The online world changes so rapidly that what was good yesterday may not be the same today. This has given rise to a lot of misinformation in digital marketing (usually soon after Google updates its algorithms), resulting in many businesses falling prey to bad advice, misguided strategies, or simply missed opportunities.
But don’t worry, we’re here to save the day! We keep a close eye on all this, so you don’t have to. In this post, we’ll go over the top digital marketing myths, explain why they exist, and, most importantly, explain why they’re not true.
Let’s start with this old classic that’s been doing the rounds for years…
Myth 1: “SEO is dead”
The rumour that SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is dead has been circulating for years. As Google continues to update its algorithms, some businesses fear that SEO is no longer effective or, worse, irrelevant.
Why do people believe it? Like a bad smell, this myth keeps turning up. With every new update, algorithm, or invention to come along, people always insist it’s the end for SEO. The latest reason is the introduction of AI.
Why is it not true? Simply because content is king. It has been for a long time, and it still is. Initially (and we’re talking over 20 years ago now), SEO was about keyword stuffing and backlinking. However, as search engines, (i.e. Google), became more sophisticated, these tactics lost their effectiveness. SEO evolved into a more organic strategy focusing on quality content, user experience and mobile optimisation.
Today’s latest scare is AI, but with AI-powered algorithms, search engines can understand user intent and context much better, meaning that content is still king. SEO isn’t dead; it’s evolving and maybe more important than ever.
Myth 2: “Social Media Marketing is free”
Many businesses believe that because social media platforms are free to use, marketing must also be free. This misconception can lead to underestimating the resources needed for successful social media marketing.
Why do people believe it? It costs nothing to sign up for Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. People see businesses go viral with a post, so it’s easy to assume that they can, too. All they need is the right post, and that’s it—their social media presence will take off into the stratosphere.
Why is it not true? Yes, it is possible that a social media post can go viral (for good or bad reasons), but the odds of this happening to you are practically zero. It’s akin to winning the lottery; posting something is like buying a ticket… but millions of other people out there posted today. Millions of others posted in the last minute! You’re not winning the lottery today, sorry.
Effective social media marketing requires investment, and you need to budget for it. Costs can include paid ads, professional content creation, and dedicated management time. The key to success on social media isn’t just being online but being active and engaging, which often requires a financial commitment. Slow and steady wins the race, not counting on going viral.
Myth 3: “Email marketing is obsolete”
This is yet another myth that has been around for years, although it is easier to understand why. Emails were how people communicated online before social media and instant messaging, so it’s easy to think they’re now obsolete.
Why do people believe it? Email marketing has undoubtedly taken a hit over the years, especially with Spam. Email providers tried to stop Spamfrom getting through the filters, but it proved harder than thought. Bill Gates once famously declared he would rid the world of spam emails within the next two years. That was in 2004.
Younger generations, it would seem, don’t use email at all other than to create social media accounts, so is there any point in sending marketing emails out to people?
Why is it not true? Because people still check their emails! Emails continued, even after social media came along. People use them every day at work, sign up for things, and receive important information like tickets or contracts to their emails.
Email marketing is far from obsolete. Even today, 69% of marketers use email marketing to share their content, making it the third most popular distribution channel.
Myth 4: “Digital marketing is easy”
There are still many people out there who believe that once they have a website, they can do everything else themselves. How hard can it be to post on social media or write a blog post? Absolutely no need to hire someone else to help.
Why do people believe it? We can all use computers now. We’re all online. We see what others are doing, and we can easily do it ourselves. Social platforms like Facebook or Instagram are free and easy to use. It’s no wonder people think they can do their own digital marketing.
Why is it not true? Well, they’re right. It’s not hard to post on social media or write a blog post. What is hard is doing it consistently and correctly.
Most people have no idea how to write a blog post that’s not only compelling, but informative and optimised for SEO. Sure, anyone can post on Instagram, but do you know which hashtags to use? Which have the most searches that month? Who do you target your ads to on Facebook? How much should you spend? You got a like on your post… ok, so how do you turn that into a sale?
If digital marketing were easy, companies like us wouldn’t exist.
We’re here to guide you through it all
The good news is that you don’t have to worry about myths and misconceptions about digital marketing because that’s our job.
We know what works and what doesn’t, what’s trending and what’s obsolete. Let us handle it all while you focus on what’s really important—your customers. Give us the green light to manage your online strategy, and we promise you won’t regret it.
Explore our comprehensive range of services and feel free to contact us if you have any questions about how we can help you succeed in the digital landscape.
