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How do you define "inbound marketing"?

by stanigator
4 replies
Yes, I know, there are sites like this and this have defined this term, but I'm still confused.

I see how evident it is to categorize blogging, Slideshare presentations, infographics, podcasts, search traffic (both organic or paid), or content marketing as inbound marketing. You only get found if people search for you, so you're driving traffic into your funnel.

However, I'm confused about social media pay-per-click, joint-venture promotions, solo ads on email. Even though there are outbound components of buying the advertising, I don't get to market to the potential buyers unless they give me permission (by opting into my funnel).

Do paid advertising count as outbound strictly speaking? Or do you think I'm getting inbound marketing confused with permission marketing, and they are independent from each other?

I would love to hear your feedback.
#define #inbound marketing
  • Profile picture of the author nmwf
    Originally Posted by stanigator View Post

    However, I'm confused about social media pay-per-click, joint-venture promotions, solo ads on email. Even though there are outbound components of buying the advertising, I don't get to market to the potential buyers unless they give me permission (by opting into my funnel).

    Do paid advertising count as outbound strictly speaking? Or do you think I'm getting inbound marketing confused with permission marketing, and they are independent from each other?
    Social media pay-per-click, joint-venture promotions, solo ads on email, and paid advertising are considered outbound activities because they blatantly advertise. Inbound activities avoid blatantly advertising and appeals to a person's interests rather than their wallet. It's a much, much more subtle approach to attracting customers.

    And yes, permission marketing [can be] inbound marketing. Permission marketing turns into something else (like outbound) as soon as it asks a customer to perform a sales-related behavior.
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    • Profile picture of the author stanigator
      Originally Posted by nmwf View Post

      Social media pay-per-click, joint-venture promotions, solo ads on email, and paid advertising are considered outbound activities because they blatantly advertise. Inbound activities avoid blatantly advertising and appeals to a person's interests rather than their wallet. It's a much, much more subtle approach to attracting customers.

      And yes, permission marketing [can be] inbound marketing. Permission marketing turns into something else (like outbound) as soon as it asks a customer to perform a sales-related behavior.
      So even outbound marketing can involve permission marketing?
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  • Profile picture of the author kk075
    Inbound marketing is essentially organic SEO. Someone self-important simply created that name within the past few years or so, but it doesn't change the process at all. It's posting things on your site that people can relate to and using natural methods to drive in viewers.


    Outbound is essentially the opposite...it's the traditional forms of affiliate marketing. PPC ads, email marketing and everything else fall into this category. Now, what the previous poster was trying to point out that if someone visits your site and asks for more info, you send them an email to continue that conversation....so it's kinda in between inbound and outbound. Again though, we're talking about names here that don't really matter....worry about the process and not what the cool kids in So Cal are calling it these days.
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  • Profile picture of the author copywriterco
    I will give you an example. Those things that you do like reaching out to your customers either by mail, or by calling them, or even visiting them on their homes to sell something - those are the outbound marketing efforts that you do. The traditional way!

    While inbound marketing is like posting here on warriorforum, getting customers using affiliates or referrals and of course the best avenue - social media! By means of enticing offers on your content when you do your post or when you write your blogpost. And people who would read this becomes your traffic that you can convert into paying customers!
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