Since the wide use of the internet and social media, businesses have changed their approach to marketing. We Are Social and Hootsuite’s Global Digital reports a 2019 study in which they found 4.39 billion people worldwide, or 57 percent of the world’s population use the internet. Utilizing digital marketing companies figured out a way to reach their target audience in an organic way: through social media. Worldwide there are 3.48 billion social media users, according to the same study.

Social media marketing has become such a necessity, many companies use social media marketing and digital marketing interchangeably. Though digital marketing and social media go hand in hand, they are not one and the same.

What Exactly Is Digital Media Marketing?

Digital marketing is a blanket term that refers to all types of marketing tasks that a brand or company might do digitally. Digital marketing is about the implementation of a variety of customized digital media marketing channels to grow your products or services sales and profits, to create brand awareness, build strong relationships with your target audience, create and add value, and promote your products, services, or brand.

It is important to note that every digital marketing strategy is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. Some strategies include a couple of these digital marketing channels. Some only include one. Some include all. It depends on your specific company or brand and your specific objectives and goals. That is why it is helpful to collaborate with digital marketers like SunCity Advising, who are able to develop a customized digital marketing strategy that is specific to your company’s needs.

Some tools that are used to achieve your company’s digital marketing objectives could include things like email marketing through services like MailChimp, paid social media marketing, video hosting tools like YouTube, website analytics, SEO tools, content creation tools, and affiliate marketing just to name a few.

What Exactly Is Social Media Marketing?

As mentioned, social media marketing is only one component of digital marketing. Social media marketing only uses things like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Google+, Snapchat, and TikTok to promote or market your company or brand. This type of marketing is focused on grabbing people’s attention. It heavily involves engaging with followers, enlisting social media influencers, holding contests, posting consistent and relevant content, and live-streaming.

What Are The Key Differences?

Since social media is a great way of engaging with potential customers and clients, it is used mostly for that. It is a great way to build brand awareness and communicate with customers. On the other hand, other forms of digital marketing, like email marketing, are focused on driving sales and traffic to your brick-and-mortar store or website.

Social media marketing takes less time to plan whereas other types of digital marketing campaigns may need to be more thought out. Digital marketing uses online and offline ways to reach their audience while social media is only bound to the screens.