Differences between inbound marketing and content marketing
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2024 10:29 am
At Mauna we are an agency focused on inbound marketing. However, if you have been following our blog, you will have noticed that we are always talking about content:
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When we talk about inbound, we always focus on creating quality content for the different stages of the customer cycle. We talk so much about content that sometimes it seems like they are synonyms.
In this post we want to clarify the differences between the two and what it means to apply them in your company's strategy.
Content Marketing
Let's start by defining this term. According to the Content Marketing Institute , content marketing is:
A strategic marketing approach gambling data turkey focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience and ultimately drive profitable customer action.
In other words, what changes is the way you approach your customers: instead of approaching them by directly showing your product, you will do so through your content.
Distribution channels, in principle, could be both online and offline. Examples of online content could be posts on social networks, blog articles, videos on YouTube. While offline content could include catalogues, brochures, etc.
Furthermore, the definition speaks of a clearly defined audience. Therefore, within a strategy it is important that each piece of content is created based on who will see it, and their needs and frustrations. With this, content marketing moves away from traditional outbound, where a more mass approach prevails.
This all sounds a lot like what we always say when we talk about inbound marketing , right? So what’s the difference?
Inbound marketing
Yes, content is part of inbound. The difference is that it is not the only thing involved in this methodology. To see it in more detail, let's review the definition of inbound marketing. According to Hubspot :
It focuses on attracting customers through relevant and useful content, as well as adding value at every stage of your customer’s buying process . With inbound marketing, potential customers come to you through channels like blogs, search engines, and social media. Unlike outbound marketing, inbound doesn’t need to fight for potential customers’ attention. By creating content designed to address the problems and needs of your ideal customers, you’ll attract qualified prospects and build trust and credibility for your business.
However, the key phrase here is “customer purchase process .” What makes inbound different is that it guides the customer through the various stages of their purchasing journey.
Yes, content is essential for the existence and functioning of inbound marketing. But so are other techniques and tools such as: email marketing, use of CRM, marketing automation, lead nurturing and, why not say it, the close relationship with sales.
It is the combined use of all these techniques and tools that enables you to turn strangers into customers, as the inbound marketing motto goes.
In summary, the difference between these two ways of doing marketing are:
1 Content marketing is a fundamental component of inbound marketing. Not the opposite, nor are they synonyms.
2 The application of inbound marketing depends largely on the use of automation and customer segmentation technologies.
3 Content created for inbound marketing always has the clear intention of bringing the potential customer closer to purchasing.
Now it's your turn
Were you clear about the difference between inbound marketing and content marketing from the beginning?
Analyzing your company's actions and processes, what are you applying?
If you have questions about inbound or your content, it's easy to contact us .
How to write quality SEO content
Retail: Content Marketing Examples
5 Pillars for creating quality content for your blog
When we talk about inbound, we always focus on creating quality content for the different stages of the customer cycle. We talk so much about content that sometimes it seems like they are synonyms.
In this post we want to clarify the differences between the two and what it means to apply them in your company's strategy.
Content Marketing
Let's start by defining this term. According to the Content Marketing Institute , content marketing is:
A strategic marketing approach gambling data turkey focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience and ultimately drive profitable customer action.
In other words, what changes is the way you approach your customers: instead of approaching them by directly showing your product, you will do so through your content.
Distribution channels, in principle, could be both online and offline. Examples of online content could be posts on social networks, blog articles, videos on YouTube. While offline content could include catalogues, brochures, etc.
Furthermore, the definition speaks of a clearly defined audience. Therefore, within a strategy it is important that each piece of content is created based on who will see it, and their needs and frustrations. With this, content marketing moves away from traditional outbound, where a more mass approach prevails.
This all sounds a lot like what we always say when we talk about inbound marketing , right? So what’s the difference?
Inbound marketing
Yes, content is part of inbound. The difference is that it is not the only thing involved in this methodology. To see it in more detail, let's review the definition of inbound marketing. According to Hubspot :
It focuses on attracting customers through relevant and useful content, as well as adding value at every stage of your customer’s buying process . With inbound marketing, potential customers come to you through channels like blogs, search engines, and social media. Unlike outbound marketing, inbound doesn’t need to fight for potential customers’ attention. By creating content designed to address the problems and needs of your ideal customers, you’ll attract qualified prospects and build trust and credibility for your business.
However, the key phrase here is “customer purchase process .” What makes inbound different is that it guides the customer through the various stages of their purchasing journey.
Yes, content is essential for the existence and functioning of inbound marketing. But so are other techniques and tools such as: email marketing, use of CRM, marketing automation, lead nurturing and, why not say it, the close relationship with sales.
It is the combined use of all these techniques and tools that enables you to turn strangers into customers, as the inbound marketing motto goes.
In summary, the difference between these two ways of doing marketing are:
1 Content marketing is a fundamental component of inbound marketing. Not the opposite, nor are they synonyms.
2 The application of inbound marketing depends largely on the use of automation and customer segmentation technologies.
3 Content created for inbound marketing always has the clear intention of bringing the potential customer closer to purchasing.
Now it's your turn
Were you clear about the difference between inbound marketing and content marketing from the beginning?
Analyzing your company's actions and processes, what are you applying?
If you have questions about inbound or your content, it's easy to contact us .