Content is three times better at generating leads than outbound marketing strategies. In fact, over 70% of businesses say content marketing increases leads. Over 90% of businesses report content is a valuable business asset, too. 

Meanwhile, 28% of marketers are reducing their traditional marketing budget in favor of digital marketing strategies like SEO. With inbound marketing and SEO, you can set your business up to grow.

Not sure if you’re ready to abandon outbound marketing yet? Is inbound marketing really better than outbound marketing?

Read on to find out!

What is Inbound Marketing?

Before we compare inbound marketing vs outbound marketing, let’s go over the basics. What is inbound marketing, exactly?

To use inbound marketing effectively, businesses create customer-focused experiences. Brands focus on what customers already need and want, rather than creating an interest.

Consumers are already online, searching for your product or service. Instead of pushing a sale, you can provide them with information. Informing customers can help them feel comfortable making a buying decision.

Meanwhile, you can create personalized experiences to keep your customers engaged and interested. 

What exactly is the difference between inbound and outbound marketing, then? Outbound marketing requires you to reach out to customers. With inbound marketing, customers reach out to you.

Sometimes, outbound strategies are intrusive, disruptive, and even annoying. Tactics like cold calling could frustrate customers. You might miss the chance to generate leads as a result. 

Strategies

You can use a combination of different inbound marketing strategies to reach customers. 

For example, you can create high-quality, branded content to demonstrate your experience and expertise in the industry. Content creation can help you generate more website traffic.

Different forms of content include:

• Videos
• Infographics
• Blog posts/articles
• Quizzes
• Polls
• Podcasts
• Interactive content
• AR/VR content

You can combine inbound marketing and SEO using the content you create. Your content can inform, engage, or entertain consumers. They can learn about your brand, industry, or offerings through content marketing, too.

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising allows brands to create eye-catching display or text ads online. These ads can direct consumers to your website.

Then, you can use a dedicated landing page to convert those customers into leads or sales.

Social media marketing is a great way to engage customers in real-time. The best marketing strategies are developed with your audience in mind. Instead of heavy sales language, you can help people get more engaged with your brand.

Boosting brand engagement can help you remain top-of-mind. It might encourage more customers to reach out, too. 

What Is SEO?

Nearly 70% of online experiences begin with a search engine. You can appear for relevant searches using search engine optimization (SEO). Optimizing your content for specific keywords will improve your rankings.

Ranking at the top of a search engine results page will ensure consumers see your website first. With higher rankings, you can:

• Increase brand visibility, awareness, and recognition
• Generate brand trust and loyalty
• Generate website traffic
• Establish yourself as a thought leader
• Direct consumers to your storefront
• Boost your credibility
• Generate leads and sales
• Appear ahead of competitors
• Improve your ROI

Search engine optimization is an inbound marketing strategy. Inbound marketing and SEO go together to boost your reach online. You can appeal to consumers who already want and need your offerings through your content.

To use SEO marketing, you first need to gather audience and keyword research. Then, you can create content personalized with your target audience in mind.

Personalization will help you forge stronger, emotional connections with your target audience.

Using content marketing, you can answer the questions your customers are asking online. They’ll recognize you can offer the help and expertise they’re looking for. Then, consumers might feel more inclined to trust your brand. 

Once they reach your website, you can start generating leads and sales.

Google will notice your dwell times and clickthrough rates are improving. It could boost your rankings, ensuring more people find your business online. 

The Benefits

How can inbound marketing and SEO set your business up for growth? Here are a few ways inbound marketing is better than outbound.

Increase Brand Visibility

Remember, consumers are already online, searching for businesses and products. Inbound marketing can boost your brand visibility. You can reach consumers on platforms they’re already using.

Instead of interrupting their online experience, you can appear when they need your help most.

Appearing at different touchpoints will help brand awareness and recognition grow. 

Boost Brand Trust and Loyalty

You can use content marketing to demonstrate your expertise as a thought leader in the industry. Consumers might feel more inclined to trust your brand. Building brand trust could help you gain loyal customers.

Loyal customers can boost your ROI by making repeat sales. 

Generate Website Traffic

You can use different inbound marketing strategies to generate more website traffic. Generating traffic will help more people learn about your brand.

The more they learn, the more comfortable they might feel about trusting your business. 

Strategies Aren’t Intrusive

Remember, outbound marketing strategies are often intrusive. If you annoy customers, you could leave a bad first impression.

Instead, you can appear as consumers are gathering information to offer the help they already want and need. 

Generate Quality Leads

Content marketing costs 62% less than traditional marketing while generating three times as many leads. Meanwhile, 79% of marketers say SEO is better than pay-per-click advertising for generating sales. As a result, over 60% of marketers actively invest time in SEO. 

With inbound marketing, you can generate high-quality leads by focusing on consumers who already want your offerings. 

You can use the best inbound marketing tools to help your business grow. For example, consider using a CRM to ensure you’re nurturing your leads. 

It’s Cost-Effective

Remember, inbound strategies like content marketing are less expensive than traditional marketing strategies. Meanwhile, they can help you generate more leads. 

As a result, inbound marketing can boost your ROI, enabling your business to grow. 

Get Growing: Use Inbound Marketing and SEO for Your Business Today

Set your business up for lasting growth and success. Start using inbound marketing and SEO this year. With these business marketing strategies, you can reach more customers than ever before.

Get leagues ahead of the competition with inbound marketing today.

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Explore our latest articles for more helpful advice. 

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Nick Jones

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