What if I told you that most of our judgments were caused by simple misunderstandings, assumptions, stereotypes, and even myths? Two years ago, I wouldn’t have believed I could land a role in marketing, mainly because I judged the entire field as being the “art of selling.” Now after two months in marketing, I can officially say: I judged a book by its cover.
Marketing is often viewed as a fast-paced industry that's filled with creativity and innovation, but in reality, it’s much more complex. All kinds of people enter the field with specific assumptions in mind, only to discover later on that the job is much more than the rumors they’ve heard. From the most common misconception about the importance of creativity to discoveries about data, marketing is truly full of surprises.
In this article, you will discover the surprising truths from our in-house experts that make up this dynamic profession. Whether you are considering a career in marketing or have just begun working in the field, these insights can guide your understanding to a field that is multidimensional.
Asking the Team: What Is The Biggest Myth About Marketing That You Believed Before Starting Your Career?
Ellen Merryweather, Organic Marketing Lead
Just how varied the industry is! With marketing skills you can work in literally any industry, and within those industries there are a whole bunch of areas you can specialize in. Growth, paid, social media, content, SEO, SEM…depending on your personality, you can find a niche that really suits you and build a career you love.
There’s also a bunch of different methodologies and frameworks out there, so you have a lot of freedom to find your own way of doing things.
Alvaro Macias, Email Marketing Lead
"Marketing is just advertising." Many people think that marketing is solely about creating ads and promotions. However, marketing encompasses much more, such as market research, product development, pricing strategy, distribution, and customer relationship management.
Amanda Pereira, Email Marketing Manager
I still have the impression that people think "marketing" is about artistically gifted kids and crazy commercial ideas, not that there isn't room for it, but marketing has a whole universe of possibilities within it. I think the creativity we associate with marketing is much more linked to the ability to revive and adapt, it's more about finding ways to do things differently than just the artistic part.
Ricardo Montoya, Paid Marketing Manager
One of the biggest myths I initially believed was that "We know exactly what our audience wants." Brands often operate under the assumption that they have a complete understanding of their consumers, but the truth is that consumer desires and needs are constantly evolving. There's often a significant gap between what companies think their customers want and what the customers are truly seeking. This myth can lead to decisions based on assumptions rather than data-driven insights.
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of:
Constant validation through data.
Avoiding generalizing the audience too broadly.
Appreciating the unpredictable nature of consumer behavior.
Staying current with trends and behaviors to make sure our marketing remains relevant and effective.
Adrian Romero, Digital Data Analyst
When I worked in a marketing team for the first time, I was convinced that I would be pushed to have creative ideas independently of my role. When I had spent a few months working in marketing I noticed that in a marketing team there are experts in every area that are in charge of different aspects. I'm not a creative person but I don't need to be creative, because I'm good at other fields.
Princess Cornelio, Product Marketing Manager
Before I got into marketing, I thought it was all about making things look cool. Now? I know the magic is in the strategy and analysis behind every ‘pretty’ campaign.
Ferran Farled, Events Marketing Manager
Marketing roles are often among one of the most misjudged by other departments. If you don't know the field you reduce marketing to social media posts, events and emailing. But behind this there is a complex system of actions that help the company achieve brand awareness, customer acquisition and loyalty.
What Now?
I hope this has challenged some of your perceptions about marketing and shown you the light! Whether that's the balance between creativity and data or the importance of strategy, marketing is a field that requires a wide skill set, adaptability, and critical thinking–which anyone can develop!
Now that you know the most common misconceptions believed in marketing, you can approach the field with a clear perspective, preparing you to embrace the challenges and rewards that come along this dynamic career.
Kickstart your digital marketing career with Ironhack and explore its endless opportunities!
