can also help develop your brand to ensure that you stay top of mind with prospective customers. Give us a call today at 252.814.2150 or reach out to us here!
****************************************
This post was written exclusively for HighClick Media by guest blogger Noelle Crafts.