Let’s get one thing straight: not all marketing is good marketing. Some of it is downright embarrassing. Heck, through the years – we aren’t too proud to say we’ve made some marketing that we’d like to forget ever happened! So here we are – with a match – ready to burn the stuff that’s wasting your money, killing your credibility, and dulling your brand’s spark.
This isn’t a gentle goodbye. It’s a hit list.
So if you’re doing any of this… consider this your wake-up call.
DEAD: Vanity Metrics
Likes don’t pay the bills. Engagement that doesn’t convert is just noise.
Yes, we love a viral moment. But if your metrics aren’t tied to sales, leads, or retention, what are you actually celebrating? Stop chasing dopamine hits and start tracking ROI.
BORN: Conversion-Driven KPIs
We’re talking real data. Track click-throughs, cost per acquisition, email open-to-action ratios, and the full user journey. You don’t need popularity. You need profit.
DEAD: “Post and Ghost” Social Strategies
Posting just to post is the 2020 energy we left behind. A random Canva quote won’t save your business if there’s no strategy behind it.
BORN: Narrative-Driven Content
Content should build a story, create emotional connection, and push toward action. Every post should serve a greater campaign arc. Think in series. Think in strategy. Think like a showrunner.
DEAD: SEO Keyword Stuffing
You’re not fooling Google (or anyone else) with robotic, unnatural blog paragraphs about “best plumber Naperville 2025.” That era is dead. Google got smart – and so did your audience.
BORN: Human-First, SEO-Smart Storytelling
SEO isn’t the enemy 0 it’s just been misused. Use long-tail keywords with intention inside well-crafted content that’s actually worth reading. Educate, entertain, and then optimize.
DEAD: Generic AI-Generated Everything
We love tech. We are tech. But pumping out emotionless, ChatGPT 3.5 regurgitations with zero brand voice? Hard pass.
BORN: Hybrid Human-AI Brilliance
Use AI as a co-pilot, not the driver. Layer in brand tone, storytelling, visual branding, and a human heartbeat. It’s not about scaling content – it’s about scaling connection.
DEAD: One-Off Campaigns With No Ecosystem
A single ad, a standalone event, or a pop-up promo with no follow-up is like shouting into a canyon. Nice echo. No impact.
BORN: Integrated Marketing Machines
Think beyond “a campaign” and build a system. We’re talking email flows, social media sequences, landing page funnels, video content trails – everything connected, feeding into each other, and tracking real outcomes.
DEAD: Playing It Safe
If your brand looks like everyone else’s, sounds like everyone else’s, and markets like everyone else’s… congrats. You’re invisible.
BORN: Bold, Risk-Taking Brands
Let your freak flag fly. Have a personality. Say what no one else is saying. Be fun. Be real. Be unforgettable. Safe brands fade. Wild brands win.
DEAD: Long, Snoozy Videos That Go Nowhere
Attention spans are short. Your video should never be longer than your audience’s interest.
BORN: Purposeful Short-Form Content
Start with the hook, deliver value, and close with intent. Reels, TikToks, teasers, and stories – this is where the eyeballs (and opportunities) live now.
DEAD: Treating Marketing Like an Expense
Still seeing marketing as a “nice to have”? Still slashing the budget when things get tight?
BORN: Marketing as a Revenue Generator
Marketing is sales now. It’s lead-gen, brand trust, conversion, and retention. If your marketing isn’t bringing in cash or opportunity, you don’t need less of it – you need better of it.
Bottom Line?
If you’re doing any of what’s on the DEAD list… it’s time for your own Unbridled escape plan. Marketing isn’t meant to be tame, safe, or silent. It’s meant to move people, build momentum, and set brands free.
Welcome to what’s next.
Now go run wild.
