Debunking the Rumours: The Truth About 5 Common Digital Marketing Myths

Digital Marketing; the industry that has grown at an insurmountable pace over the past ten years. With ever-changing technologies, strategies and outlooks, it’s no wonder that it’s often fraught with misconceptions and myths.

So, let’s put some 5 of these common myths to bed once and for all. 

 

1. Blogging is a nice added extra if you have time

No, no, no. Blogging is not simply a past time for businesses that have a few hours to spend on a Friday afternoon. It’s not a hobby, nor is it a channel for meaningless mutterings about said businesses.

Once upon a time, blogs were seen as online diaries for journalists, fashionistas and amateur bakers. Now they are a powerful tool for businesses that use them well.

Having a company blog is now at the helm of inbound marketing for many forward-thinking businesses. In fact, B2B marketers that use blogs strategically, attract 67% more leads than those who don’t.

In this digital age, blogs can show a more personal side to a business that consumers can connect with. For B2B businesses, informative blogs help to set them apart as thought leaders.

That’s not even taking into account the vastly positive effect strong blog content can have on a website’s SEO ranking.

So, blogging is now an integral part of many a digital marketing strategy and should not be written off as a nice added extra. Myth: debunked.

 

2. Social media success is measured by how often you post

You check out your competitor on Twitter and see that they post two to three times a day and have a near on meltdown because you post once a day if you’re lucky.

But wait, is your competitor really doing better? Is their social media strategy really stronger? Or are they just pumping out meaningless tweets to demonstrate that they have a presence?

Social media is not about flooding your audience with constant broadcasts and posts. It’s about engaging in a two-way conversation and inspiring them with quality posts. So what if you don’t post four times a day, if you are actively engaging with customers and partaking in personable conversations then you are already one step ahead.

Brands are increasingly utilising social media as an extension to their existing customer service department. They recognise that social media is where people are now and use this to their advantage. Problems can be solved, queries dealt with and questions answered.

Posting quality content and using social media as a conversational tool will have far more of a positive impact than taking the quantitative approach and focusing on numbers.

So, social media is more about quality than quantity. Myth: debunked.

 

3. Negative comments on social media can damage your business

No one wants to receive negative comments, yet it’s an integral part of social media. There will always be a someone who picks faults or who has had a genuine issue with one of your products.

The worst thing you can do in this situation is to delete or ignore the comment. In fact, the way businesses deal with negativity online can really make or break them. Analyse the situation before responding and put yourself in that person’s shoes. Have they had a genuinely bad experience? Can you understand why they are complaining?

Figure out a way of turning this seemingly negative situation into a positive one. Offer to help, share advice, can you send a free product to them? By turning a negative situation into a positive one on social media, you’re not just pleasing the disgruntled customer, you’re also demonstrating to the world how you respond fairly and efficiently.

Just remember that customers who complain on social media can, in fact, become your biggest advocates when treated in the right way.

 

4. SEO is a one-off process that ticks away in the background

Businesses that believe this may be in for a shock. Like any form of digital marketing, in order to be effective, SEO is a constant process.

Google is constantly revising and updating its algorithms, meaning that what worked two years ago may not even scratch the surface now. If you truly want your website to grow organically, it is vital that you work with an expert who can stay ahead of the curve when it comes to updates and changes.

SEO isn’t just about keeping up with changes, it’s also about ensuring your site is updated regularly with relevant, informative content. This will help to ensure your site continues to grow organically in the rankings and ensure you see a strong ROI.

So, contrary to what some people believe, good SEO is not a one-off thing. Myth: Debunked.

 

5. You need to be on every social media platform

Ah, one of the more popular myths. You’ve started a new business? Quick! Set up profiles and secure your handle across every social media channel! A common response, right?

But why? Why should a unique Etsy shop selling handmade wedding invitations set up a LinkedIn page? LinkedIn is not the place brides tend to go for wedding inspiration or to purchase those all important items for their big day.

Before deciding on the social platforms you want to use, think about your audience. Who are you trying to reach? Are they likely to spend their time on those social media networks? If not, you could end up wasting a lot of time.

Carefully scope out your preferred channels based on where your audience is and then, curate content for each channel.

This strategy is far more likely to generate the engagement levels you’re looking for instead of spreading yourself too thinly across unnecessary channels.

So, contrary to what some believe, less is more when it comes to social media platforms. Myth: debunked.

 

To sum up

Due to the nature of digital marketing and the rate at which it is growing, there is always going to be a certain level of uncertainty. Myths and opposing opinions will circulate and push people away from doing certain things. So, it is important to separate opinions from evidenced-backed facts.