While these terms are often used interchangeably to no avail, they each carry their own distinct meaning. Knowing how to correctly define these marketing styles is key when approaching other businesses, or executives within your own business, with new marketing ideas.
Generally, inbound marketing and digital marketing are unique in two distinct ways:
1) Inbound marketing is an entire marketing methodology, while digital marketing is a broader term for elements used to digitally connect with consumers (often in the form of visual overhauls, graphics or logos).
2) Inbound marketing consists of countless moving, interrelated parts, (blogging, content offers and conversion elements, to name a few), which take a steady balance of time and expertise to implement correctly; digital marketing, on the other hand, is the practice of marketing to users across digital platforms with elements like banners, brand recognition and advertisements.