What is online marketing? What is digital marketing? What is the difference?

We often receive reader emails asking questions of this sort. The answers, however simple, are not necessarily implicit. Many website owners have a sense of the meaning of online marketing or digital marketing, but when asked to offer a precise definition the same website owners offer vague answers.

This is a problem. Websites need to understand online marketing to succeed. As we noted last week:

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"Internet marketing. Website marketing. Online marketing. Whatever the name, marketing is a necessity for a business that hopes to profit online. If your website offers a good product, and your price is right, you deserve a well-executed marketing campaign."

Unfortunately, many website owners are repelled by technocentric jargon or esoteric promises of online marketing firms.

Simply learning the language, though, can make a big difference. So today we'll answer a simple question: What is the difference between online marketing and digital marketing?

The Difference Between Online Marketing and Digital Marketing

The image above offers a clue to the difference between digital marketing and online marketing. Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, even by industry pros, they actually refer to two different types of marketing.

Digital marketing is marketing that occurs on a digital device. The device may or may not be connected to the Internet. The take-away is that digital marketing can occur on any digital device (like those pictured above) independent of the device's connection to the Internet.

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One example of digital advertising is app marketing. A device not need be connected to the Internet to run many apps, and offline apps can provide credible marketing opportunities.

Online marketing is any marketing that occurs online. Online marketing is also often referred to as Internet marketing or website marketing.

Our blog's sponsor, Mark prefers the umbrella term "online marketing," which the company's founder, John, uses interchangeably with website marketing. In both cases, the emphasis is on attracting attention from the world's largest source of potential customers: the Internet (and more specifically, the search engines, like Google, Yahoo, and Bing).

Laughably, some believe that online marketing is a "subset of digital marketing." Seriously?  The inverse is true: digital marketing is a subset of online marketing, for the majority of marketing occurs online.

Do the distinctions here matter?

In one sense, yes. To discover the best online marketing firms, it's important to understand the language. In another sense, the distinctions do not matter. After all, the top results for the Google search "examples of digital marketing" all refer to online marketing techniques.

The Different Types of Online Marketing: How to Choose the Best?

This topic deserves its own post--and we'll explore the different types of online marketing (and how to choose the best for your business) in depth next week.

For now, it's important to note: When searching for different marketing techniques, begin with the question: What is the best way to market online?

Different types of online marketing can include organic SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing (SEM), including PPC and Google Adwords, and email marketing.

As an example, HRS Consulting uses all of these online techniques to promote websites online. But like most online marketing firms, HRS Consulting emphasizes certain strategies over others. In HRS Consulting case the emphasis is often placed on organic search engine optimization, what John calls "natural website optimization."

When searching for online marketing firms, then, you most first discover the most appropriate strategies for your business, and then discover the firms best equipped to help you implement those strategies.

Finally, remember: Don't let the jargon dissuade you from discovering marketing opportunities that will transform your business.

Can Online Marketing Transform Your Business?

To navigate the complicated challenge of online marketing, you will need to hire an online marketing firm like HRS Consulting. Do not let the changing search engine algorithms compromise your sales. You need the astute wisdom of a professional who can help you implement the best online marketing strategies for your business.

Contact HRS Consulting today to learn how you can improve your website's performance: +1(347) 491-6711.