(And yes, even your neighbor in Richardson, TX, feels the same way!)
Look, let’s be honest. We chose this gig. The wild, ever-evolving circus of digital marketing. One minute, you’re a data-diving genius, crafting beautiful, perfectly optimized content; the next, you’re screaming at your laptop because Google decided that purple font is no longer SEO-friendly (even if you had strong data and great performance on purple fonts only). It’s a rollercoaster. It’s like being a park ranger in a Jurassic Park of algorithms – when you think you have things under control… the metaphorical dinosaurs wake up, and chaos ensues.
But here’s a secret thatnot many digital marketing blogs talk about: we sometimes feel this way. The social media guru in the fanciest downtown tower? The content creator in Bali? The SEO whiz in… yeah, let’s say Richardson, Texas? Yep, even they have those days. It doesn’t matter whether you’re serving clients or selling t-shirts to hipsters: sometimes you may feel lost in the dark tunnel of confusing, never changing platforms that constantly challenge every known rule. So grab a metaphorical beverage of choice, and join me on a ride as we explore what seems like a daily existential question for most.
The Seven Stages of Digital Marketing Grief (aka My Wednesday Afternoon):
- The Initial Bliss (a.k.a “I got this “): Fresh strategy, new clients are inbound, the organic search numbers are UP! All your previous hours staring at Google’s console while drinking an ocean of black coffee all paid out and have given your strategy and approach their due merit. What a glorious feeling that has proven every single guru’s rules. Well, all of them, apart from the obscure, yet surprisingly, often rule number 74, which said we should use green colors! Okay, well, you won’t follow rule number 74! Never!. It will soon turn a color red. It will.. just wait!
- The Tiny Doubt (aka “hmm that’s new!” ): A minor dip in rankings and one underperforming social media post, your analytics now resemble the trajectory of a caffeinated hummingbird during mating season. There have been slight algorithm changes since yesterday? The platforms didn’t announce anything new? Right? Are we crazy? Indeed, there areno more weird updates. I mean.. rule 74..right?! Okay, let’s chill! I mean it. Chill out! This could be normal! Surely. The client will never find out! Everything is.. uhm.. perfect. It IS.. RIGHT?!
- The Mild Panic (aka “What is going ON?!!” ): Traffic tanks harder than the Titanic! Social media is quieter than a graveyard, and those high-profile lead opportunities have all gone. You know, go swimming in the deep ocean. All your metrics, like lost balloons in the wind, start feeling chaotic… like a digital game of dominoes, and none are standing the right way. How? HOW?! Those campaigns had no reason to perform below expected!. Your clients might find out any minute!. Are there changes I haven’t noted?! We were all up; everything was performing amazing!! I might never be able to provide real, meaningful progress! NO!!!! (Breath deep…breath deep. All good.. ) Right… everything will be fine!!
- The Algorithm Argument Stage (aka “It’s all the algorithm’s fault “): Logic is tossed out of the window faster than your SEO rankings plummet. You’re now officially engaging in a debate with your laptop. You suspect an internal conspiracy where platforms seem to seek chaos actively, just because… or maybe that rule 74 with a weird color… did apply? Can that be a possibility?! (you keep reminding me that rule was too much nonsense) …This surely must all be somebody’s idea! All to generate stress for all marketers in Richardson (yes, even there) and across the world! That’s it!! They made it a personal problem! We will rise and find a solution to make every search term #1 – I swear by the all-knowing and ever-all search bar gods, we will! It will not happen again, at least to… the ones i oversee! (Ok, you have to slow down at this point).
- The Denial (aka “it’s not that bad!” ): Data becomes a vague suggestion rather than a harsh reality. Those tiny upticks become “proof” of progress. “Oh yes, look, see that bump?! It shows an increase of 0.01 %!”. All hope comes back – you will get the number #1 for all targeted search terms across the whole of Google! That’s a win! “Everything is starting to turn up, finally, some true real meaningful growth.. the real measurable one, i was telling them it will happen!”. This positive “attitude” goes hand in hand with an unexpected craving for pizza for obvious emotional nourishment needs.
- The “Why Me?” Existential Crisis (aka the black mirror of SEO): The reality finally crashes over you: Everything in digital is ultimately temporary.. Google’s update yesterday becomes tomorrow’s joke, and we learn all rules are temporary at best; the cool things will no longer perform, and people who did well the last couple of months will not perform tomorrow. You know it too deep down. And when this realization hits it makes us marketers question ALL, including our existence, goals, and decisions… was following that silly rule 74 my best decision? And who put the purple in Google?! Was this me?? Is rule 74 the only rule ever?! (this spiral of existential Crisis must be stopped, so now it’s essential to remember pizza time!)
- The (Somewhat) Acceptance Stage (aka the ‘adapt and laugh’ approach): You begin to realize that you have gone on a weird ride into self-understanding. At this point, you embrace the madness and resolve to face digital craziness, approach the situation more creatively, and try a different new (better) game!
How to Stay Sane (ish) in the Digital Arena
- Don’t Get Too Attached to Any Single Platform: Diversify. Your website, email, andmultiple social media – create an army. This ensures that even if an algo-god goes wild, you won’t lose all of it in the digital universe!
- Become Best Friends with Analytics (and Maybe Hire an Analyst!): When decoded well, numbers can reveal secrets that simplify life. However, knowing which one matters for each campaign objective is more important.
- The Art of Listening (Your audience matters too!): People always speak! You will find them talking openly, and you must pay attention! They often hold a golden treasure when you can listen, be present, and be curious.
- Create Truly Remarkable Stuff! The best content, products, campaigns, or websites get noticed more!
- Master the Pivot (change direction – quick): Some paths may not always work out the way you’d hope, and knowing when is the right time to readjust will save a great deal of stress ( and pizza orders! )
- Stay Curious and NEVER stop experimenting: New platforms and technologies are always coming into light and you have to embrace constant study! Who knows where the opportunities might come next?
- Connect With Others: Remember, we are not alone. Connecting with colleagues on networking sites, groups, and digital meetups provides a perfect way to release stress. Those stories that felt unique will more than often sound familiar, reminding us that it’s simply the world that’s a bit wonky.
A (very) Soft Backlink Pitch:
And hey, speaking of digital marketing support, if you’re a small business owner in Richardson, or if the chaos is just proving to be a little much for you – consider reaching out to your local community, there are good marketers right by your area to help ( wink! wink). Having good people by your side who can take you through each part of this can bring peace, confidence, and, finally, the freedom to run your business. Just because marketing may seem weird at times doesn’t mean we all have to feel all the wonkiness that may go along! There is some peace out there. Let’s bring some calmness into the marketing noise!
The Bottom Line
The search algorithm may keep us guessing. Trends come and go. There’s nothing that stays static on the internet. At the same time, chaos may come (and more of them!). With a healthy approach, good insights, and strategies, together, we’re able to conquer each digital challenge as it emerges. Let’s face that internet challenge… and even make fun of our misadventures over a slice of pizza at some nice place.
