5 Digital Marketing Mistakes You’re Probably Making (And How to Fix Them)

Digital marketing is full of moving parts, and sometimes, despite your best efforts, things just don’t seem to work. If you’re feeling stuck or frustrated, it could be that you’re making one of these common digital marketing mistakes. Don’t worry, though—these issues are easy to fix.

1. ChatGBT Speak: Are You Talking Like a Robot?

With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, it’s tempting to lean on them for content creation. While AI can help streamline the writing process, it often results in content that feels lifeless or too polished. This type of content lacks the personality that connects with an audience. If your marketing copy feels like it was generated by a machine (because, well, it probably was), you risk losing the human touch that your audience craves. People want to feel like they’re talking to a real person, not a robot behind a screen.

Fix It: Infuse your content with personality and authenticity. Use humor, anecdotes, and relatable language to make your writing feel human and engaging. ChatGBT can give you a great first draft, but always go back to edit in your personal touch. Your audience wants to connect with someone who feels approachable, not a faceless entity that promises to “enhance”, “unleash”, or “elevate” their lives.

2. Using Generic Content Across All Platforms

Repurposing content across multiple platforms is a time-saver, but it can also backfire. Every social media platform has its own format, audience, and expectations, so using the same content everywhere can feel disconnected or irrelevant. For example, Instagram thrives on eye-catching visuals and short, engaging captions, while LinkedIn calls for in-depth, professional content. When you treat all platforms the same, you're missing the opportunity to tailor your messaging in a way that resonates with each unique audience. This one-size-fits-all approach can hurt engagement and limit your reach.

Fix It: Tailor your content to fit the format and tone of each platform. Adjust the visuals, captions, and overall style to suit the platform’s audience. Personalizing your content for Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and beyond will increase engagement and help build stronger connections with your followers.

3. Overlooking SEO: The Silent Killer

It’s easy to focus on creating great content, but if you’re not optimizing it for search engines, all that hard work might go unnoticed. Without the right SEO strategy, your content could be buried in search results, making it difficult for your target audience to find. SEO isn’t just about using keywords—it's about making your content discoverable, accessible, and user-friendly. If you ignore SEO, you’re missing out on organic traffic, which means fewer people are visiting your site, reading your blog, or engaging with your content. You can have the best content in the world, but without SEO, it won’t be seen by the right people.

Fix It: Focus on optimizing your content with targeted keywords, clear headings, and a mobile-friendly design. SEO isn’t just for websites; Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube all have search bars for a reason. Look at Google Trends or Answer the Public to generate ideas for content that people will seek out online. Incorporate internal and external links to enhance SEO. Doing this will increase the visibility of your content and drive more organic traffic to your platforms.

4. Not Engaging with Your Audience: Silence is NOT Golden

You’ve crafted the perfect post and hit “publish,” but when you check your notifications, it’s like no one heard you. When you post content and don’t engage with your audience, it’s like putting up a billboard on a deserted street. Social media and digital marketing are all about creating connections, not just pushing content. The algorithm rewards those who engage. If you ignore comments, questions, and feedback, your audience will feel like you’re not interested in their opinions or in building a relationship. Engagement is essential to building trust, loyalty, and fostering a community around your brand.

Fix It: Respond to comments and messages promptly, ask questions, and share user-generated content. Make sure to engage with your followers in a meaningful way, whether through live interactions, comments, or DMs. Showing that you care about your audience helps build a stronger connection and keeps them coming back for more.

5. Over-Promoting: Stop Being That Salesperson

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new product or promotion, but over-promoting can quickly alienate your audience. If all your content is focused on “buy now” messages or “limited-time offers,” your followers may start tuning you out. No one likes feeling like they’re constantly being sold to. When every post is about pushing your products or services, it can come across as pushy and self-serving. This approach not only drives people away but also damages your brand’s credibility.

Fix It: Focus on providing value in 80% of your content, whether through educational, entertaining, or informative posts. Use the remaining 20% for promotional content. By balancing valuable content with occasional promotions, you’ll build trust and make your audience more receptive when you do share an offer.

Digital marketing is an ongoing journey of learning, adapting, and improving. By recognizing and fixing these common mistakes, you’ll be able to create more engaging, impactful, and authentic marketing campaigns. The key is to balance your content strategy with a mix of value, personalization, and interaction. Focus on building relationships with your audience rather than just making sales, and watch how much more receptive they’ll be to your brand. With a little effort and a few tweaks, your marketing results will improve dramatically.

Want to learn more about digital marketing and social media? Don’t miss this year’s Digital Wichita Summer Camp, hosted by Digital Wichita.