20 marketing LIES you need to stop believing

Look, I get it. Marketing feels like a minefield of expensive ads, social media noise, and endless strategies. If you're anything like I was, you've probably got a list of excuses a mile long. But here’s the deal—those excuses are just keeping you stuck. So let’s talk about the 20 biggest lies we tell ourselves about marketing—and why it’s time to leave them behind and go after what you really want.

But first, let me share a little story with you. This is the truth about the biggest lies I told myself when I was struggling with my marketing:

The Lies I Believed About Marketing

Okay, the biggest lies I told myself about marketing? Here they are:

• "It's okay for them; they have money to splash on marketing. I don't."
  I used to have a massive chip on my shoulder about people with money. I convinced myself that their success was purely down to cash—something I didn't have. But here's the truth: you can do a lot for free. Yes, having money helps, but it isn’t the golden ticket. It's about strategy and grit, not just throwing money at the problem.

• "It's all vanity. It doesn't actually work for them."
  This was a classic way for me to discredit what I didn’t like - or worse, what I didn’t want to admit was working for someone else. I’d see someone smashing it with their marketing and think, "That’s just for show." I just didn’t want to face that maybe I wasn’t ready to put in the work.

• "It will never work for me, because I’m not [fill in the blank]."
  All my personal hang-ups - whether about not being confident enough, skilled enough, or “worthy” enough - stopped me dead in my tracks. And guess what? Not marketing myself didn’t help with those feelings of inadequacy. Taking action did.

• "I can’t go all in on one strategy because it might not work."
  This was the ultimate excuse. I was too scared to commit to one path because failure felt like too big a risk. So, I hedged my bets - and you know what? It didn’t work. The truth is, not committing to a strategy is the very reason your marketing will fail.

Now, let’s dig into those lies you’ve been telling yourself:

1. "I need a perfect website before I can market."

Newsflash: You don’t need a pixel-perfect website. Progress beats perfection every time. Start with what you have, and fix the details as you go. Waiting for perfection is just a way to keep yourself from actually starting.

2. "No one cares about what I have to say."

The right people will care, but you’ve got to find them first. And that’s where your marketing comes in. It’s not about convincing the masses - it’s about speaking to the few who need what you offer.

3. "Marketing won’t work in my industry."

This one’s an easy excuse. The truth is, marketing works in every industry. It’s just a matter of finding the right approach. Instead of giving up, get curious about what could work for you.

4. "I need to know everything about marketing before I start."

This is a killer lie because it keeps you stuck in 'learning mode.' The truth is, you learn by doing. Get in the game, start marketing, and adjust as you go. You don’t need to be an expert to make an impact.

5. "I’m not confident enough to market myself."

Confidence doesn’t come first; it comes after action. Don’t wait until you feel ready - because honestly, you might be waiting forever. Start marketing and the confidence will follow.

6. "You have to be everywhere online to succeed."

Wrong. You don’t need to be everywhere - you just need to be in the right place. Focus on the platform where your audience is most active, and stop spreading yourself too thin.

7. "If people want it, they'll buy it."

People don’t buy what they don’t know exists. Your job is to make them aware of what you offer. Marketing isn’t just about making sales - it’s about creating desire and visibility.

8. "Marketing is just advertising."

Advertising is a tiny piece of the puzzle. Real marketing is about building relationships, delivering value, and creating trust. It’s the long game, not just a quick ad campaign.

9. "My clients aren’t online."

Listen, everyone’s online. If you’re not finding your clients, it’s because you haven’t connected with them yet. It’s time to explore new channels and meet them where they are.

10. "Social media is too crowded for me to make an impact."

It’s not about shouting louder - it’s about having the right message. If you’re clear, consistent, and authentic, your message will cut through the noise.

11. "Marketing is expensive."

Not true. There’s a lot you can do for free. Social media, content marketing, and networking are all low-cost (or no-cost) ways to get your name out there.

12. "I need a big following to succeed."

Quality over quantity every time. A small, engaged audience is infinitely more valuable than thousands of passive followers who don’t care.

13. "I’m not a natural salesperson."

Good news: you don’t have to be. Authenticity is what sells today. Be yourself, offer value, and let the results speak for themselves.

14. "People will see me as inauthentic if I promote myself."

Promoting yourself isn’t inauthentic if you believe in what you’re offering. It’s simply sharing something you know will help people. You’re doing them a disservice by keeping quiet.

15. "I don’t want to annoy people with my marketing."

Helpful marketing isn’t annoying. If you’re providing value, solving problems, and addressing your audience’s needs, they’ll appreciate your efforts.

16. "I need the perfect marketing strategy from day one."

Perfect? Forget about it. Start with what you have, test different approaches, and refine as you go. Progress over perfection - always.

17. "Marketing feels like bragging."

It’s not bragging if it’s true. You’re not showing off; you’re showing people how you can help. If you’ve got value to offer, don’t hide it.

18. "I’m not good enough to charge high prices."

Here’s the truth: if you offer real value, you deserve to be compensated. Your pricing should reflect the worth of what you provide, not just your skill level.

19. "I have to lower my prices to attract clients."

Lowering your prices just devalues your expertise. Attract the right clients by showcasing your worth, not by offering discounts.

20. "If I put myself out there, I’ll fail."

Here’s a little secret: failure is part of the process. But not putting yourself out there is the only guaranteed way to fail. Take the leap, and even if you stumble, you’ll learn, grow, and get closer to success.

These marketing lies are just comfy excuses, keeping you safe in your comfort zone. But let’s be honest - they’re holding you back. It’s time to ditch them and start chasing those dreams.

You’ve got what it takes to win, but you need to stop playing small.

So, what’s it going to be?

Ready to break free from these lies and win? DM me ‘WIN’ and let's get started.