While browsing Google Analytics to get a feel for today’s website traffic, I noticed someone had searched for “is Internet marketing better than print?” and landed on our site. This is an excellent question that deserves an explanation.

Let me begin by saying that, for the vast majority of companies, Internet marketing takes the cake. Print is old school, environmentally unfriendly, semi-targeted, and costly. There are 3 key reasons why Internet marketing kicks print ads in the tookus:

1. Shelf Life — Unlike print ads that are published and tossed in the trash shortly thereafter, Internet marketing is timeless and information stays on the web for years, if not generations. For this reason, online marketing is more sustainable, long-lasting, and generates a higher Return on Investment (ROI).
2. Informative Approach — In this day and age, customers want information and despise pushy, sales-oriented material. Internet marketing allows companies to take a more social, helpful approach to promoting their brand, which results in an increased level of trust, then higher revenue.
3. Targeting —  The fact is that print ads are simply not as targeted as Internet marketing mediums. For example, let’s say a business accounting firm wants to attract clients from Los Angeles. They could run a print ad in local newspapers, print brochures and send them to local businesses, etc. This will bring in some business, yes, but the conversion rates will be low. On the flip side, if the accounting firm uses search engine optimization (SEO) to rank at the top of search engines for target keywords (e.g. business accountant in Los Angeles), they know every person that searches for that phrase and lands on the company website is an ideal client.

If you’re still running print ads I highly suggest dropping them in favor of a more e-centric marketing approach that takes advantage of all this new age has to offer.

Aaron Schoenberger
The Brainchild Group