In the digital world, there are so many tools you can utilize to market your business. Google, SEO, Facebook advertising, email marketing, and twitter campaigns are just a few. These marketing strategies can be categorized as push or pull, and there’s the right time and place for both! 

The difference between the two lies in how the customer is approached. Are you pushing your services on clients, or are you pulling them in with an irresistible offer? 

Let’s take a look at both push and pull marketing, and how you can implement them into your business strategy. Understanding each method will put you on the path toward marketing success and business growth!

Push Marketing  

Push marketing, also known as outbound marketing, is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Consumers are not actively seeking your services, instead, you’re pushing your products right out in front of them. 

Push marketing can come in the form of digital or in-person strategies:

  • display advertising
  • cold emailing
  • face-to-face sales
  • trade show promotions

Now that you have an idea of what push marketing is, let’s discuss when you should use it: 

Implementing Push Marketing

When’s the right time to bring your services to your audience? 

Typically, push marketing is the most beneficial for start-up companies or when launching a new product. In these scenarios, raising awareness is crucial. Without push marketing, consumers wouldn’t have the tools to learn about your new company or service!

Pull Marketing

Pull marketing, or inbound marketing, is when your customers come to you. It’s used to generate interest about a product or company, encouraging the consumer to seek out your services on their own. 

Pull marketing strategies are almost exclusively online. Several examples of this marketing method include:

  • social networking
  • word of mouth campaigns
  • sales promotions. 

Implementing Pull Marketing

Pull marketing works best when your company has already established a loyal following. Because you are not pushing your services onto the consumer, there needs to be a certain amount of brand awareness for pull marketing to be most effective. 

Because pull marketing involves the customer seeking you out on their own, the marketing content should be designed around the personas you want as customers.

Push vs. Pull

Your business will most likely benefit from using both push and pull marketing strategies, and in certain scenarios, you should even use them together! 

The results of push and pull marketing will vary from one business to the next. Do your research to find out what strategy will work best for your business and the current stage it’s at. There’s a right time to push and a right time to pull!