One of the marketing pitfalls discussed in the enVisioning Success podcast episode, The Benefits of Partnering with a Marketing Agency, is spaghetti marketing. Co-hosts Laura and Julia have many years of experience consulting with businesses restarting their marketing from the ruins of failed attempts. Today we’re going to dive deeper into what spaghetti marketing is, its common failure points, and how working with a comprehensive marketing agency is the best solution to solve shortfalls.
What Is Spaghetti Marketing?
The term spaghetti marketing comes from the old cooking adage of throwing noodles at a wall until they stick—a sign that the spaghetti is done. In marketing, this technique instead involved throwing your marketing resources—namely money, time, and expertise—at the proverbial wall through various marketing endeavors with a focus on quantity over quality, looking for the marketing that “sticks” and generates more clicks, leads, and final sales for your business.
Common Pitfalls of Spaghetti Marketing
When you don’t have a marketing department, it’s tempting to look for silver-bullet marketing to lead to business success. Below are some of the common types of spaghetti marketing and how they can fail:
- Chasing Fads: The newest social media platform, disruptive technology, AI—all have the same issue: until widespread adoption, you’re unlikely to find your customers there.
- Marketing “Products:” Buying marketing products—template websites, SEO tools, social media posts, etc.—don’t adapt to your needs, demographics, or business as a service does.
- Big Ad Buys: Advertisers want you to spend big, but if you don’t know how to best utilize ads—including targeting, copy, and graphics—you’re literally throwing money away.
- Scut Work: Treating marketing like DIY IT, i.e., “have the new kid do it,” can open the way for social media gaffs, expensive mistakes, and having any knowledge leave along with the hire.
Building Better Marketing with an Agency
So, tired of throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks? It’s time to talk to a marketing agency. There are several things to look for, including finding a comprehensive agency that does everything, starting with analysis and a marketing plan, and treating the relationship with your marketing as a partner, not a vendor. There are additional green flags to be on the lookout for; check out this post, 3 Green Flags When Finding a Marketing Agency, to learn more.
About the enVisioning Success Podcast
This article is based on topics discussed in enVisioning Success, our weekly podcast hosted by Vision Advertising CEO Laura DiBenedetto and COO Julia Becker Collins. In it, they discuss all things business and marketing, from lead generation to leadership. Find us on PodBean to download from your platform of choice, or subscribe to our mailing list to get new episodes and other news delivered directly to your inbox. Interested in working with Vision Advertising? Learn more about our services and contact us today.
