What is the difference between traditional media and digital media?

The main difference between social media and traditional media is that social media offers two-way communication, whereas traditional media offers one-way communication.

Media broadly refers to forms of mass communication. Traditional media is any form of mass communication that were available before the advent of digital media. This includes newspapers, radio, magazines, and television. Social media, on the other hand, refer to applications and websites that allow users to create and share content and participate in social networking.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Social Media 
     – Definition, Features, Marketing
2. What is Traditional Media
     – Definition, Features, Marketing
3. What is the Difference Between Social Media and Traditional Media
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Social Media, Traditional Media

What is the difference between traditional media and digital media?

Social media refer to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. Social media has many special features compared to digital media. These include communication, interaction, content-sharing and collaboration. Many people use social media to keep in contact with friends and family, and some use it to communicate and interact with different communities. When we usually hear the word social media, we only think of social platforms like Facebook and Twitter. However, social media includes various categories like media sharing networks (Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube etc.) discussion forums (Quora, Reddit), bookmarking and content curation networks like Flipboard and Pinterest, as well as blogging and publishing networks like Tumblr and WordPress.  These platforms give us the opportunity to share our thoughts, opinions, photos, and videos in real-time.

Businesses also use social media as a way to market and promote their products. We call this social media marketing. Social media marketing helps businesses to build awareness of their brand, increase sales and help with website traffic. When using social media for marketing products, marketers have the ability to know the thoughts and opinions of the audience and receive their feedback instantly. Moreover, there are many tools to measure the effectiveness of social media marketing campaigns.

Traditional media refers to any form of mass communication available before the introduction of digital media. Therefore, traditional media include television, radio, newspapers, magazines and books. Traditional media offers only a one-way communication; the audience receive messages through the media, but the media do not get direct feedback.

When you use traditional media for advertising or promoting your products and services, sales methods include television advertisements, radio advertisements, banner advertisements, print advertisements, direct mail advertisements, door to door sales, billboards, etc. Various companies have used these methods for many years, with very effective results. Even today, marketing methods like television advertisements and print advertisements can result in successful sales. With the advent of digital media, the use of traditional media for marketing began to see a slight decline. However, companies still spend billions of dollars on promoting their products through traditional media.

Definition

Social media refer to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. In contrast, traditional media refers to any form of mass communication available before the introduction of digital media.

Examples

Some examples of popular social media platforms include Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, Wikipedia and Pinterest, while examples of traditional media include television, radio, newspapers and magazines.

Nature of Communication

While social media offers two-way communication, traditional media offers one-way communication. This is because the audience has an opportunity to voice their opinions on social media.

Internet

Although social media has many special features and advantages, it is dependent on the internet. If there is a break down in the internet connection, you cannot access any social media platform. However, traditional media is not dependent on the internet.

Changes

Once a message is published or broadcasted in traditional media, it’s too late to make changes. However, messages in social media can be changed whenever you want.

Control

In social media, you have more control over the message you want to share; for example, you can use audience targeting, or you can delay the date of publication. In contrast, traditional media does not allow much control.

Conclusion

Traditional media is any form of mass communication that were available before the advent of digital media. Social media, on the other hand, refer to applications and websites that allow users to create and share content and participate in social networking. The main difference between social media and traditional media is that social media offers two-way communication, whereas traditional media offers one-way communication.

Reference:

1. “Defining Traditional Media Today.” Techfunnel, 19 Feb. 2018, Available here.
2. “10 Types of Social Media and How Each Can Benefit Your Business.” Hootsuite Social Media Management, 1 Nov. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “292994” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “television remote control, Television, Remote Control, television programme, tv, news, rc, multimedia, media, finance” (CC0) via Pxfuel

The answer is this: both forms of advertising are of value but in different ways.

Think of the two forms of advertising methods as boxers. Traditional media is the well established 9-time heavyweight world champion, where as digital media is the incredible up-and-comer with the fastest feet and jabs in the business.

So, when put into the ring, which of the two will be victorious?

In the Red Corner: Traditional Media

Traditional media’s a seasoned veteran in the media ring. In its prime, it was getting K.O.’s left, right and centre, but as time progressed the K.O.’s became less and less, and the easy wins were a thing of the past.

Now, traditional media is getting slower and is starting to take more hits than it used to.

Traditional media is still winning matches, but it’s on the way to retirement for many brands. There are some situations, though, where it is still king. For many mass market products, television, outdoor, press and radio are among the traditional media big hitters that can have a low cost-per-acquisition.

What is the difference between traditional media and digital media?

What This Means For You

While radio ads, TV commercials and print ads are still popular, they are not reaping the same returns as before. These mediums are focused on disrupting the audience, and since the rise of the Internet is allowing audiences to pick and choose what they see - its effectiveness by itself is lowering, and fast.

Traditional marketing mediums, however, can be made more powerful when used in conjunction with digital marketing methods. Particularly as content can be repurposed and spread to a larger number of market touch points using a combination. The most important takeaway is to back up all your traditional marketing campaigns with a comprehensive digital presence, including a powerful website and active social media.

What is the difference between traditional media and digital media?

In the Blue Corner: Digital Media

Digital media has only been boxing at the professional level for the past 15 years, but already agents are seeing the budding potential.

With lightning-fast footwork and a killer right hook, digital media is starting to win against the older and less evolved traditional media.

With the world becoming more and more online-focused, digital media has become an instant crowd pleaser - winning the hearts and minds of the audience.

A scary thought for brands to consider is that up to 70% of the research is done online before a customer reaches a salesperson. 

What This Means for You?

Digital is rising with the domination of the internet. Buyers are spending huge amounts of time online and are adjusting their spending habits accordingly. Digital media now holds the key to content marketing and inbound marketing - strategies which can help your business to improve in lead gathering, nurturing and profitability.

It's also important to note that for most consumers, a business without a strong online presence doesn't even exist. Worse, your business could be viewed as untrustworthy. Luckily, building a great website comes down to one simple rule: answer your customers' questions.

To discover more about the tips and tricks of lead gathering, download our free E-Book.

 

Digital vs Traditional Media: The Winner

While traditional media was the undefeated champion in its day, its inability to adjust to the new innovations and customer needs has made it slow and clumsy - leaving it completely open to digital’s sharp jabs. While digital hasn’t knocked out traditional, its speed and tailored approach to the market’s needs ensures that it keeps landing solid hits.

Soon, digital will have traditional media on the ropes, and businesses need to roll with this.

Traditional media will always have a place in the ring, however, the time has come for traditional media to pass on its championship belt to the young up-and-comer: digital.

Now, more than ever, is a good time to consider how an inbound marketing agency can help your business with such dramatic marketing fragmentation.

Inbound marketing agencies are like insurance for your marketing investment. You can read our blog here to learn more about this, or find out how you can get the

The Kingdom helps businesses build powerful digital marketing tools to get value and growth from their HubSpot investment. Login to the HubSpot CRM then speak to The Kingdom team today.

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