Omnichannel vs Multichannel: Which One Should You Choose?

Marketing communications in the digital age evolve by the day. Getting and retaining customers is all about providing a great customer experience from first interaction throughout the buyer's journey. Today, consumers wield all the power, and with just a quick skip, swipe, or scroll, they determine whether a brand stays relevant or not.

As marketers explore strategies to drive the right kind of engagement online, one critical discussion that always comes up is whether they should opt for multichannel or omnichannel marketing. But, there's one thing everyone can agree on: consumers expect a quick and seamless experience across all digital marketing touchpoints.

That said, let’s discuss multichannel vs. omnichannel marketing to determine which of the two can provide a better customer experience. After all, great customer experience yields a competitive advantage.

Omnichannel vs. Multichannel – What is the Difference?

Multichannel marketing segments direct and indirect customer interactions. Direct communications are where the company proactively reaches out to the customer through direct mail or message. Indirect interactions include content pushed through blogs, websites, or social media.

Even though the marketing channels belong to the same entity, they’re inherently isolated from one another. Each channel works in a silo, with its own strategy and goals. As a result, brands that rely on multichannel marketing tend to run into miscommunication and style inconsistencies between channels.

For customers, multichannel marketing can create a confusing, impersonal experience that leaves them feeling frustrated.

Now, unlike multichannel marketing, omnichannel marketing has the customer at the center. It involves the seamless integration of branding and messaging across all touchpoints to create a more impactful customer experience. An omnichannel communication platform allows customers to determine how they’ll interact with your brand by offering:

• A consistent, identifiable brand voice
• Personalized messaging
• Content that is informed by past interactions with the brand

In both cases, the goal is to get customers to take a desired action (using a promo code). The difference is in the journey options you provide.

So, Which Is The Better Option?

Brands that choose multichannel marketing do so for one reason; it's pretty straightforward. All you need is one main message and a call to action. However, this can be alienating to customers as it doesn't take their needs, preferences, or stage in the sales funnel into consideration.

• A better user experience – Omnichannel communication focuses on the individual customer experience instead of the channel. It allows for a cohesive customer experience no matter how or where a customer reaches out.
• Increased revenue – Focusing on omnichannel customer engagement ensures a seamless experience for shoppers, making them more likely to buy from you.
• Creates a consistent brand image – Integration means you can create a cohesive brand strategy and identity across all channels, which leads to increased loyalty as customers will trust your brand more.
• Better attribution data – With omnichannel marketing automation, you'll be able to identify which channels work best for your brand and when customers are more likely to engage with you on their journey. Such data can be used to improve brand strategy and build more targeted campaigns.

Support Customer Engagement Across Every Channel That Matters

Customer experience is an asset to your brand – make it work for you. As mentioned, many brands opt for multichannel marketing because it's easier to execute. But, if you're looking to captivate and engage your customers on all channels, you have to leverage insights and create messages tailored to their interests and where they are on their journey.

Altcraft also provides game-changing marketing automation workflows enabling you to take a more targeted approach towards marketing. You can implement various marketing processes like working with customer loyalty, cart abandonment reminders, and welcome emails. This way, you can easily create consistent yet personalized marketing messages across all channels.