The Hidden Truth About Digital Marketing: It's More of an Art than a Science and that’s why Time and Expertise Matter.
Navigating the Overwhelming World of Digital Marketing Advice
Hey there! If you're like many business owners I've met, you've probably felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of digital marketing advice out there. I've been there myself. I spent hundreds of hours, if not thousands, in a 2-3 month timeframe, watching videos and reading blogs about how to run a digital marketing agency, and reading all credible books about general marketing that were available and the least sharky I could.
I found what you may already know. Just a whole lot of noise and not nearly enough substance.
There are so many people out there slinging the same old content barely trying to make a quick buck. Some are doling out advice either out of date or plain crockery. And then there are those who lock all the "good stuff" behind expensive courses or masterclasses. Frustrating was an understatement.
But here's the thing: it’s not rocket science. It's not this mysterious black art just for people on mountaintops. However, it does take time—it’s time responding to outdated methods, it’s time trying new tactics, and it’s time to simply find tools that actually work.
That's why I'm here. I've already put in that time so you don't have to. I’ve been in the trenches, I’ve found my way through that maze, I’ve hit a few more dead ends and found the paths that do lead you to getting real results. And now, I'm ready to share what I've learned with you.
Overcoming Information Overload
The reality is, trying out or learning digital marketing, by yourself, feels like trying to drink from a fire hose. I remember sitting at my desk, eyes glazed over, thinking, "Is it just me, or is this stuff intentionally confusing?"
Here's what I found during my deep dive:
Recycled Content Aimed at Quick Profits: So many so-called "experts" are just regurgitating the same information you can find anywhere else. They are more concerned with your wallet than your success.
Wrong or Outdated Advice: The digital world moves fast. What worked last year—what worked last month—won’t work today. Following outdated advice can cost you time and money.
Everything Hidden Behind a Paywall: Ever click on a promising article only to find you need to pay $499 for the "full course"? Yeah, me too. It's frustrating when you're just looking for straightforward answers.
This all makes it difficult to locate accurate, actionable information. And when you're running a business, you don't have time to play detective.
Why Digital Marketing Requires Time and Patience
You might be thinking, "If it's not difficult, why can't I just do it myself?" Great question! This isn’t rocket science, but it’s in the details.
Here's why time is the real investment:
Learning and Unlearning: The first step to launching a product for your own company is to unlearn outdated tactics that may actually hurt your business. Next, you must learn strategies that work today.
Trial and Error: Every business is unique. What might work for one, might not work for another. Testing different approaches and seeing what works or doesn’t take time.
Mastering the Tools: And let me tell you, there’s a great number of tools out there for SEO, social media, analytics, you name it. It's almost a full time job to figure out which ones are worth your time and money. Extra emphasis on the money part as many of these are $50-$100 a month subscriptions.
Key Changes in SEO from 2018 vs Now
This will give you an idea of how fast things change and what major updates there has been in SEO over the recent years. Don't worry; I'll keep it straightforward.
Mobile-First Indexing (2018)
It was back in 2018 when Google declared that for indexing and ranking, your website’s mobile version was first. If your site isn't mobile-friendly, you're basically telling Google, "Don't bother showing my site to half the internet."
E-A-T Emphasis (2018 Onwards)
It was at this point that Google started paying attention to site E-A-T, which stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. This is especially important for sites dealing with health, finance, or legal matters (they call these "Your Money or Your Life" pages). In simple terms, you need to demonstrate that you know your stuff.
BERT Update (2019)
It’s not a character from Sesame Street. Google uses BERT to better understand natural language. So, the content you write should be for humans, not jam packed with keywords.
Core Web Vitals (2020)
Google made user experience metrics available: how long it takes for your page to load and how stable it is while being loaded. Slow and clunky websites will hurt your rankings.
Passage Ranking (2021)
Google began getting smarter about identifying particular segments of the pages that you included on your sites to file responses to hunt obligations. With that being said, this doesn’t mean that simply having the answer buried deep in your content ranks you.
MUM Update (2021)
MUM is Google’s Swiss Army knife for understanding complex questions. In principle, it can understand text and images across different languages, and provide better search results.
Helpful Content Update (2022)
Google did a 180 and started rewarding content that would actually provide real value to its users. If you create content to game the system, you’re probably going to see yourself drop from rankings.
The Considerations of AI Generated Content (2023-2024)
As AI tools become more prevalent, Google stressed the importance of content having Experience (E), Expertise (E), Authoritativeness (A) and Trustworthiness (T), colloquially known as E-E-A-T. Put simply, when you have a robot helping you to write, the written content has to be perfect.
Continuous Algorithm Tweaks
Google makes constant small changes. If you don’t want to end up out of the loop, you need to keep up with these changes.
Why Staying Updated in Digital Marketing Matters for Your Business
You’ve got a business to run. Balancing your time budget to follow every change in Google, let alone keep up with the latest SEO trends, is asking a lot for anyone. But if you disregard these changes your online visibility may suffer and customers may find it more difficult to be able to find you.
And It's Not Just About SEO
While SEO is very important, it’s just one of the pieces in the puzzle. A well-rounded digital marketing strategy also includes:
Social Media Marketing: This is about engaging with your audience in platforms they love.
Website Design: Making a user friendly site that works within your branding.
User-Generated Content (UGC): Promoting your business by getting your customers to share your content.
Content Marketing: And is an opportunity to provide valuable information that will position you as an expert in your field.
Time and expertise is needed if one wants to excel in these areas.
Essential Digital Marketing Tools and Resources I Recommend
I believe in transparency and empowering others. If you're up for tackling digital marketing yourself, here are some tools I recommend:
SEO Tools: Ahrefs, SEMrush
Content Management: WordPress, Contentful
Social Media Management: Hootsuite, Buffer
Analytics: Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics
Email Marketing: Mailchimp, SendinBlue
Feel free to explore these yourself. But remember, these are just tools, nothing more. It's not what you use; it's how you use it.
Here is a another source for credible channels so you don’t have to take my word for it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2qxxseu8xE
Here is a list of Playlists for SEO:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJR61fXkAx11Oi6EpqJ9Es4rVOIZhwlSG&si=8mvaB1UzpcHXvBpk
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvJ_dXFSpd2vk6rQ4Rta5MhDIRmakFbp6&si=dO8D8p2gOmstaWPP
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM4O0dsPeuMdQjYkLFG6Xxpbgwv3cQwbx
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbKcy9p3mh_GyF0xNpp-QNqHpjmCpvam3&si=XV36J03y9ZhK7ee8
Here is a 3.5 hour video on lead generation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2faIYZ67RA
That should keep you busy for a while.
Why Work with Me?
Maybe you're thinking, "This is great, but I still don't have the time to learn all this." That makes complete sense. Here's how I can help:
Expertise: I know what works and I keep up to date with all the latest changes.
Efficiency: Quickly, I can implement strategies for you, saving you time.
Customized Solutions: I’ll tailor my strategies based on the specifics of the needs of your business.
Cost-Effective: Prevent spending huge sums on things that will not work and concentrate your budget on things that will.
Your Success Is My Success
At the end of the day, I love helping good people with good businesses succeed online. I know how hard it is to cut through the noise and find what actually works. That's why I'm committed to providing genuine value, whether you decide to work with me or use the resources I've shared.
Ready to Elevate Digital Presence?
If you're ready to take your digital marketing to the next level without getting bogged down in the details, let's chat. Whether you have questions or you're eager to get started, I'm here to help. I am reachable right here — no hoops to jump through.
Conclusion
Marketing digitally isn’t a mystery or a chore. With the right guidance, you can navigate the ever-changing landscape and focus on what you do best: running your business.
So, what do you say?
