It’s no secret that marketing is a critical component of any successful business. However, there are misconceptions about marketing that can cause you to waste time and money on ineffective strategies. In this blog post, we’ll dispel five of the most common marketing myths. So, if you’re looking to get the most out of your marketing efforts, be sure to read on!
1. Marketing is the Same as Advertising
In its simplest form, advertising is a component of marketing. However, marketing tackles identifying customer pain points and determining how to best meet their needs. This can come in the form of business-to-business(B2B) marketing or business-to-consumer(B2C) marketing. Advertising is concerned with promoting your product or service through paid media channels. Your marketing strategy can include several forms of advertising, but marketing, in general, will be more concerned with building a relationship with your customers and how to keep them long-term. Strategic advertising is great if you are wanting to promote a new product or feature, however, it is just one part of the bigger picture of what marketing is. If you want to get your brand noticed, off the ground, and reach your audience, a strong marketing strategy is the place to start.
2. Marketing to Everyone as Your Customer
Target customer research is key to a successful marketing strategy. You will end up wasting endless amounts of time and money if you are marketing to anyone and everyone thinking that the more people that come across your brand, automatically means the more customers you will receive. This is because if the product or service you offer is not addressing the needs of the person, they are not going to be interested in it. For example, if you market steaks to someone who is vegan, they are most likely not going to convert into a customer just because they eat food and saw your product. Knowing in-depth information about your target customers such as demographics, as well as aspects such as their problems and goals. This will ensure that you are reaching individuals who would benefit from what you are offering, making them more likely to convert into customers.
3. Your Content Can be Whatever You Want, and Should Produce Immediate Results
It can be tempting to start catering your content to whatever the current trends are, however, it won’t always be successful in terms of bringing quality traffic to your brand. You want to be driving potential customers to your product or service, because this is what will most likely result in paying conversions. Effective marketing takes time, meaning you shouldn’t expect to run a month-long campaign and exponentially increase your sales. Too many people have gotten used to the idea of marketing going viral online, however, this often does not lead to long-term growth. It can take a few months or even up to a year to fully start seeing growth from your efforts. Investing in your marketing is investing in your brand.
4. Having a Large Social Media Following Means a Website Isn’t Important
The rise of influencer culture has resulted in a large spike of social media marketing. However, only existing and marketing on social media platforms is not going to lead to many conversions. The end goal is to use social media for fast brand awareness and then eventually get users off of the social media platform, and onto your website. Having a website also allows you to use SEO tools that social media does not have. Websites provide stability, whereas the algorithms used by social media are always changing. This way you are able to have complete control over your messaging and marketing. Keep in mind, your website is where potential customers will turn into paying customers.
5. Your Product or Service is so Good, It Will Sell Itself
Your business could have the most groundbreaking product or service of the century, but at the end of the day, nothing will sell itself. Marketing strategies are a necessary part of achieving your goals. They help form a well-rounded brand that your customers feel connected to. Putting in the time and effort to have an effective marketing plan is well worthwhile.
As a marketer, it’s important to be able to separate fact from fiction. There are a lot of misconceptions about marketing out there, and if you believe them, it can hurt your business. Being aware of the most common marketing myths will help you avoid making costly mistakes in your own marketing strategy.
If you are looking for an expert team to work with to develop your marketing strategy or review your current practices, get in touch with our team for a comprehensive consultation.
