If you are a business owner, you know the importance of different types of media in growing your business. Whether you have chosen to advertise through traditional media or have moved into the new age of social media, you will likely be making key decisions about the best way to advertise your business in the near future. Advertising is constantly changing. In an effort to beat your competition, you must be first in advertising. The following is a brief comparison of social media versus traditional media and how using the two together can get you the advertising power that you are searching for:
Traditional Media
Traditional media can be defined as the old-school way of getting the word out about your business. These types of media include television, billboards, magazines, newspapers, and radio. While this type of media isn’t totally “out,” its benefits have seen better days. The followings are the pros and cons of traditional media when it comes to helping your business.
- Pros – There is still a generation of people who do not know how to use the internet. For businesses, this means that they still need to appeal to a vast audience that does not use social media. Traditional forms of media such as television are a great way to reach these customers. Many elderly spend hours and hours each day watching television and will benefit from commercials regarding their business. Studies have shown that traditional media does in fact get the word out about your business. The older generation has money to spend and you want them to spend it on your service or product. This is why it is so important to appeal to those who do not use social media.
- Cons – The negative side of traditional media is that it cost far more than forms of social media that have proven to be less expensive and sometimes even free. The cost of traditional social media will take away from your bottom line. Some businesses, however, are willing to assume the costs to make sure that they are receiving tip-top advertising. Others have simply moved away from using all forms of traditional media and are relying solely on technology and word of mouth to move business.
Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. You’ve probably heard of them all. These are all forms of social media that can bring your business to the next level. It is currently the best way available to advertise your business to many potential clients at one time with little or no cost to you. The followings are the pros and cons of using social media networks to grow your business.
- Pros – With social media, you can get the word out about your business much more quicker than with traditional media. You don’t have to worry about filming silly commercials to grab attention and wait for weeks and weeks for the commercial to be shown on television. If it is here-and-now advertising that you are looking for in your business, social media is the answer. Another pro of social media is that it cost very little to advertise. Many of the networks are free to join and can get the word out almost instantly.
- Cons – Just because social media is virtually cost-free, doesn’t mean it will always work for you. You must know how to navigate websites and stay informed on tips that can get you the business you are looking for. Doing this can require a lot of time and effort. You may find yourself hiring someone to handle social media networking for your business. This can be just as expensive as the traditional media discussed above. Be prepared to spend some time each day working on social media sites if you choose this as your sole form of advertising.
Working Together
For the ultimate advantage to your business, consider combining both traditional media and social media when you are trying to get your business known in the community. Online businesses, however, may do better by using only social media but if you are trying to get known in your community, take advantage of both forms of media. You will quickly begin to see your business grow once you know how to use the two together.
For tips on how to use social media to drive your business to the next level, search the internet. There are countless business owners who have been successful by adding social media to their advertising and who are willing to share their tips. Let both social media and traditional media get your business where you want it to be.
As you can see, there are many advantages to traditional and social media. When it comes to social media versus traditional media, which will you use to help increase your bottom line?
