“Failure is the key to success – each mistake teaches us something.”
Did someone ever tell you that you don’t have to actually make the mistake to learn something, in fact, real guys learn from other people’s mistakes.
Whether you are an expert digital marketer or have just started, following common marketing mistakes should be avoided. I personally made a lot of these mistakes and I have seen a lot of newbies making these mistakes.
Let’s end this once and for all.
Here we go with the 15 most common marketing mistakes to avoid.
1. Putting all eggs in one basket
OK, you already know this, fine.
You must keep it in mind.
You don’t have to invest heavily in a single marketing campaign hoping that it will work, eventually. Distribute your marketing budget across multiple marketing channels.
2. Not making connections
Let me tell you, your competitors are your best friend. Get in touch with them. Maybe, sign a JV with a few.
It always works.
3. Not reaching out
When did you send an outreach email to another website? If you can’t remember, you are making a serious marketing mistake.
Always try to reach out to websites, businesses, and your target audience by email, phone, and other methods. Do not sit back and hope they will come to you, why would they. It is a very big world, my friend.
4. Ignoring website design
Most of the businesses create a website by installing a free theme and publishing mediocre content. If you are one among them, please get professional.
The website is your face. This is what your potential customers see. Invest a few bucks on website’s design.
5. Ignoring SEO
Now this one is interesting.
When Google started penalizing websites, marketers moved away from SEO. Well, it doesn’t make any sense to ignore search engine optimization. You should optimize your website. By the way, I am still a big fan of off-page SEO.
6. Fear
As they say, “If you cannot take risk, you should get the hell out of business”.
You should – really – trust me on this one.
7. Not commenting on blogs
I love blog comments because it is the easiest traffic generation source. I get traffic from blog comments that I posted years ago.
I spend one hour a day to comment on blogs, and it is paying off well.
8. Ignoring affiliate marketing
Well, affiliate marketing is normally associated with making money but from marketing’s point of view, it is one hell of a massive source of leads.
Let’s set up an affiliate campaign for your business and let affiliates do all the hard work. I am sure you will love these easy peanuts.
9. Avoid middling guest posts
You should really avoid this marketing mistake, seriously.
You are doing it but are you doing it right.
Guest posting is still alive and it is one of the best sources for traffic generation as well as for link building.
You should send your best content for guest publication, instead of a poorly written blog posts. I know you have been doing this for ages, stop it now.
Your guest posts should be top-notch and professionally written as this is how your audience will be convinced.
10. Not listing your business in niche directories
Business directories have the potential to generate a decent amount of traffic, why ignore them then? There are hundreds of directories in every niche. Interestingly, most of them will willingly accept your website.
Just give them a try. You get free links and traffic in return. What else you need?
11. Not posting regularly on your blog
OK, this is really a serious and a very common marketing mistake.
While you are focusing on guest posting, blog commenting, and spending time on social networks, make sure you don’t ignore your blog in the process.
Keep posting decent quality content on it.
12. Using spin content
Use of spin (or as they say spun) content for 2nd tier and 3rd tier link building is a big NO. Whether you are posting it on web 2.0 properties, your social media accounts or on your private blog networks, I’d recommend stop doing it immediately as it will ruin your marketing efforts.
It is just a matter of ‘one bad day’.
13. Lack of posting on forums
Have you registered with a few niche forums? If not, better sign up today and start posting on them regularly.
Spend at least one hour a day posting on forums as this will help you in becoming an authority.
14. Not having a logo
I designed a logo for my blog after 16 months and I still regret why I thought of it so late.
A logo will give your business a professional look. It really helps with marketing, especially in brand awareness.
15. Not building an email list
Yes, it will cost you a few bucks every month but don’t worry, you will get your money back.
There is no best time to build an email list, any time is the best time.
You just have to avoid these 15 common marketing mistakes for now, and rest will become a piece of cake.
