Traditional Marketing Vs Social Media Marketing

Traditional Marketing (TM) has been studied and implemented across the world spanning decades.  TM is comfortable because we love it, trust it and know it well.  Proven campaigns through TV, radio, newspapers, websites etc have shown results time and time and again. So “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” right?…Wrong!

Traditionally we, as marketeers, have bombarded the customers with our ideas on what they want, why they want it and sometimes even when they want it!  But something has changed.  The new Social Media Marketing (SMM) revolution is altering customer’s behaviours and reactions.

What was once a one way communication street has now developed into a two way conversation.  Customers want you to listen! Listen to their advice, complaints or suggestions.  Is this not what we have been waiting for all along?  Marketing that gives us direct feedback, gets us closer to the clients and help us better understand our target marketing and positioning in the market place?

However, many traditional marketeers are dubious about SMM.  Some are doubtful because it is new, others because it has a small track record in comparison to other methods.  But you only have to listen to the deafening growth statistics on social media to know that change is on the way, whether you like it or not.

Take a minute to watch this clever video which explains how a traditional marketeer would have talked to their customers and watch the customer’s reaction.  The customer is desperate to tell the business something, but the traditionalist marketer just keeps telling the customer what they think they want to hear.

I am not suggesting that SMM will work as a standalone strategy by any means!  What I am saying is that it is time to integrate all your marketing tools, both old and new, to really get a true picture of your customer.  It’s time to listen.

Tell me, what is your view on ‘Traditional Marketing Vs Social Media Marketing?