Our agency attended a business convention in Washington. It was a great networking event that allowed us to connect with businesses that had one thing on their mind; Growth.
A mid-sized business owner approached us and asked:
Digital marketing vs social media marketing, which one is better?
We took a little time to gather our thoughts and present them to him, and here’s what they look like.
What is Digital Marketing?
Digital Marketing is an umbrella term that includes every aspect of marketing that uses the Internet to connect with customers.
What does Digital Marketing include:
- Social Media (yes even social media is part of digital marketing)
- Web-Based Advertising
- Text and Multimedia Messages
What is Social Media Marketing?
Creating and marketing your products or services on social media is what it’s about. You can either do this to increase sales or simply because you want your brand to exist in the online world.
Social Media Marketing includes posting on the following platforms:
- YouTube
- TikTok
- X (Formerly Twitter)
Digital Marketing vs. Social Media Marketing
We considered the following objectives when doing ‘digital marketing vs social media marketing’. This will help business owners make a decision that helps them grow sustainably.
Current Business Goals
Digital Marketing: This option is suited for much broader goals like increasing website traffic, generating leads, and making sure that at least 2% convert into customers.
Social Media Marketing: A social media marketing campaign can help build brand awareness. You could directly start a conversation with your followers, which could help build a community.
Which Type of Audience Should We Target?

- LinkedIn: If you want to target businesses and founders with your content
- Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: If you want to showcase your product to your target audience
- WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger: If you want to start a conversation with your customers and are about to close a client.
Digital Marketing – Cost Breakdown

- LinkedIn: If you want to target businesses and founders with your content
- Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: If you want to showcase your product to your target audience
- WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger: If you want to start a conversation with your customers and are about to close a client.
Final Verdict
For ‘Digital Marketing Vs Social Media Marketing’ the verdict depends on your business goals. If you are looking to build a community and improve brand awareness, social media is the platform for you.