Content Marketing vs Social Media: What’s the Difference and Why You Need Both
In today’s digital marketing, many business owners ask the same question: “Content marketing vs social media, do I really need both?” The truth is, while they each serve different purposes, combining them can completely transform your online presence. Understanding how they work together is the key to building trust, driving traffic, and turning followers into loyal customers.
If you’re running a business in South West WA or anywhere across regional Australia, understanding the difference between content marketing vs social media could be the key to attracting more customers, building trust, and outranking your biggest competitors.
Let’s break it down with practical examples, plus a real case study from one of our long-term clients.
What Is Content Marketing?
Content marketing is a long-term strategy focused on creating valuable, relevant content to attract your ideal customers. It includes written, visual, and video content—optimised for search engines and designed to educate, inform, and convert.
Content marketing includes:
- Blog posts (like this one)
- SEO website copy
- Educational videos and guides
- Email newsletters
- Case studies and FAQs
📍 Example: A local cabinetmaker in Bunbury might write a blog titled “How to Choose the Right Timber for Your Outdoor Furniture”, which not only answers customer questions but helps them rank in Google search results for “timber furniture Bunbury”.
What Is Social Media Marketing?
Social media marketing is the short-form content you post on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. It’s real-time, engaging, and great for community building, brand awareness, and keeping your business top of mind.
Social media includes:
- Instagram and Facebook posts or reels
- Behind-the-scenes videos
- Polls, reviews, or giveaways
- Local shoutouts and customer stories
📍 Example: A Harvey café might post an Instagram story each morning showcasing their daily special with a friendly face behind the counter, connecting instantly with their local audience.
The Key Differences: Content Marketing vs Social Media
| Aspect | Content Marketing | Social Media Marketing |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Build long-term trust and SEO rankings | Engage audiences and grow brand awareness |
| Platform | Owned (website, blog, email) | Third-party (Meta, LinkedIn, etc.) |
| Lifespan | Evergreen (can rank for years) | Temporary (visible for a few days) |
| Tone | Informative, helpful, keyword-rich | Conversational, interactive, visual |
| Best For | SEO, lead nurturing, authority building | Community, visibility, local awareness |
Why You Need Both to Win Online
Using only social media is like setting up a market stall, you may get some foot traffic, but once the platform changes (or your post disappears in the feed), you’re back at square one.
Content marketing, on the other hand, builds a home base on your website. It works for you 24/7, showing up in Google searches, educating customers, and driving long-term growth.
✅ Social media brings people to your content
✅ Content marketing keeps them there and brings more
Case Study: Geographe Timber & Hardware – A Digital Transformation Success
We worked with Geographe Timber & Hardware for over seven years managing their social media. They had great customer engagement online, but their website was outdated and eventually stopped functioning altogether.
Despite our best efforts with regular social media and Google content updates, the business only ever ranked in the local pack (those top 3 map listings), never in the organic search results.
Finally, in 2024, they gave us the green light to rebuild their website and start a monthly blog.
The Transformation
🚀 Organic traffic jumped from 180 to 315 visitors per month – a 75% increase
🚀 Organic keywords increased from 74 to 140 – up 89%
🚀 Backlinks improved from 10,086 to 11,450 – a 13.5% boost
These results were achieved without any paid ads, just a consistent strategy combining SEO-friendly blogs, website improvements, and continued social media presence.
“Whatever you’re doing is working, we’ve never been this busy before.”
— Timber Yard Manager, Geographe Timber & Hardware
The Result
✅ Ranked #1 locally and organically for both “timber” and “hardware”
✅ Outranked giants like Bunnings, Home Hardware, and Mitre 10
✅ Achieved a dominant digital presence, all while staying true to their community roots
How to Make Content and Social Work Together
Here’s a simple workflow you can follow:
- Write a blog post answering your customers’ questions
- Break it into 3–5 social media posts with quotes, tips, or stats
- Create a video or reel with the key message
- Link back to your blog or website in every post
- Add the blog to your Google Business Profile to increase reach
This approach gives you consistent content across platforms, boosts your SEO, and builds stronger trust with your audience.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Thinking social media is enough on its own
❌ Posting without purpose or planning
❌ Ignoring your website (especially if it’s not mobile-friendly)
❌ Not tracking what works or what doesn’t
Final Thoughts: Build Your Marketing Around Strategy, Not Just Content
If you’re serious about growing your brand, especially in regional WA, it’s time to stop treating your website and social media as separate. They’re two sides of the same coin and when done well, they reinforce each other to deliver long-term results.
Ready to Take Your Marketing to the Next Level?
At CLP Advertising & Photography Services, we help South West businesses create content strategies that actually work. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to level up, we offer:
✅ SEO-optimised blogs
✅ Content marketing strategy
✅ Social media planning and management
✅ Website SEO and more