When you think of traditional media, the biggest behemoth of them all is television! It’s also the one that has been most affected by the new kid on the block of digital media.
To television’s credit, it hasn’t waived its fist and said “get off my lawn” but instead has tried to adapt to and complement digital media. Hey, television knows that 86% of its viewers always skip through commercials, but that’s what pays the bills, so innovation is a big deal.
Television still needs and wants advertisers, and there is no denying that when you have a great TV spot that’s well placed, your business can reach a lot of potential customers in a big way. There is a hefty price tag on that, though. Is it possible that social media can promise you the same thing for a lot less money?
Speaking of innovation, is it possible that social media can promise you the same results for a lot less money?
Let’s look at Facebook ads in particular. Can the case be made that a great video on Facebook can do the same job (reach a lot of people in a big way) for a smaller budget and higher ROI? Let’s take a look.
Can the case be made that a great video on Facebook can do the same job (reach a lot of people in a big way) for a smaller budget and higher ROI?
How Television & Social Media Stack Up
Pros –
Television:
- Broadest sensory appeals and creative opportunities
- Defined demographics
- Reach a lot of potential customers
Facebook Ads:
- Engagement
- Ability to make edits in real-time and easy A/B testing
- Easy to track conversions and calculate ROI
- Dynamic ads include click-to-buy, lead generation, video views, and more
- Highly targeted based on demographics
- Relatively inexpensive
The strength of both TV and social media is in their desire to inform, entertain and be visually appealing. It seems obvious to me that the two should go hand-in-hand.
If your business is running a TV campaign, think through from the beginning how the video can be used on social media. At the minimum, get a digital copy of the spot for social posting. If possible, run Facebook ads to mirror or compliment your TV campaign. Maximize your video production and get the most mileage out of your efforts.
Cons –
Television:
- Passive messages
- One-way communication
- Declining viewership
- Expensive
Facebook Ads:
- Time investment – set-up, monitoring, analytics
- Potential to waste money if managed poorly
- Complex setup
In 2017, there are a lot of reasons why you really don’t want to invest in television (do you remember that “skip the commercials stat above?). The most important one of all is cost. Only 18% of traditional TV campaigns even generate a positive ROI.
That could be too risky for a tight budget, especially when you know you can reach a great demographic with a commercial message on Facebook for a LOT less money. Plus, you get immediate interaction on social media. When we yell at our TVs, it’s not as effective.
Give It A Try
TV is definitely not for all businesses, but if you have the budget and a compelling campaign, be smart and plan your digital to go hand-in-hand. In fact, most commercial packages have digital add-ons to make the most of each campaign. Take that all the way to social media and run complimentary ads to really maximize your reach. Planning ahead to make all of the pieces fit is the most important thing to do. Good luck!