How to choose between Inbound and Outbound Marketing

Outbound Marketing - is the traditional form of marketing where a company initiates the conversation and sends its message out to an audience

Inbound Marketing – is where the customer finds you through blogs, social media, and search engines

Which is best?  The answer varies depending on who you ask.  Marketers who primarily deal in SEO and social media will steer you toward Inbound Marketing simply because it is what they are used to and deal with on a daily basis.  They will throw out what they perceive to be the negatives of outbound marketing in order to sway you toward online forms of marketing .  Online marketing via SEO, Pay-Per-Click (PPC) and social media avenues generate an audience and are an essential part of a well-rounded marketing strategy. 

However, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket as they say.  Outbound Marketing is a proven strategy and is still being exploited by fortune 500 companies on a daily basis.  If it didn't work they wouldn’t be doing it.

Pick up any magazine and half of the pages are full of perfume, jewelry, and fashion ads as well as those for movies, events, TV series and travel. A greater level of success comes to those that also have these same ads online. Crossmedia marketing refers to crossing print and digital media for a better marketing result and is a must for any successful marketing plan.  Here are several ways to include both.

Inbound Marketing

1.      Create Campaigns on Google Adwords – start with keyword research using the Google keyword tool

2.      Create a Blog

3.      Create relevant content on your website for better search engine optimization

4.      Offer educational information on Facebook and Twitter to build a following

5.      Build trust with a professionally designed website – if you look subpar online, consumers will assume your service or product is subpar.  This is psychology 101

6.      EBooks

Outbound Marketing

1.      Well-designed printed marketing materials

2.      Mobile Apps

3.      Tradeshows and networking events

4.      Cold Calls – everyone hates it but is works

5.      Email Blasts and Newsletters

6.      Youtube – Video (used with both)

7.      Direct Mail

8.      Media ads

Not every form of Inbound or Outbound marketing fits a specific business. It is best to have a solid marketing plan that budgets for both forms of marketing and that is tailored to fit your specific need and target audience.  Inbound marketing takes time so you have to commit to being vigilant in your efforts and remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.  So which form of marketing is best?  The simple answer is, BOTH!

More ideas at  http://www.tumblr.com/blog/creativesoupthings