Are social media marketing & digital marketing the same?
Many people think digital marketing and social media marketing are the same thing. While they are connected, they are not the same. Social media marketing is just one part of digital marketing which encompasses many different elements such as programmatic, search marketing, search engine optimisation etc.
What is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing includes all online marketing efforts to connect with an audience, promote a brand, and drive sales. It covers a wide range of strategies beyond social media, such as:
SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Improving website ranking on Google.
Email Marketing: Sending targeted emails to engage customers.
PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Advertising: Paying for ads on Google or social media.
Website Management: Keeping websites updated and user-friendly.
Content Marketing: Creating blogs, videos, and other content to attract customers.
What is Social Media Marketing?
Social media marketing focuses on using social platforms to promote products and services. It involves:
Creating and sharing content (posts, videos, stories) on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Engaging with audiences through comments, messages, and discussions.
Running social media ads to target specific users.
Partnering with influencers to reach new audiences.
Social media marketing is an essential part of digital marketing, but it does not include other digital channels like email, search engines, or websites.
Key Differences Between Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing
While social media marketing is a type of digital marketing, here are the main differences:
Scope: Digital marketing includes multiple online marketing methods, while social media marketing is limited to social platforms.
Targeting: Digital marketing reaches audiences across different online channels; social media marketing focuses on users within specific platforms.
Tools & Metrics: Digital marketing uses SEO tools, website analytics, and email tracking. Social media marketing relies on engagement metrics, social listening, and influencer partnerships.
Is Social Media Marketing Effective?
Yes! Social media marketing is one of the most effective ways in helping brands achieving some of the objectives below. For bootstrapped small and medium businesses - it is one of the best ways to showcase your business portfolio and one of the cheapest ways to reach out to a large audience.
Increase brand awareness by reaching millions of users.
Engage directly with customers and build relationships.
Drive traffic to websites, boosting sales and conversions.
Provide customer service and handle inquiries in real time.
To make social media marketing work, businesses need the right tools and strategies.
What are Some Marketing Tools?
A myriad of tools are now at our disposal to be able to implement our digital marketing tools effectively. Here are some examples we recommend and use at MajorForm for our clients to meet their business goals.
Digital Marketing Tools
Google Analytics: Tracks website traffic and user behavior. When setting up any website, it is important to ensure that Google Analytics is set up so that you are able to understand your website traffic, visitors, top pages, audiences to optimise the traffic coming in.
SEO Tools (SEMrush, Moz): These tools help to optimise the your website’s ability to rank against keywords that are important in your industry. Such tools allow you to understands competition, review Search Engine Result Page (SERPs), Domain authority and research keywords too!
Email Marketing Platforms (Mailchimp, HubSpot): With easy to use email templates, these tools simplify your brand’s ability to remarket and re-engage your audiences in a seamless interface. Manage your email subscriber list, optimise your open rates as well!
PPC Platforms (Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager): Lastly, but most importantly - these free-to-use platforms are the bread and butter of any paid advertising campaigns and are the foundation of ensuring that your brand is able to target your potential customers.
Screenshot of Google Analytics Dashboard
Social Media Marketing Tools
Social Media Management Tools (Hootsuite, Buffer): Helps businesses schedule posts in advance, maintain a consistent posting schedule, and monitor engagement, saving time and effort.
Social Listening Tools (Brandwatch, Sprout Social): Tracks brand mentions and audience sentiment, allowing businesses to adjust strategies based on real-time feedback.
Influencer Marketing Platforms (Influencity, AspireIQ): Connects brands with influencers who can promote products to targeted audiences, increasing brand credibility and reach.
Social Analytics Tools (Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics): Measures engagement, reach, and overall content performance to help businesses refine their social media strategy for better results.
Sample Hootsuite Social Media Dashboard
What are Some digital marketing and social media marketing metrics?
To unlock the power of digital marketing and social media marketing - it is important for brands to take a look at metrics, and the right ones. Only by looking at the right metrics can brands drive awareness, improve consideration, and increase conversions and sales effectively!
| Metric Type | Digital Marketing Metrics | Social Media Marketing Metrics |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic & Reach | Website traffic, organic search visibilityWebsite traffic, organic search visibility | Post reach, impressions, profile visits |
| Engagement | Click-through rates (CTR), email open rates | Likes, comments, shares, saves, direct messages |
| Conversion Rate | Form submissions, sales, sign-ups, downloads | Link clicks, leads generated, purchases via social ads |
| Audience Growth | Email subscriber growth, returning website visitors | Follower growth rate, new social media subscribers |
| Brand Awareness | Search volume, brand mentions, referral traffic | Shares, hashtag performance, influencer mentions |
| Customer Feedback | Reviews, surveys, customer support interactions | Sentiment analysis, direct feedback in comments/messages |
| Ad Performance | Cost per click (CPC), return on ad spend (ROAS) | Cost per engagement (CPE), social ad impressions |
Digital Marketing vs Social Media Marketing: How They Work Together
Even though they are different, digital marketing and social media marketing complement each other in several ways.
Content Distribution
Digital marketing content (like blogs, videos, and case studies) can be shared on social media to reach a larger audience.
Integrated Campaign Strategies
Social media is a powerful tool to drive traffic to websites, email lists, and sales pages as part of a broader digital marketing campaign.
Audience Engagement and Interaction
Social media marketing strengthens digital marketing efforts by fostering direct conversations and interactions with audiences.
Cross-Promotion and Collaboration
Businesses can combine social media marketing with SEO, email, and PPC to create a well-rounded digital marketing strategy.
While social media marketing is a key part of digital marketing, it is not the same thing. Digital marketing covers a broader range of strategies, including SEO, email, PPC, and websites. Understanding how they work together helps businesses and marketers create stronger, more effective campaigns.
If you’re interested in how MajorForm can help your brand effectively use Digital and Social Media Marketing together - take a look at some of the work that we have done here.
Or if you’re interested to find out more, contact us here.
