When it comes to marketing, there are two main strategies that businesses use to attract customers: inbound and outbound. While both strategies have their advantages, it can be difficult to know which one will work best for your business. To help you decide, let’s take a look at what inbound and outbound marketing are and how they differ.

What Is Inbound Marketing?

Inbound marketing is a non-intrusive form of promotion designed to assist people in making decisions or finding solutions to issues. It does this by using relevant, helpful material such as blog posts, e-books, whitepapers, and infographics. It also uses keywords—words or phrases related to the product or service being offered—to draw in potential leads and then follows them along the buyer’s journey to convert them into customers.

What Is Outbound Marketing?

Outbound marketing is any form of paid advertising such as social ads, search engine marketing (SEM), native advertising (ads that appear as part of an article or webpage), and conventional commercials. Because outbound marketing attempts to engage with any possible customer regardless of their interest in the brand’s product or service, it is effectively the antithesis of inbound marketing. That said, it can reach a wide audience quickly and easily without needing specific keywords or content tailored for each lead.

In conclusion, understanding the differences between inbound and outbound marketing can help small business owners make more informed decisions when choosing a strategy for attracting customers. In general, if you’re looking for long-term relationships with customers based on trust and mutual benefits then inbound should be your go-to choice; however if you want quick results with minimal effort then outbound might be better suited for your needs. Whichever strategy you choose, remember that having a comprehensive plan and goal setting are key components for success!