By Mark Lovett

Marketing is changing all the time. From AI to reforms and more, it’s safe to say that it shows no sign of slowing down. If you want to stay competitive, then you need to make sure that you aren’t wasting time on things that simply aren’t working. You also need to make sure that you are familiarizing yourself with the top mistakes that people make so you can tailor your approach and focus on things that are going to further your brand as a whole.

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Neglecting Privacy

When it comes to marketing, you need to rely on customer data. With that said, this has also become somewhat of an issue for businesses as of late. Marketers now face new privacy laws, and if you don’t comply with them, then you may end up facing several financial penalties. If you have poor financial experiences, then this will also lead to your brand reputation being damaged. These issues will intensify as time goes on, as data privacy laws are a hot topic right now. If you want to make sure that you aren’t experiencing this pitfall, then one thing you can do is try and understand the rules and laws regarding privacy so you can store your consumer data properly. You also need to make sure that you are getting consent from people before you make extensive changes to the way that you store your data. Opt-out forms are so important here, but at the same time you also need to justify why you are storing certain types of data. If you can do this, then you can avoid landing in hot water, which is so important.

One way to navigate things like this would be for you to adopt a privacy by design approach. If you do this, then you will find it easier to not only prioritize customer data but also prevent missteps that go on to damage your reputation as a whole. You also need to work on cleaning up your data while implementing minimization strategies. Work on cleaning your data and only store the data that you intend to use. Regulate your data and audit it as well. Again, this is a good way for you to make sure that you are working with what is going to benefit you, rather than storing more than you need for no reason at all.

Unauthentic Copywriting

We are now living in an era where information is more accessible than ever. Consumers are also more selective about the brands that they choose to engage with. Your messaging has to be able to cut through the noise, and it also has to be concise and authentic. If you use generic or promotional content, then there is a good chance that this will fail to connect with your audience. Some of the mistakes you need to avoid here include hiring copywriters who don’t care about your campaign. You need to invest in your team, and you also need to craft a concise way to showcase your brand and your values. When creating a copy, don’t use jargon, and also make sure that you don’t push the hard sell. If you do, then this will alienate your audience, and it will also lead to more customer disengagement as a whole.

With copywriting becoming more important as time goes on, you need to make sure that you are building a solid team around you, of people who are passionate about what they do. Treat your writers with respect and they will respect you in turn. If you can also focus on making sure that you are writing with confidence and engaging your audience, then this will work wonders for you as a whole.

Ignoring Analytics

Analytics tell you what you need to do. If you ignore them, then you are almost certainly putting your business at a disadvantage. One way for you to work around this would be for you to make sure that you are using data as a way to make informed decisions for yourself. You need to make sure that you are not missing out on modern technology as well. With so much data available at your fingertips, missing out on insights like this is the best way for you to avoid huge opportunities. If you want to do something about this, then you need to make sure that you are using analytics to drive both strategy and optimization. The key is being able to access the data you need and then use it as a way to drive your company forward. If you don’t know where to start, then Google Analytics is a great platform.  You can also make sure that you are formulating a campaign that works across lots of different platforms as well. You can easily learn how to develop a full marketing strategy this way, and it will also help you to align better with your goals.

Understanding the Journey

Another critical thing to understand is that your customers are on a journey. They will be using your website, your social media pages, and even apps to find out what they need to know. If your strategy is fragmented or if you are inconsistent, then this can result in a more disjointed customer journey, and this is the last thing you need. Some of the mistakes you need to avoid here include a lack of consistency. This is especially the case when it comes to marketing. You also need to avoid using a single-platform-based view if you can. Look at your strategies holistically. One way for you to do this would be to develop an omnichannel strategy. This will provide you with a seamless and consistent experience and ensure that your customers always know what to expect from you when browsing your channels. Make sure that the experience is familiar and intentional, too. One way for you to do this would be you to use SEO to your advantage. Enterprise SEO is the future, and by using your data, you can use it to make sure that you are being seen across the right touchpoints and for all of the right reasons.  If you don’t know how to use SEO to your advantage, then hiring a company to help you with that is the key to success. That way, you can make sure that you are not missing out on fundamental platforms to help you with your success, and it also helps you to make sure that you are always working towards goals that are going to benefit your customer and their journey. Upskilling in this area allows you to provide a consistent and engaging experience, and it also allows you to get the result you want.

Failing to Optimize

Email marketing really is one of the most effective channels you have at your disposal if you want to communicate with your customers. With that said, you do need to approach it with care. Mistakes to avoid include sending irrelevant emails that will have people hunting for what they need to do. You also need to make sure that you are aligning your campaign with your customer journey and that every move you make is intentional. If you can make sure that this is the case, then there is no reason at all why you can’t get the result you need and why you can’t stand out in a crowded market. Keep things like this in mind, and you will get far, but if you leave things like this on the back burner, then it will affect you way more than you realize.


About the Author: Mark is a tenured writer for NewsWatch, focusing on technology and emerging trends. Mark gives readers insight into how tomorrow’s innovations will transform our relationship with technology in everyday life.