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The difference between inbound and content marketing

February 6, 2017

If you have been thinking that inbound and content marketing are one and the same, you are not alone. Many marketers believe that these two types of marketing disciplines are similar with a number of them using the terms interchangeably during discussions. However, to be successful in using the two disciplines, it is important to understand them well so that you can use them effectively as part of your marketing strategy. Here are some differences:

  • By definition, inbound marketing is the provision of the specific content to a customer that needs it at the correct time; while content marketing is defined as content creation for a particular customer demographic that they can use to further a cause or help them understand a topic or product better.
  • The tactics employed by inbound marketers encourage particular actions from the person or group that has been targeted. On the other hand, content marketing rarely pushes a customer towards a certain direction but hopes the information provided will make them consider the product or service being talked about.
  • Inbound marketing focuses on making the right content available to customers that have shown interest in their products while content marketing focuses on relationship building to get to customers and eventually sell to them products or services.
  • Inbound marketers believe that a customer that is looking for specific information is likely to be open to accepting an offer targeted towards them, while content marketing does not believe in interrupting a customer’s day with information they have not requested.

Looking for help in inbound or content marketing? Let WSI help you 

WSI prides itself in offering digital marketing services that will put your business on the path to success by helping you attract customers and convert them into leads. We offer a number of premium services to our customers such as email marketing, PPC, paid advertising and social media marketing.

For more information on both these marketing disciplines contact us today; and also have a look at our inbound marketing checklist that you can download at no cost.

 

About the Author

Rick spent 20 years in the insurance industry in finance, primarily developing reporting platforms for B & C stakeholders.   His ability to speak to consumers of data (managers and analysts) and translate their needs to programmers led him to start his own digital marketing agency in 2004 to develop data driven solutions for business owners. 

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