Marketing your business right can be a challenging and confusing task.

Below are five marketing myths uncovered that will surprise you.

1.   Advertising equals marketing

Some people like to throw advertising in the same pot with marketing.
However, advertising is only one of many components of marketing.

Marketing is a much wider field that includes many aspects. Put simply, advertising is a paid avenue to promote your brand. Marketing is the process of connecting a product or service with consumers and establishing lasting relationships.

2.   Don’t pay attention to negative feedback

Receiving negative reviews on social media or online directories can be frustrating. You might not agree with what’s been said or even worse, it’s not truthful.

In the end, you’ve got three options:
-   Ignore it: Rarely a great idea. Customers look at reviews and form their view on your brand. That’s why you don’t want to leave a negative review unattended.
-   Reply defensively: Sometimes this is necessary. However, make sure you don't reply in an upset and defiant way. You don’t want to make your business look unprofessional.
-   Reply neutrally: 99% of the time this is the best option. React in a polite and factual way, offer upset customers to get in touch to resolve issues. You’re handling feedback in a professional and caring way, which will impress customers. 

It may be hard for some to hear, but having a logo means having a logo - no more, no less! Branding is comprised of much more than just a logo.

The feelings and experiences your customers associate with your brand when they see your logo is a more accurate definition of branding. Look after your customers, get to know them, make sure their impression of your brand is a positive one.


4.   Offering discounts isn’t profitable 

     When discounts are used right, they’re an extremely powerful marketing tool.
Target your special offers wisely. If Tuesday nights tend to be slow, run a discount to boost sales.

Another great idea is to offer discounts exclusively to your most loyal customers to show your appreciation. As a result, your return customers will be happy to purchase your product even when it’s not discounted.


5.   More websites mean more presence

While it’s beneficial to have your business listed on online directories such as Zomato & Yelp, having more than one official website is most definitely harmful.
Just look at the key players in the industry. Does McDonald’s have more than one main website? No. It confuses customers, costs more time and effort to maintain and most importantly, impairs a business’ Search Engine Ranking.

Having more than one website for your business will only cause your multiple websites to compete against each other when customers search for certain keywords.


So there you have it – a small, but powerful insight into the big world of marketing. 

These tips will help you to avoid some common marketing mistakes and missed opportunities.

CLICK HERE to get optimised advice from our marketing team. Start growing your business online today!