I just bought a new camera.  But what’s interesting, is the process I went through in making the decision to purchase one and which to buy.  A sales flyer I received in the mail featuring the newest pocket sized cameras sparked my interest.  I have a very large heavy camera, but with an upcoming trip to Disneyland planned, a small camera seemed like just the thing.

I took the next step, turning to the internet to read reviews, search social media sites and read about the different cameras on the company websites.  After several days of conducting my own research, I settled on the perfect one.  I just received it in the mail in fact and so far, I’m a happy camper.

If I were to ask, most of you would probably say you make a lot of your purchase decisions in much the same way. Something sparks your interest in a product or service, maybe an ad in a magazine or an email you received, and then you head online to research it a bit further.

Outbound and inbound marketing.  Both of these marketing tactics played a significant roll in my camera purchasing decision.  Let’s take a look at the difference between the two.

Below is a simple chart I found on Hubspot which highlights some of the marketing tactics in each:

Outbound marketing consists of more traditional tactics like print ads, direct mail, trade shows, TV, radio and telemarketing. These marketing vehicles include brand/product messages and aim to promote awareness on a wide scale and entice consumers to take action.

Inbound marketing attracts consumers using a completely different strategy.  Instead of pushing your message out, the goal is to draw people in as they research and find out more about your brand on their own.  Website optimization, blogging, social media and word of mouth all serve to help consumers find out more as they search the web.

Both of these marketing tactics are important in creating a well rounded marketing campaign.

Stay tuned for the next post about the benefits of utilizing both inbound and outbound marketing tactics in your campaigns!