Myths can be incredibly pervasive.

For example, ever heard that eating carrots will give you the exceptional ability to see in the dark? While carrots are definitely good for you (thanks to vitamin A), the popular belief that they can give you night vision is a myth.

Apparently, this was spread during World War II to explain why British pilots had such good aim during night missions — in reality, it was a cover-up for their new radar technology.

Myths can take hold in marketing too. And while they might not result in you consuming an unnecessarily large number of root vegetables, they could definitely hold your business back from valuable marketing opportunities.

So, let’s get myth-busting!

Myth #1: All you need is an amazing product

We're sorry to burst your bubble, but having a great product isn't enough. The notion that you just have to come up with a tip-top product or service, create a website et voila? Just not accurate.

Sorry to say but without a strategy and marketing of some sort behind you, your incredible offering would probably never see the light of day.

In the world of marketing, perception is everything. You can have the most innovative, game-changing product on the market, but if your target audience doesn't know about it or understand why it's different from the competition, it won't sell.

Myth #2: Marketing is just fluff

The belief that marketing is all about making things look pretty and doesn’t have a real business function continues to float around from time to time. Let's get one thing straight – marketing is serious business. Obviously, as a marketing agency, we are biased but we are also very honest!

Marketing isn't just about aesthetics; it's a strategic operation that supports businesses in achieving their goals. Good, proper marketing involves researching and understanding your target audience, developing and executing campaigns that resonate with them, measuring and analysing results, and constantly evolving your strategies to achieve better outcomes.

Myth #3: My customers aren’t on social media

Some people still think that social media is only for the kids. Those young people or those who are very technologically savvy. But in reality, social media is an incredibly powerful marketing tool that can reach audiences of all ages and demographics.

In fact, according to recent studies 91% of Baby Boomers, 88% of millennials, and 83% of Gen X have visited Facebook in the last three months.

So don't discount social media just because you think your target audience might not be on it. Honestly, they probably are.

Myth #4: SEO is dead

If we had a dollar for every time we heard someone say ‘SEO is dead’, we'd be millionaires. But the truth is, SEO is very much alive and well. Thriving, actually.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is all about optimising your website to appear higher up in search engine results pages (SERPs). In other words, making your business come up as close to the top of the page when people Google what you offer.

With the vast majority of internet users turning to search engines like Google to find what they need and research as part of their purchasing journey, SEO is a must for businesses that are keen to be found online,

Myth #5: Email marketing is dead

Yep, more false death claims.

While to come email marketing is just a fancy term for spam, the truth of the matter is that email is mighty powerful for businesses.

People are checking their emails daily, they are building trusting relationships with businesses and brands, and Salecycle figures indicate that 50% of people buy from marketing emails at least once a month. Huge!

Myth #6: You can't measure marketing ROI

If you can’t measure your marketing ROI, it might be time to revisit your marketing strategy and plan.

There are plenty of ways to measure the success of your marketing effort, from Google Analytics (GA4) to social media analytics to customer feedback surveys — the list goes on.

Not only can you do measure your marketing ROI, but you should! Measuring and analysing your marketing results is how you can refine your strategies, continuously improve your marketing efforts and achieve better outcomes year on year.

Myths, busted!

There you have it – six common marketing myths debunked.

Don't believe everything you hear about marketing. Instead, take a creative, strategic approach to your marketing efforts.