Let’s Be Honest, Marketing is a Mess
I’ve been in this game since the dial-up days, and let me tell you, it’s never been weirder than it is right now. I’m Dave, by the way. Senior editor, self-proclaimed marketing grump, and yes, I still use exclamation points even though everyone says not to. (Look, they’re part of my brand now.)
So, about three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin—you know, the kind where they serve brunch and call it ‘networking.’ I was talking to this guy, let’s call him Marcus, who swore up and down that the only way to ‘win’ at marketing today is to just… give up. ‘Let the algorithms do their thing,’ he said. ‘They know better than we do.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But then I thought, ‘Dave, you’ve been doing this since before Google was a glint in Larry Page’s eye. You can’t just roll over and let the robots take over.’ So, I decided to write this thing. A manifesto, if you will. Or maybe just a really long rant. You decide.
First, Let’s Talk About Content
Content is king, right? Wrong. Content is the court jester. It’s the guy in the back of the room eating pizza rolls and making fart noises with his armpit. (I mean, honestly, have you seen the stuff people are putting out there lately?)
I get it. We’re all told to ‘create value’ and ‘engage audiences’ and blah blah blah. But here’s the thing: nobody actually knows what that means anymore. I had coffee with a colleague named Sarah last Tuesday, and she told me her team spends 36 hours a week just trying to figure out what ‘algorithm-friendly’ even looks like. ‘It’s like trying to hit a moving target while riding a unicycle,’ she said. ‘And the unicycle is on fire.’
So, what’s the solution? I don’t know, honestly. But I do know this: stop trying to game the system. Write for humans, not bots. And for the love of all that’s holy, stop using clickbait headlines. ‘You Won’t Believe What Happened Next!’—oh, I believe it. I believe you’re a liar, and I’m scrolling past.
The SEO Circus
Speaking of bots, let’s talk about SEO. Or, as I like to call it, the never-ending quest to appease the digital overlords. I remember when SEO was simple. You stuffed some keywords into a page, maybe threw in a meta tag or two, and boom—you’re on page one. Ah, the good old days.
Now? Now it’s a circus. A three-ring, fire-breathing, clown-filled circus. And the clowns are winning. I read a report last week—okay, fine, it was an email from a guy named Greg who I met at a bar—that said something like 87% of marketers are ‘prioritizing SEO’ in their strategies. Which, great, except nobody can agree on what that even means anymore.
Here’s my hot take: SEO is dead. Long live SEO. The days of keyword stuffing are over. The days of ‘write for the algorithm’ are over. The future belongs to the people who can write for humans and still rank. And if you can’t do that? Well, maybe it’s time to find a new job. Or at least a new hobby. Knitting, maybe. Or competitive dog grooming.
Social Media: The Wild West
Oh, social media. The land of endless scrolling, fake followers, and ‘influencers’ who think a college degree is a participation trophy from summer camp. I swear, every time I log on, it’s like stepping into a time machine that’s also a dumpster fire.
But here’s the thing: it’s not all bad. In fact, it’s where I’ve seen some of the most genuine connections happening lately. Take my friend Lisa, for example. She’s a small business owner, runs her shop out of a tiny storefront in downtown Boise. She doesn’t have a massive following, but she’s got a community. And that’s worth more than a million fake likes.
So, what’s the secret? Be real. Be human. Post that messy behind-the-scenes stuff. Show your face. Say something meaningful. And for the love of all that’s holy, stop overusing those stupid hashtags. #JustStop
A Tangent: The Time I Tried TikTok
Look, I’ll admit it. I’m old. I get winded just thinking about the energy those TikTok kids have. But about a month ago, I decided to give it a shot. I made a video. One video. It was me, in my pajamas, talking about the time I met a very confused seagull in a parking lot. I posted it, and within 214 minutes, I had 87 likes. And one comment that said, ‘You’re weird, Dave.’
I took it as a compliment.
Branding: It’s Not Just a Logo
Branding is more than a logo. It’s more than a color scheme. It’s more than a tagline that makes you sound like a motivational speaker who’s had one too many energy drinks. Branding is your voice. It’s your personality. It’s the way you make people feel when they interact with you.
I’ve seen brands try to be everything to everyone, and it never works. Be specific. Be memorable. Be you. And if you can’t be you, at least be someone interesting. Nobody remembers the boring brand.
Oh, and one more thing: if you’re still using Comic Sans in 2023, we need to have a talk. A serious talk. Maybe over coffee. Or tequila. I’m not picky.
Economic News Developments Update
Speaking of serious talks, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The economy is… well, it’s a mess. I’m not an economist, but I know enough to know that things are tough out there. And as marketers, we need to be aware of that. People aren’t spending money like they used to. They’re being cautious. They’re looking for value. And they’re not afraid to call out brands that are being tone-deaf.
So, what do we do? We adapt. We listen. We show empathy. And we make sure our messaging is relevant. If you’re not staying on top of economic news developments update, you’re already behind. And in this game, being behind is the same as being invisible.
The Future is Unwritten
So, what’s next? Honestly, I have no idea. But I do know this: the future belongs to the marketers who are willing to take risks. Who are willing to be real. Who are willing to say, ‘You know what? The rules are stupid. I’m gonna do it my way.’
And if that means writing a 1,800-word rant about marketing, then so be it. At least I’m keeping it real.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a seagull and a parking lot. Wish me luck.
About the Author
Dave has been in the marketing trenches for over 20 years. He’s seen trends come and go, algorithms rise and fall, and has the battle scars to prove it. When he’s not writing, he can be found arguing with Siri, trying to teach his cat to fetch, and consuming an alarming amount of coffee. You can find him on Twitter @DaveWritesStuff, where he’s always happy to share his hot takes.
