Why Everyone Thinks They Can Do Marketing (and Why That’s Just Not True)

Social Media has made marketing democratic, and platforms like Canva make you feel like a designer in 10 minutes, it seems like everyone’s suddenly a marketing expert. How hard could it be? Just post a few pics, throw in a hashtag or two, run an ad, and watch the sales roll in, right?

Well, not quite. The truth is, marketing is so much more than throwing stuff on Instagram and praying for likes. It’s about strategy, data analysis, truly understanding your customers, and having the patience of a saint (because results? Yeah, they take time).

Let’s break down why everyone thinks they can do marketing and why, honestly, they probably shouldn’t quit their day jobs just yet.

1. The Tools Make it Look Easy

With tools like Canva and Facebook Ads, it seems like anyone can whip up a campaign in no time. Look, we’re all guilty of falling in love with a cute font and thinking, “This will sell everything!” But hold up – tools are just tools. Without a strategy, they’re like handing someone a hammer and asking them to build a mansion.

When I first got into marketing, I worked for a company whose branding and design was outsourced. They cranked out posts by the dozen and their engagement was non-existent. The CEO, convinced that engagement was just a vanity metric, expected every post to lead directly to orders. We realized the posts were about as on-target as a blindfolded dart thrower. No strategy, no clear message, and definitely no alignment with their goals. Once we put together a plan, engagement shot up 30% in a month. Spoiler: It wasn’t the designer’s fancy font that did it.

2. The Rise of Social Media ‘Experts’

Social media has made everyone think they’re a marketer. You’ve got people who post a meme that goes viral once, and suddenly they’re selling “social media growth hacks” in their Instagram bio. But posting on Instagram ≠ understanding customer psychology, brand positioning, or how to calculate ROI (spoiler alert: it’s not about counting likes).

According to a HubSpot survey, 61% of marketers say generating traffic and leads is their biggest challenge. Yep, even the pros struggle with this stuff, so if you’re just winging it with a viral cat meme, good luck.

3. Marketing Success Takes Time (and Lots of Headaches)

The biggest misconception? People think marketing is all about having fun, being creative, and hitting the “publish” button. The reality? It’s half creative and half “oh no, why isn’t this working, let me dive into the data for hours”. Marketing is an art and a science.

Great marketers spend years learning to balance creativity and data. They’re not just posting for fun—they’re crafting messages that resonate, analyzing trends, and adjusting strategies faster than you can say “algorithm change.”

I once worked with a startup that was shocked when their first month of ads didn’t lead to a surge in sales. The CFO was breathing down their neck, expecting instant results, and questioning the whole strategy. But after reviewing the data, we found that their ads weren’t even reaching the right audience. The targeting had been based more on assumptions and gut feelings rather than actual data (classic CFO move). After making some strategic adjustments and exercising patience, we doubled their conversion rate in three months. Lesson learned: please, keep the CFOs away from marketing—it’s a long game, not a financial quick fix.

Quick Breakdown of Skills You Actually Need:

• Customer segmentation: Who’s your audience? No, seriously. WHO?
• Brand positioning: How are you different from your competition (and don’t say “we care more”)?
• Messaging: What’s the story that will make customers say, “I NEED this!”
• Data analysis: You like spreadsheets? You’re gonna need ‘em.

4. You’re Not Going to Go Viral Overnight

The biggest lie people tell themselves? “If I post a few ads or a catchy tweet, we’ll blow up overnight!” Here’s the thing: going viral is like winning the lottery. It happens to a few, and the rest of us are here building strategies, testing, tweaking, and crying over our analytics dashboards.

Marketing isn’t about one big win—it’s about a bunch of small, strategic moves that snowball into long-term success.

5. Data-Driven Decisions (Not Just Pretty Graphics)

People love to think marketing is all about creativity—and sure, that’s a part of it. But you know what’s also sexy? Data. Without numbers, marketing is just guesswork.

Sure, your ad looks great, but how’s it performing? Are people clicking? Are they converting? Are you targeting the right audience, or are you spending money on people who couldn’t care less? If you’re not making data-driven decisions, you’re just throwing spaghetti at the wall.

Fun Fact:

According to a CMO survey, 65% of marketers say their decisions are driven by data analytics. So yeah, marketing isn’t just about artsy posts; it’s about cold, hard numbers.

Why You Should Trust the Experts

So, why should you trust someone who’s spent years in the marketing trenches instead of thinking you can DIY your way to success? Because good marketing is about strategy, psychology, data, and yes, creativity—all rolled into one. Skilled marketers have the experience to know what works (and what doesn’t), and they’re not guessing; they’re making informed decisions based on research, trends, and analysis.

What’s your experience with DIY marketing? Ever seen a campaign go down in flames because it lacked strategy? Or maybe you’ve witnessed a pro come in and turn things around? Let’s chat in the comments!

In the end, everyone thinks they can do marketing because the tools are right there, and social media makes it look easy. But real marketing? It’s about the bigger picture. It’s about blending creativity and data with strategy and long-term goals. If you want results, trust the experts—because marketing is easy to do, but hard to do well.

Please, tell Canva we’re still friends.