What are push and pull digital marketing strategies?

Understanding the difference between Push and Pull online marketing strategies. In simple words Push strategy is for pushing your offers, ads, messages and communications to customers. Pull strategy is for pulling customers or traffic to your stores, website, blogs, social media handles. It basically categories your efforts into two. If you are reaching out to customers directly it is push and when customer has a need and gets directed or pulled to you through your indirect marketing efforts, it is pull.

Push Strategy in Digital Marketing

Push strategy involves direct ads or communication. Usually discount offers, sale offers, limited period offers, product highlights are used to reach out to customers where you push sales of your product and services. These are also termed as Outbound efforts to get inorganic growth or paid traffic growth.

Examples of Push Strategy

Pay Per Click campaigns (PPCs), social media paid campaigns (SMM), post boosts, Google ads like the sponsored ads that you see on top of your Google search results is a push marketing where they push to appear on top. Apart from this Email marketing, SMS marketing, WhatsApp marketing promotional messages. These are all Push marketing.

Push strategy usually has higher direct costs

Usually, the push strategy involves higher direct costs like ad campaigns on Meta and Google or email sent to a larger base. These are generally used to boost sales, conversions or create awareness for new launches. A new App or a new model of car will actively use Push strategy to create awareness by reaching large base of potential customers in a short time.

Pull strategy in Digital Marketing

Pull strategy involves your listings, content creations and online reputation management (ORM). Interested customers searching for product, services, specific product features or gathering information to make a buying decision gets directed to your content on various platforms. Looking for a store or service ‘near me’ may get pulled to you. It is also termed as Inbound efforts or organic traffic growth.

Examples of Pull Strategy

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), blogs, content creation, online reviews and response, Google My Business listings. While searching on Google, you may appear in search results. Thanks to the keywords integrated in content on your website. Your social media content may attract customer looking to know more about a product or service. Online reviews or proximity to your store may attract customers towards you.

Pull strategy are usually long-term efforts but lesser cost

Quality content is created overtime, traffic compounds on your website, linkages are created across various domains, your websites domain authority increases over time. Followers increase on your social media handles, all this adds to your credibility. Number of reviews increase which gives averaging effect to your star ratings. These are generally brand building exercises which help in gaining a loyal customer base. It showcases your vintage, expertise and experience in a field.

Pull Vs Push. When to use which digital marketing strategy.

Pull strategy are generally ongoing while Push is for specific time period.

Pull is for quality while Push is for growth.

Pull is low cost over long time while Push is high budget over short time period.

Pull has loyalty while Push is conversions

Pull brings customer with more intent Push draws customers with offers

Pull leads are easier to convert Push leads may require some more effort

Which digital marketing strategy is better? Pull or Push

Customers getting pulled may look for credibility of brand while customers coming through push may look for discounts and offers. Both strategies are equally good and important for every brand. One provides more stickiness and other provides better ROI. Brands and businesses need both. An optimum mix is what wins the game. We at Brand Adverbs, help you create this optimum mix for your brand and ensure you stay ahead of your competition.

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