#2 – The Biggest Marketing Misconceptions | Over the Bull®
Where the Myths Begin Welcome back to Over the Bull. In our first episode, we talked about letting go of a client—something agencies rarely admit. But in today’s episode, we’re pulling back another curtain: the biggest misconceptions about marketing. These…
Where the Myths Begin
Welcome back to Over the Bull. In our first episode, we talked about letting go of a client—something agencies rarely admit. But in today’s episode, we’re pulling back another curtain: the biggest misconceptions about marketing. These myths are everywhere, and they’re often the reason small businesses get stuck or fail altogether.
Marketing myths don’t appear out of thin air. They typically come from one of three sources: designers who don’t understand marketing, people who omit the truth to close a sale, and the mythology of the internet itself. Let’s break that down.
Designers who lack marketing experience will sell you beautiful websites that don’t perform. They’ll hand over templates, generic content, and call it a day. Why? Because their “lid” — their level of knowledge — stops short of strategy. Then there’s the second group: service providers who know what works but hide the harder truths. If they told you upfront how much work goes into real results, you might hesitate to sign a contract. And finally, there’s the mythology. People want to believe in internet miracles because it sounds like the fastest way to win. But when something sounds too good to be true—it usually is.
The Most Common Myths, Busted
Let’s start with the big one: If I build it, they will come. This myth suggests that just having a website is enough to succeed. It’s not. The internet is a crowded, noisy place. A website without marketing is like setting up a lemonade stand in the desert and expecting customers to arrive. Worse, DIY builders often lead to poor structure, weak messaging, and a site that needs to be completely rebuilt when you finally call in professionals.
Then there’s the myth that SEO is a one-time task. Many businesses think they’re “done” after optimizing once. In truth, SEO is an ongoing process. Google’s algorithms change, your competitors change, and your content must evolve too. Regular audits, keyword refinements, and performance tracking are essential. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Another favorite: social media is free marketing. While technically free to post, platforms like Facebook show your content to just 2–6% of your followers. Without paid boosts, your reach is almost nonexistent. Even then, success isn’t about vanity metrics. It’s about testing creative, understanding demographics, and constantly iterating. What works for one client might flop for another—polished ads don’t always outperform rough ones. Your message has to match your market.
Then there’s the idea that more traffic automatically means more sales. It doesn’t. More qualified traffic means more sales. There’s a big difference between people who are casually browsing and those ready to buy. Smart marketers understand where users are in their journey and tailor the content and pitch accordingly. One client might need education; another just needs a reason to choose you now.
How about this one: Google Ads = Instant Success. It’s tempting to think you can just pay your way to the top. But real campaigns take weeks—sometimes months—of learning, testing, and refining. You need strong creative, accurate targeting, compelling offers, and a conversion-friendly landing page. Without all of that in sync, you’re just burning ad dollars.
And no, email marketing is not dead. Done right, it can be one of your most powerful tools—especially when paired with strong calls to action and smart automations. If someone visits your site but doesn’t buy, capturing their email gives you a second (and third) chance to win them over. We recently worked with a seasonal business that captured leads months before people were ready to purchase—then used timely offers to convert them when the season hit. That’s real strategy at work.
Hard Truths About the DIY Trap
We’ve got to say it: doing it yourself is the most expensive “cheap” decision you can make. Whether it’s building your own website, running your own campaigns, or writing your own content, unless you’re trained in the strategy behind those tools, you’re likely wasting effort—and missing real opportunity.
Let’s be clear: AI is powerful. We use it, too. But that doesn’t mean dumping AI-generated blog posts onto your website is going to move the needle. We’ve seen businesses load up dozens of robotic, keyword-stuffed articles that never bring a single visitor. Why? Because content still needs to be strategic, relevant, and human.
A client once insisted on quantity over quality—cranking out weak content generated by AI. She believed more posts would equal more traffic. It didn’t. In fact, it damaged her rankings. Real SEO comes from publishing content that beats competitors in value and structure—not just volume. We’ve taken competitor posts, improved them by hand, and landed first-page results within days. That kind of success doesn’t happen with shortcuts. It happens with planning, tools, and time.
Another myth: marketing should bring instant results. This mindset leads to burnout and disappointment. The best campaigns take time to work. They start slow, gain traction, and then compound. If your entire success hinges on one fast “win,” you’re building a house of cards. Set realistic timelines. Invest in the midterm and long term. And if you’re lucky enough to see early results, enjoy them—but don’t expect them every time.
Last but not least: the myth that your customers aren’t on certain platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. The truth is, unless you’ve done deep research, you probably don’t know where your customers are. And even if they’re present on a platform, they won’t engage with your brand unless you take that presence seriously. Empty profiles, weak content, and half-hearted posting won’t do you any favors. If you commit to a platform, commit. Or don’t bother at all.
So what’s the big takeaway? The internet is full of myths. Marketing works—but only when it’s rooted in reality, not wishful thinking. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. There are no shortcuts. What works is real effort, sound strategy, and an understanding of your customer. If you’re chasing fantasy, you’re wasting time. But if you’re ready to do the work, the web is one of the most powerful tools your business will ever have.
Thanks for tuning in to Over the Bull. Until next time—stay sharp, stay honest, and don’t fall for the hype.
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#2 – The Biggest Marketing Misconceptions | Over the Bull®
Where the Myths Begin Welcome back to Over the Bull. In our first episode, we talked about letting go of a client—something agencies rarely admit. But in today’s episode, we’re pulling back another curtain: the biggest misconceptions about marketing. These myths are everywhere, and they’re often the reason small businesses get stuck or fail altogether….
Where the Myths Begin
Welcome back to Over the Bull. In our first episode, we talked about letting go of a client—something agencies rarely admit. But in today’s episode, we’re pulling back another curtain: the biggest misconceptions about marketing. These myths are everywhere, and they’re often the reason small businesses get stuck or fail altogether.
Marketing myths don’t appear out of thin air. They typically come from one of three sources: designers who don’t understand marketing, people who omit the truth to close a sale, and the mythology of the internet itself. Let’s break that down.
Designers who lack marketing experience will sell you beautiful websites that don’t perform. They’ll hand over templates, generic content, and call it a day. Why? Because their “lid” — their level of knowledge — stops short of strategy. Then there’s the second group: service providers who know what works but hide the harder truths. If they told you upfront how much work goes into real results, you might hesitate to sign a contract. And finally, there’s the mythology. People want to believe in internet miracles because it sounds like the fastest way to win. But when something sounds too good to be true—it usually is.
The Most Common Myths, Busted
Let’s start with the big one: If I build it, they will come. This myth suggests that just having a website is enough to succeed. It’s not. The internet is a crowded, noisy place. A website without marketing is like setting up a lemonade stand in the desert and expecting customers to arrive. Worse, DIY builders often lead to poor structure, weak messaging, and a site that needs to be completely rebuilt when you finally call in professionals.
Then there’s the myth that SEO is a one-time task. Many businesses think they’re “done” after optimizing once. In truth, SEO is an ongoing process. Google’s algorithms change, your competitors change, and your content must evolve too. Regular audits, keyword refinements, and performance tracking are essential. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Another favorite: social media is free marketing. While technically free to post, platforms like Facebook show your content to just 2–6% of your followers. Without paid boosts, your reach is almost nonexistent. Even then, success isn’t about vanity metrics. It’s about testing creative, understanding demographics, and constantly iterating. What works for one client might flop for another—polished ads don’t always outperform rough ones. Your message has to match your market.
Then there’s the idea that more traffic automatically means more sales. It doesn’t. More qualified traffic means more sales. There’s a big difference between people who are casually browsing and those ready to buy. Smart marketers understand where users are in their journey and tailor the content and pitch accordingly. One client might need education; another just needs a reason to choose you now.
How about this one: Google Ads = Instant Success. It’s tempting to think you can just pay your way to the top. But real campaigns take weeks—sometimes months—of learning, testing, and refining. You need strong creative, accurate targeting, compelling offers, and a conversion-friendly landing page. Without all of that in sync, you’re just burning ad dollars.
And no, email marketing is not dead. Done right, it can be one of your most powerful tools—especially when paired with strong calls to action and smart automations. If someone visits your site but doesn’t buy, capturing their email gives you a second (and third) chance to win them over. We recently worked with a seasonal business that captured leads months before people were ready to purchase—then used timely offers to convert them when the season hit. That’s real strategy at work.
Hard Truths About the DIY Trap
We’ve got to say it: doing it yourself is the most expensive “cheap” decision you can make. Whether it’s building your own website, running your own campaigns, or writing your own content, unless you’re trained in the strategy behind those tools, you’re likely wasting effort—and missing real opportunity.
Let’s be clear: AI is powerful. We use it, too. But that doesn’t mean dumping AI-generated blog posts onto your website is going to move the needle. We’ve seen businesses load up dozens of robotic, keyword-stuffed articles that never bring a single visitor. Why? Because content still needs to be strategic, relevant, and human.
A client once insisted on quantity over quality—cranking out weak content generated by AI. She believed more posts would equal more traffic. It didn’t. In fact, it damaged her rankings. Real SEO comes from publishing content that beats competitors in value and structure—not just volume. We’ve taken competitor posts, improved them by hand, and landed first-page results within days. That kind of success doesn’t happen with shortcuts. It happens with planning, tools, and time.
Another myth: marketing should bring instant results. This mindset leads to burnout and disappointment. The best campaigns take time to work. They start slow, gain traction, and then compound. If your entire success hinges on one fast “win,” you’re building a house of cards. Set realistic timelines. Invest in the midterm and long term. And if you’re lucky enough to see early results, enjoy them—but don’t expect them every time.
Last but not least: the myth that your customers aren’t on certain platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. The truth is, unless you’ve done deep research, you probably don’t know where your customers are. And even if they’re present on a platform, they won’t engage with your brand unless you take that presence seriously. Empty profiles, weak content, and half-hearted posting won’t do you any favors. If you commit to a platform, commit. Or don’t bother at all.
So what’s the big takeaway? The internet is full of myths. Marketing works—but only when it’s rooted in reality, not wishful thinking. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. There are no shortcuts. What works is real effort, sound strategy, and an understanding of your customer. If you’re chasing fantasy, you’re wasting time. But if you’re ready to do the work, the web is one of the most powerful tools your business will ever have.
Thanks for tuning in to Over the Bull. Until next time—stay sharp, stay honest, and don’t fall for the hype.