Small businesses should aim to spend between 7% and 10% of their revenue on marketing. That doesn’t sound like a lot of money, so how can you make it count? Which types of marketing are the most worthwhile?
For many new online brands, business owners are choosing between content marketing vs social media marketing. What’s the difference between these two types of marketing? Is one better than the other?
We’re here to help you decide what to do with that marketing budget by breaking down both social media marketing and content marketing so you can make an informed choice. Read on to learn more.
Social Media Marketing
Let’s start with social media marketing. If you work with a local social media management company, what can you expect from them when you’re growing a business?
Social media marketing revolves around using social media platforms (such as Facebook and TikTok) to engage with the target audience. There’s a heavy focus on real-time interactions, short-form content, and (sometimes) paid advertising.
Social media marketers focus on building brand visibility through active participation in platform-specific conversations, responding to comments, and creating content tailored to each platform’s format. In a way, this is a type of content marketing, but it’s far more specific.
Social media marketers gauge a campaign’s success through certain engagement indicators, such as likes, shares, comments, and click-through rates. The dynamic nature of social media allows for immediate communication, enabling brands to stay current and trendy.
Social media marketing is ever-changing. With each new platform comes a new opportunity for brands to enhance their online presence.
Content Marketing
So what about content marketing? It’s similar but still distinct. There’s a reason that online brands still use both types of marketing.
Content marketing adopts a broader approach. It aims to create valuable and relevant content distributed across multiple channels. These channels include websites, blogs, email newsletters, and social media, though the content will change depending on where it’s been posted.
It focuses on providing in-depth and informative content. It often takes the form of long-form articles and infographics. The content is often hosted on the brand’s website, and this contributes to brand authority.
Content marketing is closely tied to search engine optimization (SEO). Brands aim to improve their search rankings by creating high-quality content. The better the search rankings, the more visible the brand becomes.
At the end of the day, content marketing tends to provide more value to readers than social media marketing while it also helps boost SEO. This doesn’t make it better, but it serves a different purpose.
Content Marketing vs Social Media Marketing: Which Is Better?
When it comes to content marketing vs social media marketing, there’s no “better” option. Both types of marketing have a place in your marketing strategy. If you’re trying to grow a business, combine the two for the best possible results.
There’s no need to limit yourself! Both types of marketing provide value.
Are you trying to keep up-to-date on all things marketing and advertising? Don’t forget to check out the rest of the site!