Even in the days of traditional marketing and advertising techniques, the lines between advertising and marketing were often blurred. And using both terms interchangeably was common enough even then. But now, in the digital marketing and digital advertising era, with media mix and combo strategies ruling the roost, the lines separating adverting and marketing have been blurred even further – so much so that it is even accepted to use “online marketing” and “online advertising” as synonymous terms now.
However, technically, digital marketing and online advertising are different. And here's how you can tell the difference between the two:
1) Digital Advertising is One Aspect of Digital Marketing
Digital marketing starts from the very moment a digital marketer starts to establish a business or product's presence online. The very fabric of a business's online representation is a part of the marketing process. Choosing the price of the products, designing the packaging, deciding the appeal angle of the product for its customers, and choosing what kind of ads and posts will be used, is all a part of the business's ongoing marketing strategy. And consequently, conceptualizing, designing, creating, and placing the ads online is just one single part of a business's entire marketing strategy. 2) Digital Advertising is an Activity While Digital Marketing is a Process Digital advertising (also referred to as online advertising) is often a short activity in the grand marketing scheme. Usually, digital advertisers work with the data given to them by the digital marketers to design the ads. But, often enough times, especially in the initial stages of a new business's or new product's establishment, digital advertisers mainly create ads than have a general appeal. (This also means that the target audience is often larger for ads than when marketing posts are created and shared online.) However, online marketing begins from the moment one chooses the logo's colors and design for their business – and sometimes even earlier than that. And then this process continues until either the dissolution of the business or till the end of time. Because everything – everything – that a business shares online with reference to itself is a form of marketing – be they ads, blog posts, how-to videos, seminar podcasts, or absolutely anything else. 3) Online Advertising is Based on Sales While Digital Marketing is Based on Audience Psychology Online advertising is created with the intention to encourage people to buy things and is meant to boost a business's sales. And, while digital marketing also has a sales angle, that is not the core concept or foundation for most marketing strategies. Rather, the main focus of digital marketing is to reach people online, who have the potential to become customers for the business. And since online audiences are people who (especially in today's age) enjoy online social experiences and are very diverse in their interests and hobbies, audience psychology becomes the center stone of most marketing techniques and strategies. After all, most marketing concepts are even personalized these days based on a particular demographic or specialty of a business's niche audience. So understanding what appeals to such audience subcategories (via …show more content…
And this ranges all the way from blog posts and videos to mobile apps and your business's website, SEO, and social media accounts. Frankly, even a simple tweet from a business's Twitter account is a marketing tool. And so is an entire website representing the business, or even the ecommerce site the business sells its products on. In short, any online presence the business, brand, product, or service has on the World Wide Web is a marketing tool.
So yes, there is a difference between digital marketing and online advertising. And for those in the industry, or planning to make a career of this digital industry in the near future, it is a good idea to know the difference. Of course, considering that the Internet itself (thanks to most content on the subject matter being designed that way) seems to treat digital marketing and digital advertising as interchangeable concepts, you might never find it necessary to pinpoint the differences between the two. However, it's always good to know anyway. After all, these are your tools to use now on the World Wide
However, technically, digital marketing and online advertising are different. And here's how you can tell the difference between the two:
1) Digital Advertising is One Aspect of Digital Marketing
Digital marketing starts from the very moment a digital marketer starts to establish a business or product's presence online. The very fabric of a business's online representation is a part of the marketing process. Choosing the price of the products, designing the packaging, deciding the appeal angle of the product for its customers, and choosing what kind of ads and posts will be used, is all a part of the business's ongoing marketing strategy. And consequently, conceptualizing, designing, creating, and placing the ads online is just one single part of a business's entire marketing strategy. 2) Digital Advertising is an Activity While Digital Marketing is a Process Digital advertising (also referred to as online advertising) is often a short activity in the grand marketing scheme. Usually, digital advertisers work with the data given to them by the digital marketers to design the ads. But, often enough times, especially in the initial stages of a new business's or new product's establishment, digital advertisers mainly create ads than have a general appeal. (This also means that the target audience is often larger for ads than when marketing posts are created and shared online.) However, online marketing begins from the moment one chooses the logo's colors and design for their business – and sometimes even earlier than that. And then this process continues until either the dissolution of the business or till the end of time. Because everything – everything – that a business shares online with reference to itself is a form of marketing – be they ads, blog posts, how-to videos, seminar podcasts, or absolutely anything else. 3) Online Advertising is Based on Sales While Digital Marketing is Based on Audience Psychology Online advertising is created with the intention to encourage people to buy things and is meant to boost a business's sales. And, while digital marketing also has a sales angle, that is not the core concept or foundation for most marketing strategies. Rather, the main focus of digital marketing is to reach people online, who have the potential to become customers for the business. And since online audiences are people who (especially in today's age) enjoy online social experiences and are very diverse in their interests and hobbies, audience psychology becomes the center stone of most marketing techniques and strategies. After all, most marketing concepts are even personalized these days based on a particular demographic or specialty of a business's niche audience. So understanding what appeals to such audience subcategories (via …show more content…
And this ranges all the way from blog posts and videos to mobile apps and your business's website, SEO, and social media accounts. Frankly, even a simple tweet from a business's Twitter account is a marketing tool. And so is an entire website representing the business, or even the ecommerce site the business sells its products on. In short, any online presence the business, brand, product, or service has on the World Wide Web is a marketing tool.
So yes, there is a difference between digital marketing and online advertising. And for those in the industry, or planning to make a career of this digital industry in the near future, it is a good idea to know the difference. Of course, considering that the Internet itself (thanks to most content on the subject matter being designed that way) seems to treat digital marketing and digital advertising as interchangeable concepts, you might never find it necessary to pinpoint the differences between the two. However, it's always good to know anyway. After all, these are your tools to use now on the World Wide