When it comes to an excellent marketing strategy, we’re obsessed with social media here at Internet of Now. It’s good to declare your bias.
However, we’re equally appreciative of digital marketing and deploy many tactics from this discipline too.
If you’re here, its because you’re looking to quickly get to the bottom of the difference between influencer marketing and digital marketing.
Both of these disciplines have their own unique benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to understand the difference between them before you decide which one is right for your business.
What is Influencer Marketing?
Influencer marketing is a type of marketing that uses social media influencers to promote a brand or product to their followers.
Influencers are people who have a large following on social media and who are considered to be experts in their field.
When an influencer promotes a product or service, their followers are more likely to trust and believe the recommendation.
What is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is a broad term that encompasses all marketing activities that use digital channels.
That could be social media, search engine marketing, email marketing, and display advertising.
Digital marketing can be used to reach a wide audience, target specific demographics, and track the results of marketing campaigns.
Similarities Between Influencer Marketing and Digital Marketing
Despite their differences, influencer marketing and digital marketing have a few things in common:
- They both use digital channels to reach consumers. Influencer marketing uses social media, while digital marketing can use a variety of channels.
- They can both be used to achieve a variety of marketing goals. Influencer marketing can be used to build brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales. Digital marketing can be used to achieve all of these goals, as well as increase website traffic and improve search engine rankings (come to think of it, Influencer marketing can also drive web traffic).
- They can both be measured and tracked to see how effective they are. Influencer marketing campaigns can be measured by tracking things like engagement, reach, and website traffic. Digital marketing campaigns can be measured by tracking things like clicks, conversions, and website traffic.
Differences Between Influencer Marketing and Digital Marketing
While influencer marketing and digital marketing have a lot in common, there are also some key differences between the two:
- Influencer marketing relies on the power of social media influencers to reach and influence their followers. Digital marketing can use a variety of channels, such as social media, search engine marketing, email marketing, and display advertising.
- Influencer marketing is typically more focused on building relationships with influencers and their followers. Digital marketing can be more scalable.
- Influencer marketing is often seen as a more authentic form of marketing. Consumers are more likely to trust recommendations from influencers that they know and trust ( a HUGE subject we will write more about in the future).
- Digital marketing can be more cost-effective than influencer marketing. It’s possible to reach a larger audience with digital marketing without having to pay for expensive influencer partnerships (although, you should check out our app ThingyBridge which makes influencer marketing super cheap and easy)
So, Which is Right for You?
The best way to choose between influencer marketing and digital marketing is to consider your specific marketing goals and budget. I know that sounds boring and grown up but it really does make sense.
If you’re looking for a way to build relationships with people in an authentic way then, influencer marketing may be the right choice for you.
If you’re looking for a way to reach a wider (yet less targetted) audience with your marketing message, digital marketing may be the right choice for you.
Final thoughts…
Influencer marketing and digital marketing are both powerful marketing tools that can be used to reach and influence consumers.
The best way to choose between influencer marketing and digital marketing is to consider your specific marketing goals and budget.
Here are some additional tips for using influencer marketing and digital marketing:
- Do your research. Before you partner with an influencer, be sure to do your research and make sure they are a good fit for your brand. Consider engagement a more important metric than followers.
- Set clear expectations. When you partner with an influencer, be sure to set clear expectations about what you expect from them. This includes things like the type of content they will create, the number of times they will promote your product or service, and the hashtags they will use.
- Track your results. It’s important to track the results of your influencer marketing campaigns so you can see what’s working and what’s not. This will help you make adjustments to your campaigns as needed.
Until next time! See ya.