How would you rate your overall understanding of digital marketing? There are an abundance of myths and misconceptions about search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and digital marketing in general. If you’ve been buying into some of the myths, it could cost you in terms of marketing campaign results. We want to share seven digital marketing myths that you need to stop believing:
1. Myth: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is Dead
Truth: SEO is very much alive and well. In fact,
SEO is more important than ever, thanks to the increasing use of
voice search. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about cramming keywords into your content – there are many other other factors that go into SEO, and a strong SEO campaign can be one of the most cost effective marketing strategies a company can deploy.
2. Myth: Social Media is All About the Numbers
Truth: While it’s true that social media can generate a lot of traffic, it’s more important to focus on engagement than on sheer numbers. Staying true to this type of
social media marketing strategy will help you build relationships with your audience and generate leads.
3. Myth: Digital Marketing is Only for Big Brands
Truth: Digital marketing is for everyone, regardless of size or budget. In fact, small businesses can see great results with the right
strategy and execution.
4. Myth: You Need a Lot of Money to do Digital Marketing
Truth: There is an investment involved when getting started in digital marketing, and it is imperative to understand proper and effective digital marketing takes planning, time and attention to detail. However, with the right strategy and execution, one can see great results, even with a smaller budget.
From a marketing budget standpoint, a common mis-step is a fragmented strategy where a company has multiple digital marketing campaigns in place, but no cohesiveness. For instance, a company may outsource Pay-Per-Click (PPC) to a advertising agency,
search engine optimization (SEO) to a freelancer, and
social media marketing to an employee. This can result in a disjointed marketing strategy that is not coordinated, and not focused on optimizing the marketing budget.
Another common mistake is not giving the campaign enough time to realize results. A search engine optimization campaign can take 12 months to see a return on investment.
5. Myth: Email Marketing is Dead
Truth:
Email marketing remains one of the most effective digital marketing channels out there – and it’s far from dead! If your emails aren’t delivering great results, it might be because you’re not sending them to the right people or not personalizing them enough.
6. Myth: Having a Website is Enough
Truth: A website is a great start, but it’s not enough on its own. Utilize a variety of digital marketing strategies to drive traffic to your website, and get people to convert. SEO and social media are two of the best ways to accomplish this, and it is important to integrate these efforts into your overall marketing efforts (e.g., social media for brand awareness, SEO for lead generation).
7. Myth: Digital Marketing is Only Useful if You’re Selling Online
Truth: Digital marketing can help you reach new audiences and generate leads, making it a critical element for all businesses.
If you’ve fallen for any of these myths, it’s time to pivot and start focusing on what really works. Digital marketing is a complex beast, but you can see great results with the right strategy and execution. South Made Marketing is a full service digital marketing agency that provides all services in house, resulting in cohesive, budget conscious and successful marketing campaigns for our clients.