I’ve been in digital marketing long enough to know that half of what we do is smoke and mirrors. Not because we’re scammers, but because the rules keep changing, and sometimes you have to improvise—fast.
Everyone loves to talk about “data-driven decisions” and “ROI-focused strategies,” but let’s be honest: a lot of campaigns are educated guesses dressed up as science. We A/B test, optimize, and pretend we know exactly why something worked… but deep down, we know the algorithm was in a good mood that day.
The thing they don’t tell you before you get into this field is how much of your job is just… keeping up. Google updates its search algorithm. Instagram changes how it ranks Reels. TikTok bans certain keywords. Facebook’s targeting options vanish overnight because of “privacy improvements.” You don’t just market—you sprint to stay relevant.
And then there’s the money. Digital ads are a money pit if you don’t know what you’re doing. I’ve watched businesses blow five figures on campaigns that generated nothing but a few likes and spam comments. Worse, some CEOs see digital marketing as a magic button—“Spend $10,000 and make $50,000 back instantly.” When it doesn’t happen, they look at you like you committed a crime.
The truth? The game is rigged in favor of the platforms. Google, Meta, TikTok—they don’t care if your ad converts, they just care if you keep spending. They dangle just enough results to make you believe you’re almost there. And that “almost there” keeps you pouring money into their pockets.
I’m not bitter—well, maybe a little—but I’m realistic. I’ve seen enough campaigns flop and enough overnight successes to know that digital marketing is equal parts strategy, creativity, timing, and dumb luck.
What keeps me in it? The thrill. The moment a campaign actually clicks. The day you wake up, check the dashboard, and see numbers that make you feel like a genius. It doesn’t happen every day, but when it does, it’s addictive.
If you’re thinking about getting into digital marketing, here’s my advice: Learn fast, fail faster, and never fall in love with one strategy. Because tomorrow, it might be dead. And when that happens, you’ll need to be ready to kill your darlings and start over.
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