What is the difference between content marketing and direct advertising?

Direct advertising is about creating awareness for your product or company by placing advertisements designed to draw attention, create an emotional response and ideally to drive a physical response to the offer presented. The whole premise is based on interruption and self-promotion to elicit a sale.

Content Marketing seeks to intersect a client's natural information gathering process. You provide relevant and legitimately useful information designed to inform and aid someone with their problem. The premise is that by virtue of being useful, you earn the client's attention, appreciation and you generate goodwill, brand affiliation and a receptiveness to future conversations. Ideally, the client will realize your expertise and reach out to you for additional assistance.