Did you know, compared to traditional marketing, influencer marketing is considered more effective to reach the target audience? Well, people have used traditional marketing for ages, which of course was quite effective. But with the change in times, it is important to switch to influencer marketing and other new-age marketing strategies.
Despite the fact that social media and other technological developments have completely changed the way that brands interact with their target audience, many businesses are still clinging to traditional techniques of advertising.
Unfortunately for them, there isn’t much of a return on this investment.
Not only are there far more effective ways to connect with today’s consumers, but research indicates that traditional advertisements are no longer trusted by consumers, who generally avoid them altogether.
What is Traditional Marketing?
Traditional marketing is the conventional marketing methods used by businesses and brands to promote their products and services. This methods predates the digital era, and mostly included marketing techniques such as –
- Print advertising
- TV ads
- Radio ads
- Direct mail
- Billboards
- In-person events
What is Influencer Marketing?
“Influencer marketing” focuses on working with well-known people, or “influencers,” to promote a brand, good, or service. They have huge social media following and credibility with a specific niche, on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and many more. This marketing strategy is more genuine and organic. With influencer marketing, your business can find several audience, that might be willing to convert into your loyal customers.
Reports have said that more than 80% of the businesses are making use of influencer marketing to strengthen their social media strategy. A few years ago, “influencer” was the term limited to celebrities. However, now, the term is applicable to anyone with higher follower count. Can’t say for all, but some of the influencers foster authentic connection with their audience, which means, if they promote a product, their audience is more likely to buy the product and recommend it further. This can lead to higher sales and ROI.
An influencer agency, like One Hub, can help you find the right influencer for your business.
Pros and Cons of Traditional and Influencer Marketing
Understanding pros and cons can help you determine which marketing strategy is best for you.
Traditional Marketing
Pros:
- Can reach a large audience quickly and efficiently.
- Control over messaging, creative, and placement.
- Effective in building strong brand recognition and recall.
- Established channels like TV and print often have high levels of consumer trust.
Cons:
- Audience reach is low.
- Difficulty in gathering data and ROI.
- Ad space and printing can be costly.
- Declining viewership of traditional media.
- Campaign development and execution can be time-consuming.
Influencer Marketing
Pros:
- Affordable and cost-effective.
- Can reach a specific demographic.
- Help reach a wide audience group.
- Influencers can build trust and credibility with their audience.
- High levels of engagement and interaction with the target audience.
- Digital platforms provide detailed analytics and performance metrics.
Cons:
- ROI measurement can be tricky and challenging.
- Reliance on individual influencers might be risky.
- Potential for inauthentic or misleading endorsements.
- Attributing sales directly to influencer campaigns can be difficult.
- Brands have limited control over the content created by influencers.
Influencers Marketing or Tradition Marketing – Which One to Choose?
Here’s a table to help you choose which one of the marketing is better –
| Feature | Influencer Marketing | Traditional Marketing |
| Target Audience | Highly specific and targeted based on influencer’s following | Broad and general, often undifferentiated |
| Medium | Social media platforms, blogs, vlogs, podcasts | Television, radio, print, billboards, outdoor advertising |
| Message Control | Shared between brand and influencer | Complete control by the brand |
| Cost | Generally lower, especially for micro-influencers | Typically higher, especially for large-scale campaigns |
| Measurability | Highly measurable through analytics and engagement metrics | More difficult to measure ROI and impact |
| Authenticity | Perceived as more authentic due to influencer’s personal endorsement | Often perceived as less authentic, more promotional |
| Speed of Execution | Faster to implement and adjust campaigns | Slower due to production and scheduling requirements |
| Relationship Building | Focuses on building relationships with influencers and their audience | Less focused on building relationships, more on brand awareness |
The differences and table above can help you decide which marketing strategy suits your brand. But in our opinion, influencer marketing strategy is one of the best strategies to promote your business. This is because it is cost-effective and the best part is, it gives you wider reach.
If you are looking for the best influencer agency in Dubai, contact One Hub to scale your business online and reach the right customers, with our huge base of influencers from all niches.