The digital world is evolving rapidly in some areas, and barely at all in others. And while some businesses are chasing the next AI plugin or TikTok trend, plenty of people still have outdated ideas about what digital marketing actually is in 2025.

Let’s clear up a few common myths.

Myth 1: Digital marketing is basically just social media

Fact: Social media is part of the story, but nowhere near the whole picture. Digital marketing includes anything you do online to attract, engage or convert potential customers. That covers email marketing, paid advertising, search engine optimisation (SEO), content marketing, WhatsApp groups, Reddit threads, Discord communities and more. If it’s happening on a screen and helping your business grow, it counts.

Myth 2: Email marketing is over

Fact: Not even close. Direct communication with your customers, outside of the whims of a platform algorithm, is more valuable than ever. First-party data is king. Across the board, we see that well-targeted emails drive high-quality traffic that often converts better and brings in a higher average order value. Plus, email marketing is one of the most effective channels for building long-term customer loyalty and repeat purchases.

Myth 3: Digital marketing is a magic bullet for your traffic woes

Fact: Yes and no. Paid ads can bring traffic to your site quickly, but not everyone will be ready to convert the moment they land. That’s why your website needs more than just core sales messaging. Educational content like blogs can demonstrate your expertise, support your SEO efforts and help keep your brand top of mind. The parts of digital marketing that aren’t powered by ad budgets, like SEO or organic social, take longer to deliver results, but tend to be more sustainable in the long run. It’s not unusual for a blog to take three months or more to start ranking well.

Myth 4: You can outsource all your digital marketing to AI

Fact: Not if you care about what makes your business different. AI can support workflows and help with productivity, but your customers can usually tell when something’s been generated without much human input. Quality control is essential. AI can miss nuance, produce errors, or regurgitate generic content. Left unchecked, it can do more harm than good. And if you’re not paying attention, people will happily point those mistakes out.

Myth 5: You just need to ‘go viral’

Fact: I’m going to hold your hand when I say this. Going viral doesn’t mean what it used to. If you’re aiming to go viral within your niche or industry, that’s achievable. But if you mean hyper-viral, like It’s corn! or Very demure, very mindful, the odds are worse than winning the lottery. Viral moments are unpredictable and hard to manufacture. Virality is not a strategy, it’s an outcome. Consistency, quality and relevance will serve you far better in the long term.

Final Slice

Digital marketing in 2025, or ever, isn’t about chasing hacks or handing everything over to robots. It’s about understanding your audience, using the right mix of tools, and showing up consistently with content and messaging that reflects your brand. Strip away the myths, and what’s left is smart, strategic work that delivers results over time.