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Survey Says... Traditional Marketing is Dying

In the third quarter of 2019, we surveyed 100 respondents from various walks of life regarding their purchasing habits and how they determine from whom they will buy the products they need. What we learned is traditional marketing is dying, and the phone book is dead. Businesses using the television, newspaper, radio, billboards, and the phone book to advertise are often throwing their marketing money away. We also found that companies can make the most of their budgets by turning the majority of their resources to digital marketing. 

In this article, we are going to share some of the key findings of our survey and how your business can benefit from the proven ROI of inbound marketing strategies and quality search engine optimization. 

Who We Surveyed

Generational Breakdown

We surveyed 100 people of varying ages and situations. Our respondents represented five generations:

  • Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | 56% of respondents: Boomers may have grown up writing letters and making phone calls; however, they are typically now fluent in technology and use cell phones and tablets.
  • Generation X (1965-1977) | 6% of respondents: Generation Xers are well-educated, and technology has a prominent place in their lives.
  • Xennials (1978-1984) | 13% of respondents: Xennials do not quite fit in with Generation X or Millennials, though they share characteristics with both. Sometimes called the Oregon Trail Generation, Xennials were generally first to grow up with computers in their homes, but often did not get their first cell phones till they were in their 20s. 
  • Millennials (1985-1996) | 25% of respondents: Millennials were very young when the internet first entered their homes. They may not remember a time without it; however, they do remember the slower dial-up versions. Millennials are immune to most traditional marketing, trusting referrals from friends over brand-loyalty. 
  • Generation Z (1997-2012) | 13% of respondents: Generation Z does not remember a time without the internet, often without high-speed internet. They not only use the internet for productivity, but they also use it for connection and relationships.

What They Said

With a healthy diversity of ages and life-stages, we learned a lot about how people interact with traditional and modern marketing strategies. Some of the key data include:

What We Learned

We have learned that the best use of a company’s advertising dollars is providing the tools for consumers to research their products. If they are not going to call you based on your television, radio, or phone book ads, they need to be able to find you on Google. Here’s the short of what that means you need:

  • A well-designed and developed website
  • Search engine optimized content (content that Google can recognize and match with its users)
  • Clean, honest, and compelling information positioning you as the subject matter expert in your industry
  • Help telling your story from digital marketing experts 

In addition to designing and developing websites, we help businesses optimize their websites for Google searches so that your potential clients and customers can find you when they do their research. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your business grow in the digital age

Image of the author - Chad J. Treadway

Written By: Chad J. Treadway |  Friday, December 06, 2019

Chad is a Partner and our Chief Smarketing Officer. He will help you survey your small business needs, educating you on your options before suggesting any solution. Chad is passionate about rural marketing in the United States and North Carolina. He also has several certifications through HubSpot to better assist you with your internet and inbound marketing.