Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing: Meanings, Types, Advantages, Career and More

Selecting the best digital marketing channel between digital marketing vs content marketing is overlapping. “Digital marketing” as a broader and parent category of “content marketing” is wider in terms of scopes, trends, goals, investment, ROI, etc. Where content marketing operates within the execution of content creation, content optimization, and distribution. The key differences between digital marketing and content marketing establish clarity for making career and investment decisions in Internet marketing.

As a digital marketer, content marketer, or business owner, understanding marketing concepts brings better results and profitability.

Comparing differences such as: what are the fundamental differences between digital and content marketing? Which one is better: digital marketing or content marketing? career: job, salaries, business, and ROI differences in digital marketing vs content marketing, provide a vivid conceptualization of both digital marketing mediums.

In this article, you will learn about digital and content marketing’s ultimate differences, meanings, types, advantages, careers, salaries, Jobs, Business differences, campaign costs, tools, and the best career option.

Let’s dive in!

Key Differences of Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing

Digital Marketing	Content Marketing
High Scope: Broadly leveraging multiple channels and tactics.	Narrow Scope: Concentrates on content creation and distribution.
Immediate Impact: Aims for a quick, wide range of traffic and conversions.	Sustained Impact: Seek to build long-term engagement and trust.
Diverse Tactics: Use paid ads, SEO, Social media, and Email campaigns.	Content Creation Tactics: Utilize blogs, Videos, infographics, and visual tactics.
Quantitative Focus: Measured by clicks, impressions, conversions, and ROI.	Qualitative Focus: Evaluated by shares, reach, engagement, and virality.
Higher Investment: Often involves varied and significant spending.	Cost Effective: Generally lower, focused on content production costs.

Digital marketing, a type of marketing, has a broad scope and leverages multiple channels, including SEO, paid ads, social media, email, video, podcasting, etc. It covers every type of marketing over the Internet. Internet marketing is qualitatively focused measures by clicks, impressions, conversions, and ROI, often involving significant investment.

In contrast, content marketing, as a type of digital marketing, is focused on content creation and distribution to build long-term engagement and trust. Inbound marketing uses practices like blogs, videos, and infographics with a qualitative focus evaluated by shares, reach, engagement, and virality. Content creation is more cost-effective when focusing on production costs.

See a digital marketing and content marketing difference in terms of scopes, cost, channel, goal, and engagement medium below:

Difference of digital marketing vs content marketing in terms of goals, cost, scopes, channel, and engagement medium. — Differentiation of digital marketing vs content marketing in terms of cost, scopes, channel, goal, and engagement medium. New digital marketers can consider these points to prioritize, learn, and implement digital marketing or content marketing.

Digital marketing and content marketing are more cost-effective than traditional advertising such as billboards, TV commercials, banner ads, and newspapers. Out of all digital marketing, various marketing channels provide suitable results in terms of ROI. Business owners, focused on ROI optimization must consider, and compare email marketing opportunities. For more similar insights of Digital marketing vs Email marketing, reading this article is worth reading.

Similarities Between Digital Marketing and Content Marketing:

Digital Marketing stands as the parent category of content marketing. Every type of content marketing is a kind of digital marketing but every digital marketing may not be content marketing. The similarities between Digital marketing and content marketing are following:

Both require some form of content distribution
Both target audiences on the internet, social media, web entities
Both have goals to increase traffic, awareness, and conversions
Both have suitable metrics and analytics to optimize the ROI
Both have better marketing advantages than Traditional advertising

Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing: Meanings and Professional Advantages

Digital marketing means promoting digital brands using the Internet and other forms of communication toward the targeted audience. It can either be products or services.

Content marketing means attracting, engaging, and retaining an audience through sharing and creating articles, videos, infographics, and other media.

In content marketing, short-form content like Instagram Reels and TikTok is the No. 1 marketing format that offers high ROI. 43% of marketers reported original graphics (infographics and illustrations were also included in the most effective types). Interactive content generates 52.6% more engagement than static content. On average, buyers spend 8.5 minutes viewing static content items and 13 min on interactive content items, as stated by Linearity.

According to Semrush, the State of Content Marketing Global Report 2023, the top 3 content challenges include” attracting quality leads with content (45%),” creating more content faster(38%), and generating content ideas(35%). Let’s discuss these in detail.

What Is Digital Marketing? An Overview

“Digital Marketing is one means of promoting and selling products or services through the Internet, social media, mobile devices, and search engines. Includes emails, social media, web-based advertising, and multimedia messages or text as a marketing channel”. Digital marketing is the bridge to the global marketplace and is regarded as the best strategy for connecting through electronic technology.

A digital marketer-

Analyze whole scope of marketing
Select suitable marketing channels
Visualize audience persona
Create relevant content based on platform, goal, culture
Publish content on social media, directories, websites, etc.
Run digital marketing campaigns on multiple platforms
Check analytics and metrics
Do SEO, copywriting, editing, A/B testing
Re-run campaigns
Run Organic and paid campaigns
Optimize SEO, ROI of entire campaign
Optimize the whole campaign based pm business goal and objective

Professional Advantages of Digital Marketing:

The top professional advantages of Internet marketing are:

Cost Efficiency:

Internet marketing reaches a broader audience than traditional marketing and is less expensive. Although overhead costs for newspaper ads, television ads, and other conventional opportunities can be high, internet marketing offers cost-efficiency benefits to its audience and consumers.

Wide Reach:

Digital marketing is the megaphone that amplifies the message, separating it far and wide to reach global audiences. Internet marketing allows access to a worldwide audience and leverages online channels such as email, social media, and websites.

It enables customers worldwide to connect without being limited to geographical boundaries.

Versatility:

Increasing brand audience, online marketing includes a variety of tools and techniques. Online marketing is ever-growing, with unlimited options for internet marketing strategies and original concepts.

Measurable Result:

Internet marketing is like a scoreboard showing exactly how well your campaign performs. Use of analytics for performance Tracking. Precise audience targeting with quick execution of campaigns.

For individuals who want to build skills in digital marketing, considering cost-effective, time-saving, and market-demanded educational training is upskilling. However, digital marketing online courses vs offline courses are different. Before joining consider checking the guide of comparison.

What is Content Marketing? An Overview

“ Content marketing refers to the strategic content creation and distribution of valuable, relevant, and consistent content that aims to increase brand awareness, attract consumers, and promote goods and services to a wide-targeted audience.” This includes a variety of content types such as blogs, infographics, videos, podcasts, e-books, and social media posts.

Content marketing is the heart of brand storytelling. Inbound marketing builds trust by addressing the targeted audience’s needs to build trust and credibility and foster long-term relationships.

A content marketer-

Capture ideas
Validate ideas
Create content
Edit and optimize
Distribute content
Optimize timing, copywriting of contents
Engage with followers
Builds community
Improvise impact of content for better impact
Scale business using the utility of content marketing

Professional Advantages Of Content Marketing:

A solid digital marketing strategy requires many components, from emails to social media to search engines. Each element is equally important to promoting business online, but content is the most crucial part of digital strategy.

Content creation builds trust, reaches the target audience wisely, and fuels marketing techniques. Personalized content increases sales opportunities by 20%, and 73% of all content marketers use social media content, as given by nytLicensing’s latest data for 2024.

According to the Content Marketing Institute, 55% of B2C marketers outsource content marketing. Content marketing is the foundation of digital marketing strategy, so paying the attention it deserves is essential.

Top Professional Advantages of Inbound Marketing Includes:

Build Brand Awareness, Trust & Loyalty:

Content marketing is a bridge that builds trust, connecting brands with the targeted audience with each reliable and valuable piece of content. People consume content and start building impressions about a particular digital brand.

Publishing informative,well-researched content boosts digital business brands. The more targeted audience sees one’s brand content and gets information, the more likely they are to buy from the brand.

Reach Audience Who Avoid Ads:

Using content rather than digital advertising helps digital brands reach potential customers who may use ad-blocking software or avoid or ignore digital advertising. Content creation is a friendly guide that leads the audience to valuable information and insights, bypassing the noise of traditional ads.

Doesn’t Annoy People:

Traditional marketing is becoming less effective because nobody likes it in today’s digital era. Some people use ad blockers to avoid advertising. Some forms of advertising are excellent for showcasing a brand, but there are better ways to promote them than spending much money on them.

It is essential to note that when done effectively, content creation generates three times more leads and costs 62% less than other marketing channels.

Increase Traffic and Conversions:

Content marketing is the magnet that attracts visitors to the site and turns them into loyal customers. Inbound Marketing attracts audiences, increasing website traffic and making people purchase your product or services.

Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing: Types

Many digital and content marketing types can be leveraged to increase targeted audience reach. Multiple digital and content marketing channels can help to build a well-rounded digital strategy that leads to the best results for a brand. It is essential to determine which methods work best for one’s business.

Digital Marketing Types:

Some of the top online marketing types are as follows:

Affiliate marketing
Content Marketing
Email Marketing
Mobile Marketing
Pay-Per-Click
Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Influencer Marketing

Content Marketing Types:

Some of the top content creation types are as follows:

Blog Posts
Infographics
Videos
Podcasts
Social Media Content
E-Books
Case Studies
Memes
User-Generated Content
Newsletters
Free Tools
Courses
WhitePapers
Testimonials & Reviews
Influencer Marketing Content
Webinars
Research Reports

Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing: Career, Salaries

Digital and content marketing careers and salaries are in demand in digital business strategies. Let’s go through each.

Digital Marketing Career & Salaries:

Digital Marketing Career	Salaries Range Monthly
Digital Marketing Intern	₹25,000 To ₹50,000
Email Marketing	₹16,000 To ₹45,000
SEO Specialist	₹25,000 To ₹40,000
Social Media Marketing	₹ 26,000 To ₹80,000
Affiliate Marketing Manager	₹21,000 To ₹70,000
PPC Specialist	₹ 23,000 To ₹45,000

Content Marketing Career & Salaries:

Content Marketing Career	Salaries Range Monthly
Copywriter	₹31,000 To ₹45,000
SEO	₹25,000 To ₹40,000
Graphic designer	₹26,000 To ₹35,000
Social Media Marketing	₹ 26,000 To ₹80,000
Content Manager	₹20,000 To ₹40,000

Digital Marketing Jobs vs Content Marketing Jobs:

Digital Marketing Jobs

Top Internet Marketing Jobs Include:

Digital Marketing Manager
Digital Marketing Intern
SEO Specialist
PPC Manager
Inbound Marketing Manager
Social Media Specialist
Marketing Analyst
Social Media Strategist
Front-End Developer
Email Marketing Manager

Content Marketing Jobs:

Top Inbound Marketing Jobs Include:

Content Manager
Content Writer
Content Marketing Specialist
Video Producer
Content Specialist
CopyWriter
Content Editor
Content Strategist
Graphic Designer
Brand Manager

Digital Marketing Freelancing vs Content Marketing Freelancing: Jobs & Salaries

Digital Marketing Freelancing Job Titles, Goals & Yearly Salaries Ranges:

Job Title	Goals	Yearly Salaries Range
Digital Marketer	Develop and Execute Online Marketing Strategies	₹0.5 Lakhs To ₹9.6 Lakhs
SEO Specialist	Optimize Websites For Search Engine	₹4.7 Lakhs to ₹7.7 Lakhs
PPC Specialist	Manage And Optimize PPC Campaigns	₹2.8 Lakhs to ₹10.3 Lakhs
Social Media Manager	Manage Social Media Platforms And Engagement	₹1.3 Lakhs to ₹1.5 Lakhs
Email Marketing Specialist	Design And Execute Email Marketing Campaigns	₹2.0 Lakhs to ₹10.5 Lakhs

Content Marketing Freelancing Job Titles, Goals & Yearly Salaries Ranges:

Job Title	Goals	Yearly Salaries Range
Content Marketing Freelancer	Create And Manage Content Strategies	₹2.4 Lakhs To ₹13.0 Lakhs
Content Writer	Write Engaging And Relevant Content	₹1.0 Lakhs To ₹6.5 Lakhs
CopyWriter	Write Persuasive Marketing Copy	₹1.8 Lakhs To ₹10.0 Lakhs
Content Strategist	Develop Content Strategies Aligned With Goals	₹2.7 Lakhs To ₹14.0 Lakhs
Video Content Creator	Produce & Edit Engaging Video Content	₹2.2 Lakhs To ₹10.5 Lakhs

Digital Marketing Business vs Content Marketing Business:

According to Wordstream 2024 data, the global digital marketing business in 2024 is estimated at $667 billion and is projected to reach $786.3 billion in 2026. The worldwide content marketing industry revenue is estimated at $63 billion in 2022, which increases to $72 billion in 2023 and continues to grow to $107 billion in 2026, as stated by Statista.

Digital Marketing Business:

Scope:

Broad, includes SEO, PPC, Social media, Email marketing, and analytics.

Goals:

Brand Awareness
Build customer relationship
Generate Qualified Leads
Increase Website Traffic
Improved SEO
Boost Brand Engagement
Boost conversion rates

Growth:

There is a high demand due to increased online presence needs. According to Wordstream, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2020 to 2026 is 9%, or 15.5%.

Content Marketing Business:

Scope:

Focused on content creation and distribution.

Goals:

Build long-term engagement
Brand RetentionLead generation
Recruitment
Increases sales without ads
Trust
Brand loyalty

Growth:

High demand for quality, informative content across various formats.

Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing: Campaign Costs

Digital marketing is the new Frontier of advertising. It is an engine that powers online businesses to unlock customer engagement. Content marketing is the brand’s voice and glue holding the audience’s attention. Their campaign is a crucial aspect of digital success.

Average Costing Of Running A Digital Marketing Campaign:

The average internet marketing campaign cost may vary from $25,000 to $10,000 monthly.

This includes:

SEO Campaign: $1500-$5000 per month
PPC Campaign: $10,000 Per Month
Content Marketing: $2,000 – 10,000 Per Month
Social Media Ads: $200-$350 Per Day
Email Marketing: $500-$5000 Per Month, Depending On The Tool

Average Costing Of Running A Content Marketing Campaign:

The average cost of an Inbound marketing campaign may vary. Running a content marketing campaign for an enterprise business costs $6,000-$60,000 monthly.

This includes:

Blog Post: $10-$500 Per Post
Video Production: $100-$10,000 Per Video
Infographics: $10-$500 Per Infographics
E-Books/ White Papers: $50-$2,500 Per Piece

Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing: Business, ROI and Growth Factors

Business Impact Of Digital Marketing:

Immediate results: Digital marketing drives quick traffic to a size.

Targeted advertising: Through online marketing, individuals can reach specific groups of people based on their interests and behavior.

Broad reach: Internet marketing tactics use multiple channels to reach a wide audience.

ROI IN Digital Marketing:

Digital marketing ROI is a matrix that measures how much money companies can earn from digital marketing strategies compared to how much they spend on them. The higher the money spent, the more positive ROI comes. Digital marketing campaigns will be more robust or profitable when regularly monitored and measured for effectiveness.

High ROI: Easily trackable results mean individuals can see what works and adjust quickly.

Metrics: Used tools like Google Analytics to measure clicks, conversions, and consumer acquisition costs.

Growth Factors in Digital Marketing:

Technology
Internet Use
AI Integration

Business Impact Of Content Marketing:

Brand Authority: Inbound marketing Position the online marketing business as an expert.

Customer Trust: Through content creation, individuals have a long-term relationship with the audience.

Engagement: Content marketing creates content that addresses the needs and trust of customers.

ROI In Content Marketing:

Content marketing ROI is a percentage that shows how much profit is gained from content marketing compared to the amount spent on it.

Long-Term ROI: Content continues to attract and engage customers long after publication.

Metrics: Track success with organic traffic, social shares, and lead generation.

Cost-Effective: Although initial costs may be high, the long-term benefits often outweigh them.

Growth Factors in Content Marketing:

Demand For Authentic Content
Variety of formats
SEO Benefits
Data & AI

The proportion of businesses incorporating content into marketing strategies has doubled over a year.

Which One is the Best Career Option In 2024: Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing

For holistic marketing, broader audience targeting, multi-channel marketing with wider brand building, and highly scalable revenue stream, digital marketing is a suitable career and channel. For low-budget high-impact marketing and brand building, with a narrowed market size, content marketing campaigns offer better results. Both internet marketing and Inbound marketing offer promising options in 2024. Choosing between a career in digital marketing and content marketing depends on one’s skills, interests, and career aspirations. If individuals enjoy data analysis, technology, and immediate results, internet marketing must be the perfect fit. On the other hand, if individuals have a passion for storytelling, creativity, and building long-term relationships, content creation could be the most suitable. Gaining experience in both areas can provide a competitive edge in the Internet marketing era and a more comprehensive understanding of the marketing landscape.

Digital Marketing vs Content Marketing: Tools

Online marketing and Inbound marketing tools speed up campaigns. These tools provide functionalities to digital businesses and optimize online presence by understanding their audience and improving marketing strategies.

Digital Marketing Tools:

Top Online Marketing Tools are as follows:

Google Analytics:

Top Uses:

Website Traffic Analysis
User Behavior Tracking
Conversion Rate Monitoring

Semrush:

Top Uses:

SEO Keyword Research
Competitor Analysis
Content Marketing Planning

Mailchimp:

Top Uses:

Email Marketing Campaigns
List Management Of Subscribers
Marketing Automation

Hootsuite:

Top Uses:

Social Media Management
Social Media Analytics
Social Listening Tools

HubSpot:

Top Uses:

Inbound Marketing
CRM Integration
Lead Generation

Content Marketing Tools:

Top Content Creation Tools are as follows:

Buzzsumo:

Top Uses:

Trending Content Discovery
Analyzing Content Performance
Identify Key Influencer

Ahrefs:

Top Uses:

Conduct SEO Research
Backlink Analyzer
Tracking Keyword Ranking

Canva:

Top Uses:

Create Visually Appealing Graphics
Designing Social Media posts and Infographics
Producing Marketing Materials Like Presentations

4. Grammarly:

Top Uses:

Enhance Writing Quality
Checking Grammar And Punctuation
Optimize Content For Clarity And Engagement

5. Contently:

Top Uses:

Managing Content Creation Workflows
Connect With Freelance Writers And Creatives
Measuring Content Performance And ROI

Conclusion:

Now that you understand the difference between digital marketing and Content marketing, you can use what you learned to plan a campaign more effectively or ensure it focuses on the right tactics.

It is important to remember that content marketers narrowly focus on one method of promoting brands, while digital marketers may prefer one or a combination of different techniques. They can supervise content marketers in an extensive campaign, but they rarely have the same skill set as content marketers.

Digital marketing refers to promoting products or services through online channels, while content marketing creates or distributes content to attract an audience. Although these are separate terms, they support each other, and both are required for an individual to create a compelling and holistic digital business strategy. To master both digital and content marketing strategies, consider enrolling in the digital Vidya digital marketing course.