Why earned media is more trustworthy than paid or owned media?

A recent study has shown that earned media is more trusted by consumers than paid or owned media. This is great news for businesses that focus on creating quality content!

The study found that earned media was seen as more authentic than other forms of advertising. This is a clear indication that businesses should be focusing on creating high-quality content if they want to earn the trust of their customers.

In this blog post, we will focus upon the types of media to figure out the reasons which make earned media more credible.

Earned media vs. Paid and Owned media

First we will discuss what these types of media are. Paid media generally takes the form of advertising, such as commercials or sponsored posts. Owned media is typically any content that a business creates and owns, such as a blog post or video. Earned media is earned through word-of-mouth and social sharing. It’s the most powerful form of marketing because it’s earned, not paid for.

Some businesses focus on creating a lot of content in the hopes that it will go viral and earn them earned media. However, this is not always the most effective strategy. Content marketing is more about creating quality content than quantity. If you produce high-quality content, people will be more likely to share it, and you’ll ultimately earn more media.

While earned media is more trusted than paid or owned media, that doesn't mean that businesses should neglect paid and owned media entirely. Paid and owned media can still be effective in building brand awareness and reaching new audiences. However, earned media should be the focus of any business that wants to build trust with its customers.

Recent drop in trust on paid media

The trust in advertising has decreased in recent years. This is likely due to the increase in paid media, which is often seen as less trustworthy than earned media. Paid media is often seen as being biased, while earned media is seen as more objective.

Some other reasons for this decrease include ad blockers, distrust of the news, and the rise of fake news. Ad blockers prevent consumers from seeing paid advertising, which makes it less effective. Distrust of the news means that consumers are less likely to believe what they see in paid media. And the rise of fake news has made people more skeptical of what they read, and this includes paid media.

What does this mean for businesses?

The study's findings suggest that businesses should focus on earned media if they want to earn the trust of their customers and establish credibility. This means creating high-quality content that will be shared by consumers and generates word-of-mouth. Paid and owned media are less trusted by consumers, so businesses should be careful when choosing how to spend their advertising budget.

How to increase reach through earned media?

Earned media is a powerful tool to reach new audiences and grow your brand. But how do you make the most of earned media? Here are five strategies to increase your organic reach on social media:

-Build relationships with key influencers in your industry: These influencers can help promote your content to their followers, expanding your reach.

-Participate in online and offline conversations: By engaging in relevant discussions, you can position yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

-Create shareable content: If your content is valuable and easy to share, people will be more likely to share it with their followers.

-Encourage customers and employees to share your content: Ask your customers to review your products or services on social media, and share employee-generated content on your company page.

-Make it easy for people to find your content: Use relevant keywords and hashtags, and post links to your content on your website and other online channels.

By following these strategies, you can make the most of earned media and reach new audiences through digital channels.

How to decide budget?

You can save budget and prefer earned media, but do spend wisely where required. There's a reason earned media is one of the most important types of marketing for small businesses. It's more authentic than paid advertising and it doesn't cost anything except your time to create. But that doesn't mean earned media is always better than paid advertising, or that you should never spend money on marketing. In fact, earned media is only one part of a well-rounded marketing strategy. The key is to understand when and how to use each type of marketing for your business. It's always good to focus on creating quality content that will be shared by people who are credible and respected by your target audience.

So, in short earned media is one of the most trusted forms of marketing, and it’s no wonder why. When a consumer sees a shared post or hears about a product from a friend or family member, they are more likely to believe that the product is worth trying than if they had seen or heard the same thing from a paid advertisement. And with so many different platforms for earning media – such as social media, word-of-mouth, and online reviews – there’s no excuse not to get started today. So what are you waiting for? Start developing your earned media strategy and see how your business grows in response!

Tom Carroll