Spooky Marketing Mistakes

This October, we have a special treat in store for you! Halloween is by far our favorite holiday here at HDM, and we've been brewing up some fun ideas to kick off the spooky season. Around the office, we often joke that our clients sometimes work us to the bone, leaving nothing but our ghosts behind. So, this month, we invite you to join us as we share tales from our "design graveyard," where we’ve buried the experiences we've collected throughout the year.

The scariest marketing mistakes we have seen clients make throughout the year:

Choosing What "You" Like Over What the Audience Wants

We see this spooky mistake all the time. You’re passionate about your design and eager to infuse your personality into your marketing, but here's the chilling truth: it’s not always what your clients want to see. While your personal style is important, it may not align with the needs or preferences of your audience. When your marketing team makes suggestions, they’re doing it with your target audience in mind, not just to haunt your creativity. Remember, effective marketing is about connecting with them, not just expressing you.

Skipping the branding stage

One of the most frightening mistakes we see is when clients skip the crucial branding stage. Many are reluctant to invest the time or resources in defining their brand values, but this is a haunted path you don’t want to take. Take a page from Coca-Cola’s playbook—they’ve been a household name for generations, long before "branding" was even a buzzword. Their success? It lies in their unwavering commitment to their brand identity—the iconic red and white colors and distinctive typography that have become synonymous with the brand.

Now, apply this same principle to your business. Consistency in branding is key. If your business card looks different from your website, consumers might start to wonder, "Did I land on the right page?" Keep this in mind as you execute your brand strategy—consistency not only builds recognition but also trust.

Doing the bare minimum and expecting maximum results.

Effective marketing is more than just sending out a mailer or making a few posts—it's about consistent effort and genuine engagement. If you want to prove to your clients that you’re the best, you need to go beyond the bare minimum. Let’s be real: no one becomes an overnight sensation (unless you're the "Hawk-Tuah" girl!). True success in marketing comes from building relationships, interacting with your audience, and showing them why they should choose you over the competition.

Assuming that all marketing is intended to be lead generating

We get calls every week from clients focused solely on lead generation, but here’s the eerie truth: not all marketing is designed to bring in immediate leads. At HDM, we believe in educating over selling. It’s important to understand that some marketing efforts, particularly on social media, are meant to build brand awareness or foster customer loyalty instead. These touches are just as crucial as lead generation, as they lay the foundation for long-term relationships and keep your brand top of mind.

Stay Creepy and Market On.

Make sure to follow our social feed throughout October—we’ve got some treats in store that you won’t want to miss, including special marketing highlights and a few surprises. Don’t worry, our ghosts won’t haunt you, but they might be that creepy figure in the corner, offering some eerily good suggestions!