I was at a networking event last week with a group of individuals who were mostly offline marketers. It’s interesting to hear their conversations about how great these tactics work for them – and how they think the whole online marketing thing is a complete waste of time.
Because I “live” online, I constantly read about the greatness of online marketing; about how people are using Twitter, blogs, and Facebook to make millions. These same people completely denounce offline marketing as blasphemy.
This makes me wonder 2 things: First, are marketers leaving money on the table by only sticking to one form? And second, how come people are so divided?
I imagine that there are marketers working for companies who successfully implement tactics from both sides of the line, aren’t there?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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I think the key to marketing now is sharing stories and getting involved with conversations, both of which spread best online, not offline.
I think that offline marketers are the people who love the big reach numbers they can get by spending lots of money, and who are frankly a bit lazy.
Online marketers get involved in social media and online conversations, don’t have to spend a lot to reach a targeted group of individuals (remember it’s not about how many you reach, but who that matters), and these individuals like to get involved hands on and build relationships with their consumers.
The offline marketers may be loving their jobs and their responsibilities now, but as marketing continues to change and evolve to the online medium, these same people may find themselves out of a job in the not too distant future.
Perhaps it would be more interesting to hear their conversations when they wake up and realize that the whole online marketing thing isn’t a complete waste of time after all.