Advertising vs. Marketing: A simple explanation for businesses on TikTok

Advertising vs. Marketing: A simple explanation for businesses on TikTok

Advertising and marketing are like two sides of the same creative process, but with different tasks and approaches. Let's find out what separates them and why it's important for modern brands on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

1. Marketing is a big plan, and advertising is a vivid part of it

Marketing is a large-scale strategy that covers everything from market research to building relationships with customers. It's important to understand what your audience is interested in, what they live for, and how your product can make their lives easier. Advertising is a small part of marketing that embodies its strategy in bright messages, short videos, memes, or cool TikTok videos. Marketing arouses interest, and advertising stimulates action here and now.

2. Marketing is about long-term relationships, while advertising is about instant impact

Marketing works to make people aware of the brand, respect it and trust it. It's not about a one-time purchase, but about loving a brand for years. Advertising, on the other hand, focuses on arousing interest immediately. For example, TikTok ads are about quick messages and grabbing users' attention in the first few seconds. Marketing, like a good story, builds a deep connection with customers, and advertising is like a bright teaser that attracts attention and says: ‘Hey, look at us!’

3. Marketing analyses and plans, advertising entertains and engages

Marketing starts with analytics: who your audience is, what they are interested in, how best to reach them. This is a kind of strategic foundation on which everything is built. And advertising is the bright creatives, videos, banners, slogans that convey these ideas. Marketing says: ‘We know what you like,’ and advertising adds: ‘Look how cool it looks!’

4. Marketing gives the idea, advertising creates the show

Marketing is where ideas are born: who you are as a brand, what makes you special, what your style is. For example, if your brand is positioned as environmentally conscious, this is a marketing decision. Advertising already turns this idea into specific videos or posts where you show how you preserve nature. Marketing shapes the image, advertising grabs attention.

What's the difference?

In short, marketing is like a plan and strategy that creates a brand image for a long time. Advertising is the concrete steps that help this image appear in the world and attract the attention of the audience. A successful brand uses them together as a team: marketing prepares the ground, and advertising puts on a great show.