The main difference between advertising and promotion is that advertising drives the customers’ attention towards a product or service, while promotion involves a set of activities that create interest, awareness and interests in a brand, product, or service.
Promotion refers to a set of activities to increase awareness about a brand, product, or service with as many people as possible. Therefore, advertising is actually a part of a promotion.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Advertising
– Definition, Features, Types
2. What is Promotion
– Definition, Features, Types
3. Difference Between Advertising and Promotion
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Advertising, Advertisements, Products, Promotion, Services
What is Advertising
Advertising is a type of promotional activity with the aim to sell a product or service to a target audience. In fact, advertising is one of the oldest types of marketing or promotion, which tries to influence the target audience to either buy or do something specific. Furthermore, it’s a way sellers communicate with their potential buyers about a product or service. Advertising can target a small (niche) audience or a large audience.
We can divide modern advertising into two categories as traditional advertising and digital advertising. Traditional advertising involves print advertising (magazines, newspapers, periodicals, flyers, etc.), television advertising, radio advertising and billboards. Digital advertising, on the other hand, involves advertising by using digital media. In addition, social media advertising, search and display advertising, mobile advertising are the main categories under digital advertising.
What is Promotion
Promotions refer to a variety of communication activities to share knowledge or increase awareness about a brand, product, or service with as many people as possible. These activities have a variety of objects like raising awareness, inducing people to buy a particular product, increasing demand, differentiating products (from competitors), building brand loyalty, etc. In brief, it’s a form of communication between the seller and potential buyers. Moreover, through promotions, the seller attempts to persuade people to purchase their goods and services.
Furthermore, promotion is one of the fundamental elements of the marketing mix or the 4Ps of marketing, which include Price, Product, Promotion, and Place. There are different ways to promote products and services. Some of these include strategies such as advertisements, personal selling, direct marketing, and public relations. Personal selling involves individuals personally interacting with clients or customers. For example, salespeople. Moreover, direct marketing is directly selling to the customer without any retailer in between. Public relation, on the other hand, is maintaining a specific image in the minds of customers and other stakeholders through various methods like sponsored events and newspaper articles.
Difference Between Advertising and Promotion
Definition
Advertising is a type of promotional activity with the aim to sell a product or service to a target audience, while promotions refer to a variety of communication activities to share knowledge or increase awareness about a brand, product, or service with as many people as possible.
Aim
Advertising drives the customers’ attention towards a product or service, while promotion involves a set of activities that create interest, awareness and interests in a brand, product, or service.
Communication
While advertising involves one-way communication, promotion involves two-way communication.
Relationship
In addition, promotion involves a set of activities, and advertising is one such activity that falls under promotions.
Conclusion
Advertising drives the customers’ attention towards a product or service, while promotion involves a set of activities that create interest, awareness and interests in a brand, product, or service. Therefore, this is the main difference between advertising and promotion.
Reference:
1. “Marketing Promotion Definition: Marketing Dictionary.” MBA Skool, 6 Jan. 2021, Available here.
2. “What Is Advertising? Definition of Advertising, Advertising Meaning.” The Economic Times, Available here.
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