The marketing industry is constantly evolving and we are continually searching for the best advice on how to keep up with the latest and greatest trends. However, there is a lot of misleading advice floating around that if followed could negatively impact a brands reputation.

Over the years we have heard some horrible marketing advice. Below are some of the bad advice we have heard and reasons why we believe it shouldn’t be followed.

Focus only on the product

Keep the 80/20 rule in mind when you are promoting your brand/product. Only 20 percent of the content you share should be used to promote your brand, while 80 percent should be content that interests your audience and engages them in conversations.

Email is no longer relevant and you don’t need it as part of your marketing strategy

Studies done throughout 2013 show that email marketing still beats out Twitter and Facebook when it comes to attracting new customers and that those customers tend to shop and spend more via email than another other platform.

The best way to increase email performance is to buy lists

While making sure that you are sending to the right list is still very important, it’s not the only way to increase email performance. Content is still king and we think its queen is relevancy. So, make sure that your content informs readers and doesn’t contain empty sales pitches. Create subject line stands out and stray away from anything cheesy, salesy or lengthy.

You don’t need to invest in a professionally designed website

Customers are more connected than ever and have become much more selective with the products and services they purchase. Don’t have website shame. Give your brand a leg up on the competition by setting yourself apart with a well thought out and appealing web design.

You need to be on all social media sites

It is key to focus on the right social media channels. If your target audience isn’t on Instagram, maybe you shouldn’t spend budget there. Instead, focus on the outlet(s) with the most engagement. Take advantage of guest blogging, and inject your messages into the conversation rather than creating your own conversation every time.

Hashtags don’t matter

Hashtags allow you to follow certain trends or learn what other companies are discussing. You can also create a buzz around your product or company by creating your own hashtag and offering incentives for your followers to use them.