In today's dynamic digital age, updating your marketing strategy isn't a luxury — it's a necessity. As someone preparing for a significant purchase, you may have encountered various marketing approaches from brands vying for your attention. Many of these approaches will fall into two categories: inbound and outbound marketing. 

While these words may sound like jargon at first, understanding these concepts can be your secret weapon in ensuring you're well-informed and making good purchasing decisions. Below, we’ll dive deep into this topic and find out how it relates to your next big buy. 

At its core, inbound marketing is about pulling your audience in rather than pushing your message out. It revolves around creating valuable content tailored for your target audience in the hopes they’ll find it organically — usually via search engines, social media, or word of mouth. 

This strategy is driven by the belief that customers should come to you willingly because of the value you provide. It's a more customer-centric approach, focusing on building trust and establishing long-term relationships. 

Now that we've laid the foundation, let's dive into some tangible examples of inbound marketing that you may have encountered.

Examples of inbound marketing

As a consumer, you’ve likely interacted with inbound marketing content without even realizing it! Here are just a few examples of what this content looks like in action.

Blogs

Blog posts serve as the backbone of content marketing. These are in-depth articles written to engage, educate, and entertain readers on particular topics. When businesses harness the power of search engine optimization (SEO) within their content marketing strategies, they ensure that these blog posts rank higher on search engines — increasing their visibility. 

Crafting high-quality, SEO-optimized blog posts in a specific niche helps brands establish themselves as thought leaders and the primary go-to sources for information. 

For instance, if you've ever searched about the benefits of a particular mattress or the hottest travel destinations, you may have come across an insightful, well-structured blog post that helped you make an informed buying decision. 

Videos

In today's fast-paced world, many consumers prefer digestible, visual content. Enter video posts. These can range from how-to tutorials to product reviews to behind-the-scenes looks. 

A brand might release a video showcasing the comfort and durability of a new mattress, guiding potential buyers through its unique features. A video is engaging and is often a quicker way to consume detailed information.

Guidebooks or ebooks

These are comprehensive pieces of content that explore specific topics in greater depth than a blog.

If you're eyeing a particular destination for your next trip, an ebook about it might offer insights from local cuisines to hidden tourist spots. Guidebooks serve as a detailed resource, giving consumers the breadth and depth of information they need to make better buying decisions. 

Benefits of an inbound marketing strategy

Inbound marketing offers several benefits that can transform a brand's engagement with its audience. Let’s take a closer look at just a few of these perks.

Educational

One of the primary goals of inbound marketing is to educate potential customers. By providing valuable information tailored to your audience's needs and interests, inbound marketing empowers consumers to make informed decisions. 

Think about it: When you're about to spend a significant amount of money, you want all the details at your fingertips. That's precisely what inbound marketing offers — a wealth of knowledge that helps in immediate decision-making and establishes a basis for future purchases.

Non-invasive

In contrast to traditional marketing and advertising methods that might interrupt your favorite show with a commercial or fill your mailbox with unsolicited flyers, inbound marketing is far less intrusive. Relevant content is crafted and placed where the target audience can find it organically. So, instead of feeling bombarded, you discover helpful information at your own pace and on your own terms.

Quantifiable

Measurability is one of the greatest advantages of inbound marketing. Marketers can track, analyze, and optimize every blog visit, video view, or ebook download. With this data-driven approach, marketers can continually refine their content based on actual user behavior, ensuring better alignment with the audience's needs. 

While inbound marketing draws interested parties in with its organic charm, outbound marketing focuses on pushing out a message to as many people as possible — whether they’ve expressed a prior interest in your product or service or not. 

Think of this outreach as casting a wide net (much like cold calling or telemarketing), where the aim is to engage as many prospects as possible and hoping to garner enough interest to make sales. 

Examples of outbound marketing

Though outbound marketing might seem a bit dated in today’s world of digital marketing tactics, it's still prevalent and has unique strengths. Here are some of the most common ways you’ll see outbound marketing efforts used today.

Direct mail

Direct mail involves sending physical promotional materials, such as brochures, catalogs, and postcards, to potential customers. It's personal and tangible, allowing brands to make a direct impression. Receiving a glossy brochure about a luxury vacation or a discount coupon for a furniture store can be quite compelling!

Events

Hosting or attending events is a hands-on approach to marketing. Whether it's a product launch, trade show, or seminar, events allow businesses to interact face to face with potential customers and offer an immersive experience. It’s similar to test driving a car or even sampling an ice cream flavor before committing to a purchase.

Billboards

Large, eye-catching, and hard to miss, billboards in high-traffic areas broadcast their message to anyone passing by. While billboards lack the precise audience targeting of digital ads, their sheer size and visual appeal can leave a lasting impression.

Newspapers

Despite the rise of digital media, newspaper ads still have a great deal of influence over certain demographics. They offer localized targeting and can range from small classified ads to full-page spreads. For many, reading the morning paper and coming across an enticing ad has started many purchase journeys!

Radio

With its wide reach, radio advertising can be both local and national. A catchy jingle or a compelling ad can resonate with listeners, making them consider products or services they might not have thought of previously.

TV

Television commercials combine visuals and audio to create compelling narratives. Their broad reach and potential for emotive storytelling can sway viewer opinions and desires. Whether it's an ad about a new gadget or a memorable holiday destination, TV commercials have a way of embedding themselves in our minds.

Benefits of an outbound marketing strategy

Having explored the myriad methods that encompass outbound marketing, it's crucial to understand the distinct advantages of these marketing campaigns. 

Brand awareness

Rapidly increasing brand awareness is one of the undeniable strengths of outbound marketing. Outbound methods advertise a brand to a broad audience — many of whom might be encountering the brand for the first time. 

Whether it's a captivating TV commercial or a catchy radio jingle, these campaigns ensure that the brand name sticks in consumers' minds.

Familiarity

Outbound marketing has been around for decades, making it a familiar part of the buyer’s journey for most consumers. People expect to see ads when they flip through a magazine, watch television, or listen to the radio. 

This familiarity often breeds trust; even in a digital age, many consumers feel a certain reassurance in seeing a brand advertised in traditional formats.

Reaps results immediately

Unlike inbound marketing (which often requires time to build and nurture relationships), outbound marketing focuses on immediacy. A well-placed billboard or a timely TV commercial can spark instant interest and drive immediate action, whether that’s a purchase, sign-up, or visit to a store. This quick return on investment can be invaluable, especially for brands looking for a swift boost in sales or visibility.

Inbound and outbound strategies seem to occupy distinct marketing territories. However, both share a mission: to captivate and convert prospects. A prime example of this convergence is email marketing, which can dance on both stages. 

On one hand, opt-in newsletters and content-driven emails draw in readers with valuable insights. On the other hand, promotional blast emails or unsolicited campaigns embody outbound marketing's direct approach.

While inbound marketing seduces buyers with its rich content and trust-building measures, outbound marketing capitalizes on the expansive reach and nostalgia of traditional advertising mediums.

Despite their differences, both strategies center around forging connections, igniting interest, and prompting action. 

Partner with Accrue Savings to boost your marketing strategies today

Navigating inbound and outbound marketing can be a journey, with both offering unique advantages in the art of captivating audiences. Yet, the key lies in harmoniously blending these approaches for maximum impact.

For brands looking to expand their reach, a partnership with Accrue Savings can help build customer loyalty and maximize your sales funnel. With Accrue, customers can save up for your products and services with savings incentives, helping drive more engagement with your brand. 

When you partner with Accrue, you can enjoy the flexibility of tailoring savings plans to specific audience segments for more personalized outreach.

Ready to supercharge your marketing campaigns? Partner with us today and elevate your brand's potential to unparalleled heights.