Digital Marketing vs. Social Media Marketing: Which is Better?

Safalta Expert Published by: Vanshika Jakhar Updated Wed, 22 Feb 2023 09:34 PM IST

Highlights

This blog is about the difference between digital marketing and social media marketing.

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Wondering what is the difference between digital marketing and social marketing? If yes, then you have reached the right page. Digital marketing and social media marketing might sound the same but there are certain important differences between the two. These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct areas of field of digital marketing. Here in this article we have explained the difference between digital marketing and social media marketing to help you understand which one is better and why.

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Table of Content

Digital Marketing
What are digital marketing tools?
Social Media Marketing
Digital Marketing vs Social Media Marketing
Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing Similarities
Why Should You Include Social Media Marketing in Your Digital Marketing Campaign?
 

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is the process of promoting and selling products or services using digital technologies, mainly on the internet, but also including mobile phones, display advertising, and any other digital medium.

Many tactics fall under the umbrella of digital marketing, including:

  1. Search engine optimization (SEO): the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages for relevant keywords.
  2. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising: a type of advertising where businesses pay a fee each time one of their ads is clicked.
  3. Content marketing: the creation and distribution of valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience, and ultimately drive profitable customer action.
  4. Email marketing: the use of email to promote products or services to a list of subscribers.
  5. Social media marketing: the use of social media platforms to promote a product or service.
  6. Influencer marketing: the practice of partnering with influential people in your industry to promote your brand.
  7. Affiliate marketing: a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards affiliates for each customer brought by the affiliate's marketing efforts.

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What are digital marketing tools?

Digital marketing tools are software and technologies that help businesses and organizations reach and engage with their customers and prospects online. These tools can be used for a variety of purposes, such as creating and managing website content, analyzing and tracking website traffic, managing email campaigns, managing social media accounts, and more.

Some examples of digital marketing tools include:

  • Content management systems (CMS)
  • Email marketing platforms
  • Social media management tools
  • Analytics and tracking tools
  • Search engine optimization (SEO) tools
  • Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising platforms
  • Marketing automation tools

These tools can be used to create, execute, and measure the success of digital marketing campaigns.

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They can help businesses and organizations reach a wider audience, build brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales.

Read more: How To Become A Digital Marketer? - 2023 Guide 
 

Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is the process of using social media platforms to promote a product or service. This can involve creating and sharing content on social media, as well as running paid advertisements. The goal of social media marketing is typically to drive traffic to a website, increase brand awareness, and engage with customers. To get started with social media marketing, you'll need to choose which social media platforms to focus on. Some of the most popular platforms for businesses include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. It's important to choose the platforms that are most relevant to your business and target audience. Once you've chosen your platforms, you'll need to create a social media marketing strategy. This should include a plan for creating and sharing content, as well as a budget for paid advertising. You'll also need to set specific goals for your social media marketing efforts, such as increasing website traffic or generating leads. To be effective, your social media marketing efforts should be consistent and engaging. This means posting regularly and interacting with your followers by responding to comments and messages. You should also experiment with different types of content, such as text posts, images, and videos, to see what works best for your business.
Overall, social media marketing can be a powerful tool for promoting your business and engaging with customers. By creating a strong presence on social media, you can reach a larger audience and build brand awareness.

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Digital Marketing vs Social Media Marketing

Digital marketing refers to the use of digital channels to promote or market products and services to consumers. This includes a wide range of tactics and strategies, such as email marketing, social media marketing, content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and more.

Social media marketing, on the other hand, is a specific type of digital marketing that involves the use of social media platforms to promote products and services. This can include creating and sharing content on social media, running social media ads, and engaging with users on social media platforms.

Both digital marketing and social media marketing can be effective ways to reach and engage with customers online, but they have some key differences. Digital marketing is a broad term that encompasses a variety of tactics and strategies, while social media marketing is focused specifically on using social media platforms to reach customers. Additionally, digital marketing can involve paid advertising, while social media marketing often relies on organic (non-paid) methods to reach users.
 

Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing Similarities

Digital marketing and social media marketing are similar in that they both involve the use of digital channels to promote products or services. Both strategies can include elements such as email marketing, content marketing, search engine optimization, and paid advertising. However, social media marketing specifically focuses on using social media platforms to reach and engage with target audiences, while digital marketing encompasses a broader range of strategies.

 

Why Should You Include Social Media Marketing in Your Digital Marketing Campaign?

 

There are several reasons why you should include social media marketing in your digital marketing campaign:

  1. Reach: Social media platforms have a large and diverse user base, which means that you can reach a wide audience through social media marketing.

  2. Targeting: Social media platforms allow you to target specific groups of people based on demographics, interests, and behaviours. This makes it easier to reach the right audience with your marketing messages.
  3. Engagement: Social media allows you to interact with your audience in real-time, which can help you build a loyal customer base. You can respond to comments and questions, and use social media to showcase your brand's personality and values.
  4. Brand awareness: Social media can help you increase brand awareness by promoting your brand and its products or services to a wide audience.
  5. Cost-effective: Social media marketing can be a cost-effective way to reach your target audience. Many social media platforms offer free or low-cost advertising options, and you can also use organic (non-paid) methods to reach your audience, such as creating and sharing valuable content.
  6. Measurable: Social media platforms provide detailed analytics and metrics, which can help you track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make informed decisions about your social media strategy.


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How are digital marketing and social media marketing related? 

Digital marketing and social media marketing are related in that they both use digital channels and technologies to reach and engage consumers. However, social media marketing is just one aspect of digital marketing, and not all digital marketing tactics involve the use of social media.

Which is more effective: digital marketing or social media marketing? 

It's difficult to say which is more effective overall, as it depends on the specific goals and objectives of a marketing campaign. Both digital marketing and social media marketing can be effective for reaching and engaging with consumers, but the best approach will depend on the target audience and the type of product or service being promoted.

Can social media marketing be part of a digital marketing strategy? 

Yes, social media marketing can be a key component of a digital marketing strategy. By using social media to connect with customers and build relationships, businesses can drive traffic to their websites and ultimately drive conversions.

What is the difference between digital marketing and social media marketing?

Digital marketing refers to the use of various digital channels, such as search engines, websites, email, and mobile apps, to promote products or services. Social media marketing, on the other hand, refers to the use of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, to promote products or services.

Which is better for reaching a larger audience?

Both digital marketing and social media marketing have the potential to reach a large audience. However, digital marketing can reach a wider audience as it encompasses a variety of channels, while social media marketing is limited to specific platforms.

Which is better for targeting specific demographics?

Social media marketing allows for more specific targeting, as platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer detailed demographic information and targeting options. Digital marketing can also target specific demographics, but it may require more effort and resources to do so.

Which is more cost-effective?

Digital marketing can be more cost-effective, as it allows for a wider reach and can be tailored to specific demographics. Social media marketing can also be cost-effective, but it may require more resources to target specific demographics.

Which is better for building brand awareness?

Both digital marketing and social media marketing can be effective for building brand awareness. Social media marketing is particularly effective for building brand awareness as it allows for engagement and interaction with customers.

Which is better for driving conversions?

Digital marketing can be more effective for driving conversions as it allows for targeted advertising and can reach a wider audience. Social media marketing can also drive conversions, but it may require more resources to target specific demographics.

Can digital marketing and social media marketing be used together?

Yes, digital marketing and social media marketing can be used together for a more comprehensive approach to promoting products or services. Combining the reach and targeting capabilities of digital marketing with the engagement and interaction of social media marketing can lead to more successful campaigns.

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