Scary Good Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
You know what's scarier than a haunted house?
A business with a great product… that no one can find online.
We see the same mistakes creeping through marketing plans like little digital ghosts… harmless at first, until they start haunting your visibility, your traffic, and your sanity. Before you find yourself wondering why your posts aren’t getting traction or your Google ranking suddenly vanished, let’s talk about a few scary good marketing mistakes worth avoiding.
Disappearing Online (Ghosting Your Audience)
Consistency is everything.
You can’t post once a month and expect your audience to remember you exist. Think about it, when’s the last time you trusted a business whose social media looked like it hadn’t been touched since 2022?
People are constantly searching, scrolling, and comparing. Staying visible isn’t about flooding their feeds; it’s about showing up regularly with something valuable to say. Whether it’s a quick tip, a behind-the-scenes clip, or a simple “hey, we’re here and we care,” the key is to keep your digital lights on.
Pro tip: Create a simple posting rhythm you can actually stick to, even if it’s once or twice a week. Consistency beats perfection every time.
Ignoring Local Search
If your business serves a community, your Google Business Profile should be your best friend, not an afterthought.
Updating your profile with photos, posts, and services helps you show up when people search phrases like “marketing company near me” or “best small business branding in Texas.”
Even small updates like adding hours, posting new projects, or responding to reviews help your business appear active and trustworthy. Google loves fresh content, and so do your customers.
Pro tip: Post on your Google Business page at least once a week. It boosts visibility and signals to search engines that your business is alive and thriving.
Stock Photos that Suck the Life Out of Your Brand
There’s nothing wrong with using a stock photo here and there. But if every image looks like it came from a corporate brochure circa 2010, you’re doing your brand a disservice.
People crave authenticity. They want to see you, your team, your clients, your space, and your community, not another handshake photo under fluorescent lighting.
Pro tip: Mix in real photos and videos whenever possible. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be real. Your phone camera is plenty powerful; your personality does the rest.
Sucking the Fun Out of Your Voice
One of the biggest mistakes we see? Trying to sound “professional” instead of sounding human.
You can be credible without being cold. In fact, search engines (and humans) reward conversational writing, it’s easier to read, easier to trust, and more likely to rank.
Pro tip: Read your content out loud. If it sounds like something you’d actually say to a client, you’re on the right track. If it sounds like a robot wrote it… well, that’s when people scroll right past.
No Strategy (Just Vibes)
Random posts won’t grow your brand. You need a clear plan that connects what you post to your business goals, whether that’s awareness, engagement, or conversions.
Throwing content out there and hoping it works is like handing out candy in the dark. Someone might find it… but probably not who you intended.
Pro tip: Map out monthly themes that align with what your audience cares about most. Tie every post back to a goal, a keyword, or a problem you solve.
Final Thoughts
Marketing doesn’t have to be scary, it just has to be intentional.
When you focus on showing up consistently, keeping your content real, and optimizing where it matters (hello, Google), you’ll start seeing results that actually stick.
At Pepper Marketing Co., we believe in marketing that matters. The kind that connects, builds trust, and keeps your brand top-of-mind for all the right reasons.
So take a deep breath, grab a coffee (or a candy corn if you must), and remember:
You’ve got this. The only thing haunting your marketing should be your creativity.
