There is endless information to consume on the internet, and here at MySyde, we want to align you with what we feel to be correct and current. So here are three online marketing myths and realities that many business owners believe:
I was speaking recently with a business owner who told me the following:
“I don’t need to market myself. My work speaks for itself.”
It took everything in my power not to roll my eyes. As I worked to control myself, I explored her comment more by saying: “Interesting. How did you come to that conclusion?”
She shared that her goal is always to provide excellent service. When clients see the fantastic work that she does, those clients will go to their network and share with everyone how great she is.
I refrained from asking her if she had data to prove this conclusion because I suspected she already made up her mind. She is not the first person I have heard say that very thing. Here’s the problem: her belief is a marketing myth.
It’s not uncommon for business owners to believe some myths about marketing. The fact is, I want to consider these myths as well, but I need to be realistic about how life and business work.
Online Marketing Myths and Realities
Myth #1 I don’t need to market myself. My work speaks for itself.
Oh, how I want this to be true. But the fact is we will always have to market ourselves. My work is always (okay, usually) excellent. Although my work speaks volumes, it must speak louder to overcome a noisy and busy marketplace.
In fact, the only time our work speaks loudly enough is when it could be better. It’s incredible how someone can provide exceptional services and products for years and then offer a bad service or product once, and that becomes the headline. Suddenly, years of building a reputation of excellent service are taken down by one bad day.
It is true that your work speaks for itself. It is not true that you don’t need to market yourself. You and I always have to be in sales mode.
Value of Word of Mouth Marketing
Myth #2 Marketing is for mediocre business owners. I rely on word-of-mouth.
Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool. No one is arguing that. In fact, we at MySyde have built an app to leverage word-of-mouth as a legit marketing tool. We have created a digital way to share word-of-mouth.
As powerful as this tool is, word-of-mouth only works with those you have a relationship with. If you are to look at the entire population of the world, there will always be more people you don’t know than people you do know.
That’s where marketing still comes to play. We can’t escape it. Marketing is an essential part of our strategy, even if we have a strong word-of-mouth brand.
Does every Business need a Website?
Myth #3 A website is all I need.
Yeah, but can people find your website? That’s the challenge. Your website is a static URL that Google will not find unless people type in your exact business name. The number of people who know your brand is limited.
Enter marketing.
A website is a necessity; there is no doubt about that. But how you use that website is key. Social media has become an essential tool. And, of course, your digital advertising and boots-on-the-ground strategy are also vital.
Your website is a start, and it should be good. But you need to find a way to let people know about your website so they can see all the amazing work you do.
Sure, there are more myths about marketing that we could explore. Let’s stick with these three for now and begin to explore how we might change our marketing efforts in light of this.
Question: What’s one marketing myth you have heard other people believe?
