Video Marketing vs Traditional Marketing
New Zealand businesses are rethinking how they reach audiences. Video marketing has become the powerhouse of digital campaigns, while traditional channels like print and radio still play a role. The real question is: which approach delivers the strongest results in 2025? Let’s compare what’s working right now in NZ.
Quick Take Aways
• Video marketing outperforms traditional channels for engagement and ROI.
• Traditional marketing still works for local reach and older demographics.
• Hybrid strategies—video plus selective traditional placements—drive best results.
• NZ businesses see highest ROI on LinkedIn and YouTube video campaigns
Why is Video Marketing Dominating in NZ?
Video marketing dominates because it engages audiences faster, tells richer stories, and drives measurable actions. In New Zealand, businesses see stronger performance from video campaigns compared to static ads, especially on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Example: A Christchurch SaaS firm found that explainer videos cut cost-per-lead by 40% compared to display advertising.
Want to test this? Elevate Digital can model the ROI difference between your current ads and a strategy-led video campaign.
Where Does Traditional Marketing Still Work?
Traditional marketing is still valuable for local reach, older demographics, and credibility in established industries. Print ads in NZ newspapers and radio spots often reach audiences that don’t actively engage on digital platforms.
Local insight: Christchurch real estate agencies still find print placements effective for open home visibility, but rely on video for buyer engagement and storytelling.
Which Marketing Channels Deliver the Best ROI?
In NZ, digital video campaigns lead the way in ROI, particularly when paired with precise targeting. LinkedIn, YouTube, and programmatic video ads generate strong lead quality and brand awareness.
Traditional channels like billboards and radio are harder to track but still provide awareness in saturated local markets. ROI is typically lower unless they’re paired with digital follow-up campaigns.
Data point: Nielsen Ad Intel: New Zealand’s top advertisers (2023) — NZ-specific ad spend context from Nielsen; useful background when planning channel mix alongside video.
How Do NZ Businesses Balance Video and Traditional Approaches?
The most effective strategy is blending: use video marketing for measurable engagement and traditional placements for reinforcement. For Christchurch businesses, this often means pairing online strategy videos with local radio or print ads.
Smart move: Repurpose your corporate video into LinkedIn snippets, YouTube ads, and conference openers while using selective print placements to keep your brand visible across touchpoints.
FAQ
Q1: Is traditional marketing dead in NZ?A: Not at all. It still works for local visibility and older demographics, but ROI is usually lower than video.
Q2: What video platforms perform best in New Zealand?A: LinkedIn for B2B and YouTube for wide reach are the strongest ROI drivers.
Q3: Should Christchurch businesses still invest in radio?A: Yes—if your target audience listens regularly. But pair it with video campaigns for measurable ROI.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Video marketing is winning in NZ, but traditional media still has a place. The best results come from knowing your audience and blending both approaches strategically.
👉 Next Step: Book a video strategy consultation with Elevate Digital to see how video can outperform your current channels.👉 Explore our Video Marketing Strategy blog and see our Corporate Video Services for local examples.
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