6 common marketing mistakes and how to avoid them

In marketing misconceptions can be rife, and navigating your strategy can often times feel like a minefield with advice on what you should and should not be doing coming at you from all angles.

Though there are many facets to your business marketing strategy, we wanted to shed some light one some of the most common marketing mistakes we have seen businesses employ over the years and how you can avoid making them too.

Here are 6 common marketing mistakes you could be making and how to avoid them.

1) Not undertaking market research

By not taking the time research the market for both your product / service and your target audience you risk blindly throwing messages into the ether of social media to potentially get little to no return. Take the time early on in your business venture to do the groundwork, talk to your ideal audience members and get a sense for what they're looking for in a product or service such as yours and craft messages and campaigns that will really resonate with them on a personal level compelling them to engage with your brand.

2) You have no defined USP / niche

Have you defined your niche? If not why not? Help yourself stand out and get to know your business inside out, what makes you different from others in the same field and what do you customers love most about your business?

3) Not addressing your skills gap

If you enjoy the benefits that come with having an in house marketing assistant to take care of your marketing practice that's fantastic news, but where you may fall down is not understanding or addressing their skills gap. Are they a dab hand at social content creation but aren't able to address your SEO issues? Can they craft beautiful copy but design is maybe where they fall down? Don't be afraid to outsource to address your skills gap and build the effective marketing machine your business deserves.

4) Not regularly reviewing your strategy

Are you making sure you build in regular reviews of your marketing strategy? Taking a closer eye at what's engaging your audience and what's failing to perform? Ensuring you build in time every few months to review your marketing strategy can mean the difference between growth in your business and going stagnant.

5) Being resistant to new technology

Of course we don't think you should download every new app or social platform that comes available but keep an open mind and consider your audience with each decision you make. Could embracing new technology or social platforms help a new audience engage with your brand? Will your existing audience be interested in some new tech that will help make their experience with you easier and more inviting?

6) Avoiding tracking performance as you go

Similarly with reviewing your strategy, not tracking your performance on an ongoing basis can cause you to get lost with what you're aiming to achieve. If you are simply going through the motions of marketing and not really considering your why, your end goal and your audience then you may find you'll struggle to achieve any growth or engagement. If something isn't working don't be afraid to shake things up and go back to square one if needs be.

If you've fallen prey to any of our 6 common marketing mistakes and you're not quite sure where to go from here then drop us an email and we can help you navigate your way to marketing magic!

Hannah, Heyday Digital Agency