Both social media and traditional form of marketing has one thing in common – both are designed, catered and executed to draw attention from potential customers. However, social media has become the holy grail for many marketers and the reason is simple – it gives customers a voice.
The main difference between traditional marketing and social media marketing is
Traditional marketing follows a one to many model. Companies promote their products through TV, radio, newspaper ads etc. This form of marketing is one way. Companies tell you what it is, you listen and that’s that. Although customers can give feedback, the process isn’t simple. It takes time and it creates hassle for the customer to go out of their way to voice their opinion. As a result they simply move on to the next brand ignoring your product altogether to find a better experience.
Social media marketing on the other hand follows a many to many model. Companies promote their products and services and you help them promote. If utilized properly, your customers can be your free marketing personnel as they will help you promote your brand without even having to ask. The reason is simple – customers have ways and tools to connect with you and voice their opinion much easily as compared to what it would take in a traditional marketing format.
Anyways, personally I think the biggest different between traditional marketing and social media marketing is that
Bookmark and share this post:Traditional marketing controls customers in one way or the other. Social media marketing puts you in control. We all like to be in control and as a consumer we love it even more.
Hi, My name is Ritu. I am a member of SMA (Social Media Anonymous) ;-) & help bloggers and businesses utilize the social web. 
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Great post Ritu, but I have to disagree to some extent. You say “If utilized properly, your customers can be your free marketing personnel as they will help you promote your brand without even having to ask.”
I say, they have to be customers first. They have to find you before they can extol the virtues of any company’s products or services.
Social media is a tool, but it certainly can’t replace advertising, and people don’t just ignore ads the medium that brings it to them. If they did, then Twitter is in trouble the day they roll out their monetized version.
My point? There is still a place for advertising in this world and social media takes too long to gain traction for some companies.
Darren, thanks for stopping by. Personally, I don’t think they have to “customers” first. For example, if my wife buys something from say Kmart and tells me “Honey, everytime I go to Kmart, I spend 25% less than I otherwise would at any store,” guess what? I am willing to refer Kmart to my married buddies
. I think it more so comes down to the trust issue again. Do you trust the person who is telling the story? If you do, you might be able to convert a non customer into your marketing personnel before converting them into your customer. (By the way, I know you might think if my wife is customer of Kmart, I am automatically a customer of Kmart but that’s not true. I am a customer of Hooters but my wife isn’t and for some reason no matter how much I brag about it my wife isn’t willing to refer hooters to anyone else) 
I agree on the trust issue. But are you saying you can only build trust to get someone to buy? That you can only gain trust prior to the sale? Can’t the trust be built after the sale with a good product or quality service? That’s how we have done it since cavemen traded rocks for wood.
I do like the Hooters analogy though!