The internet is becoming more critical for brands. Intelligent businesses notice consumers have transformed their shopping for items they want and need. Customers now control the information they receive and the channels they are sent through. Inbound marketing strategies work because of this.
Many marketers have stopped using outbound marketing tactics since the rise of inbound marketing. They say out with the old, in is new.
Contrary to popular belief, outbound marketing seems alive. It is still possible to disrupt channels using marketing communications. Let’s look at the differences between outbound and inbound marketing to understand better why your business can still benefit from these outbound strategies.
Key Differences
Seth Godin invented the term Permission marketing in 1999. This is when consumers consent to receive marketing materials and content. HubSpot created Inbound marketing in 2005 to better understand the process and show how it differs from traditional marketing methods like one-way broadcasting.
Trust and providing value is the foundation of inbound relationships between brand and consumer. This sounds great to me. The problem with inbound marketing is the slow implementation and slower results.
Outbound marketing is quick and proactive. Outbound marketing is a fast and aggressive way to get the message across. Outbound covers everything we see that ” interrupts” our daily lives and routines. Television advertisements, telemarketing billboards, cold email, direct mail, billboards, and flyers are all examples of outbound advertising.
Outbound marketing is considered outdated by some. These tactics work for others. A recent survey asked businesses which strategy was more effective in generating leads. 32% of respondents answered inbound marketing, and 32% answered outbound. This shows that companies can still rely upon outbound marketing as much as they can on inbound marketing.
Let’s face facts. Inbound marketing is a time-consuming process that many businesses cannot afford to wait. Outbound lead generation strategies are essential.
Outbound Lead Generation
There are a few ways that outbound lead generation differs from Inbound.
Shortens Your Sales Cycle
It takes inbound marketing 6 to 12 months before it begins paying off. Cold emails and phone calls are a great way to generate leads quickly. This is particularly effective for startups and can be done in minutes.
Although cold calling and emailing can seem complicated, if you use strict selectivity and have the charm, it can work wonders even during slow months and when your inbound strategies aren’t yet taking off.
Rapidly Builds Brand Awareness
If outbound is dead, then why are we still seeing ads on the streets? Simple. They still work!