6 Marketing Mistakes You Might Be Making That Are Killing Your Business

Are you making some major mistakes when it comes to your marketing? Unfortunately, if you are seeing a dip in sales, or a reduction in your customers, or anything like this, then the answer is probably yes.

There are a lot of big companies out there that will tell you that marketing is not essential to the success of a business, but they are wrong. Marketing is one of the most important parts of any business, and if you are not getting it right, then you’re going to find yourself in a position that you absolutely don’t want to be in. 

The good news is that we have some ideas about what marketing mistakes you might be making, and we’re going to talk about them down below. Let’s take a look at where you could be going wrong with your marketing, and how you can fix it.

Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

1. You’re Not Using Focus Groups

First, you might not be using focus groups when you start a new marketing campaign.

Why? Why are you not running this past a small group made up of those in your target audience and seeing what they think of it? These are the people who are going to be the most help to you!

They can tell you what is working, what is not working, if there is anything that needs changing because it could be offensive and anything else that you need to know. You are literally getting the information straight from the horse’s mouth, and still companies are not using focus groups.

If you launch a social media campaign, or any kind of marketing campaign without checking with a focus group, then you only have yourself to blame when it is not successful.

It doesn’t take long to do, and it’s not hard to set up so there is no reason for you not to do this. The best outcome is that they say it’s great and you can publish it. The worst is that you have to redo it, but it’s better to know now than after you have already published it.

2. You’re Not Using an Agency to Help

Are you getting any help with your marketing? If not, that might be another one of the marketing mistakes you’re making.

We understand that money is a little tight for some people right now, but that does not mean that businesses should be skimping on the help that they need.

A marketing agency is a fantastic investment for your business as you are getting the benefit of professional help to get you through at any given time. These companies know what they are doing, as they have provided this service for businesses before you. There really is no reason that an agency isn’t a good idea.

It’s important to note that if you disagree with what the agency says, then you don’t have to go along with their plan. You can ask them to change their direction or whatever else, as the company belongs to you at the end of the day.

You have the final say, but having a professional business like Loudmouse Digital behind you will give you fresh ideas, and the help that you require.

3. You’re Not Doing Your Research

Another marketing mistake could be that you’re not doing the right amount of research.

How are you going to launch effective marketing campaigns, when you have absolutely no idea who you are targeting, what they are looking for, and any other information that you are going to need?

The simple answer is that this is going to be impossible, which is why you need to start doing your research on the market and the target audience as soon as you can.

If research isn’t really your thing, then it might be time to hire someone who can do it for you. We know it’s more money, and it might be more money that you don’t really want to spend, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t spend it anyway.

This is vital information that you need to get your business through, which means that either you need to start doing it yourself, or you need someone who can get it for you.

4. You’re Not Listening to Customer Feedback

People are always very vocal about the things that they like and the things that they dislike. If you are not listening to customer feedback, then you are missing a massive trick as this is where the criticism is that you need to pay attention to.

Of course, we’re not saying that you should be listening to the internet trolls, but you should be listening to those who have valid points. It’s true to say that not every comment is going to be actionable, but if you’re coming across multiple people saying the same thing, and if you’re noticing that there’s a problem, then this can be changed in the future.

Your customers are the ones that you are trying to impress. If your marketing isn’t doing that then it’s turning out to be a massive waste of time.

You need to listen to them when they say things to you, as you’re not going to get this information from anywhere else. 

5. You’re Not Using Social Media Properly

Social media can be your best friend when it comes to digital marketing, but you’ve got to know how to use it properly.

There are a lot of business owners who still aren’t using any of the social media platforms to the best of their ability. That’s one of their biggest marketing mistakes as it could really boost the business.

You should have an account on every social media platform including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, and they should be updated on a regular basis. We know that’s not always going to be possible if you’re trying to do this alone, but that’s why you need a social media manager.

They will be responsible for posting engaging content that your customers and online users love, using tools like Live to set up live streams that get people interested and so much more.

Social media can be a great tool, you just need to know how to use it as one.

6. You’re Not Dedicating Time to This

The final marketing mistake on the list is the fact that you’re not putting the time and effort in to see success with it.

If you think that marketing is pointless, then you’re not going to extend your resources to make it the best that it can be, and this is going to cost you.

Marketing deserves a lot of time and attention, just to keep your business afloat, and that’s something you need to understand fast. 

If previously you haven’t been dedicating the right amount of time to your marketing, then you need to start now to see better results.

Read also: How to Advertise Your Business: 16 Marketing Strategies to Try

Which of these marketing mistakes are you making?

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that could be causing your marketing to be less successful than it should be.

If you are willing to avoid these marketing mistakes, then you should find that getting your business back on the right track isn’t going to be too difficult.

It’s important that you are taking on board everything that we have said here, and actually understanding why these things are important rather than just reading and half paying attention. If you know the why, you are far more likely to be interested in the how.

We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you manage to stop going wrong with your marketing soon!