Like any industry, there are lots of misconceptions and misunderstandings associated with marketing. While some of these marketing myths may hold a little substance, there is none for most of them. Many of the clients I deal with have heard a few of these floating around and are quick to ask about the truth behind them.
Here are the top 5 that I get asked about.
Your business needs to be on every social media platform
This is probably the greatest myth when it comes to social media and digital marketing. Think about it logically. Who is your customer and where do they spend most of their time? The answer should give you 2, maybe 3 social platforms that you need to focus your attention on. Now instead of scratching the surface of 5 or 6 put a firm focus on creating great content for those 2 or 3. Engage your audience in a creative and meaningful way in the place where they are.
Everyone is a customer
This one kind of goes hand in glove with being on every social media platform. If everyone is a customer, then you need to be on every social platform to reach them. BUT everyone is not a customer. While many businesses may have several target audiences, this does not mean that “everyone” is one of them. Think about what purpose or need your product or service satisfies for a particular segment, then detail the characteristics of that segment. Create a persona based on that analysis – that is your customer.
Email marketing is outdated
Not true! In fact, email marketing remains one of the best ways to get your brand in front of your audience on a regular basis. In some ways, GDPR has helped email marketing become more successful at generating sales. As someone needs to opt in to your emails, they are reaching you as an engaged audience. The objective then is to maintain this engagement. Frequency of emailing will depend entirely on what your product is. A simple newsletter with company and product updates as well as other “valued added” content issued 3 or 4 times a year is an effective way of keeping your brand top of mind.
Marketing is about producing lots of content
Another no, no! Always think quality over quantity. Content marketing is just one aspect of marketing, and it encompasses your blog, videos, website copy as well as social media. Basically, anywhere there is anything about you that supports your marketing goals. The key here isn’t to produce content for the sake of it but to produce content that is meaningful to your target audience. Taking time to plan and execute the right content for your audience is key to success, not just churning out content for the sake of it.
Online marketing is the only marketing needed
Digital marketing certainly dominates most discussions around marketing campaigns. It is also the area that my clients have most questions about. While absolutely elements of digital marketing should play a critical role in a robust marketing strategy, it is only one aspect of the marketing mix. The power of a well-designed and written brochure, a radio ad or outdoor ad even a leaflet door drop campaign should never be underestimated. Traditional marketing can provide excellent opportunities and can be easily combined with digital in a marketing plan.
If you have questions about your marketing or are confused about some marketing myths you’ve heard just get in touch for a chat about how we can help.