We’re living in the digital age. The internet has totally transformed the way business is done and interaction happens. And even though digital marketing is arguably now the most powerful approach that marketeers have in their suite of resources, there are still a lot of myths about how to actually do digital marketing. Here are some of the most common digital marketing myths, and the things you need to be doing instead.
Digital marketing is all about connecting with your audiences using the most appropriate online and digital channels. There are dozens of digital marketing tools and tactics that can be used by businesses or individuals, and the specific tools and channels anyone uses depends on a number of factors.
Usage of some form of digital marketing is common for most businesses. In fact, 75% of businesses currently use at least one type of digital marketing automation tool. A majority of marketeers use at least one of the dominant forms of digital marketing too – for example, 82% use content marketing as part of the wider digital marketing strategy. Most businesses have in-house digital marketing teams, as well as working with agencies such as King Kong, given the sheer variety of digital marketing tools out there that need time and effort to be put into them.
Despite the fact digital marketing is now one of the main ways in which marketing gets done, there are still a number of myths about digital marketing that are commonly held. Here are some of the digital marketing myths you need to start rethinking.
Myth 1: Having A Website Is Enough
It’s true that a lot of people and businesses put a lot of effort into creating a website. Yet despite all that is known about digital marketing, many people believe that having a website is all they need to do in the way of digital marketing. Having a website and hoping people will find it and bring you businesses is definitely not enough in the current day and age. There are up to two billion websites in the world, and 770,000 people who use Google on any given day. The fact is, there are too many websites out there for people to be able to find yours without adding in some additional forms of digital marketing.
Myth 2: Digital Marketing Isn’t Relevant For Small Businesses
Another misconception out there is that digital marketing is only something that larger businesses can do well out of. This may have something to do with the sheer breadth of digital marketing tools and tactics available. Some people think that it would cost way too much to employ all the digital marketing tools available to them. And when big businesses talk about their high spends on things such as pay per click (PPC) advertising, it can be off-putting to smaller business owners. The fact is that there are digital marketing tools out there that are appropriate for businesses of all shapes and sizes. This is the beauty of digital marketing. There are some tools and tactics you don’t need to invest anything but time in. Digital marketing has a place in the business lives of sole traders, just as it does for multi-national corporations.
Myth 3: Digital Marketing Is Just For Tech Companies
Another funny misconception that some people hold is that – due to its digital nature – digital marketing is only appropriate for technology companies to use. Others also believe that digital marketing is only relevant for hip start-ups or other trendy business ideas. Again, this couldn’t be further from the truth, thanks to the huge diversity that digital marketing can offer businesses. Of course, there are some social media channels or digital tactics that perfectly suit technology companies and the hip start-ups of this world. But there are other approaches all kinds of businesses can use. B2B companies thrive by weaving LinkedIn and PPC into their digital strategies. On the other hand, interiors and foodie businesses can make the most of channels such as Instagram and Pinterest. And methods such as content marketing can be applied to almost any business or sector.
Myth 4: You Need Huge Amounts of Website Traffic To Succeed
Another all-too-common approach when it comes to digital marketing is that the strategy is driven by trying to get high visitor numbers. Some people still talk in terms of ‘hits’ and wanting to reach what is seen as a respectable amount of website visitors that will make your business sound successful. In fact, numbers alone do not matter in digital marketing. It’s all about attracting quality users now – people who are genuinely interested in you or your product – and who are likely to go on to have a transaction with you. Digital marketing tools make it possible to reach very specific audiences, and digital marketeers are much better off trying to do this, rather than focusing on numbers alone.