For some time now, the term “traditional media” has referred to television, radio, print and billboard advertising…while “non-traditional” has referenced the digital 2.0 world of the web, social media and mobile advertising.
But have we reached a point in time where these roles have reversed? I’d like to throw it out for discussion that, yes we have…non-traditional advertising now refers to TV, radio, print etc., and traditional advertising means utilizing mobile, web and social.
In today’s world of omnipresent smartphones, laptops and ipads, any business, company or entity that needs to get the word out, MUST be using the web, social and mobile as an integral part of their marketing strategy.
If you’re a small business and you don’t have a marketing strategy that utilizes digital, you are missing out on a golden opportunity to market yourself, and in many instances, it costs nothing but a few minutes of your time to set-up. You can post a video to YouTube for free, and get immediate feedback on exactly how many folks watched your video. And if they subscribe to your channel, you are now building a library of people who are interested specifically in YOUR business.
And then there’s social media…twitter, instagram, snapchat and yes, even facebook. If you are a facebook-hater, then fine, don’t do a personal page. But by all means create a page for your business. The advantages are simply too great NOT to have one.
There will always (at least for the foreseeable future) be a place for TV, radio, print and billboards, which effectively reach a wide audience, and if you have the budget, serve as a great way to enhance your marketing message.
But there is no denying…digital 2.0 advertising is here to stay. It’s effectiveness, ease of use, and cost make it a no-brainer, and it should be a fundamental part of your marketing strategy.
And if you still disagree, then I’d be happy to discuss the pros and cons of 8-track vs cassette, just to make you feel better.