⚠️ Avoid These 5 Growth Mistakes (And What to Do Instead)

Seeing marketers share their flops is rare—but learning from mistakes is faster than copying wins. Here are the top 5 growth mistakes from leading marketers, plus clear fixes you can use today.

1️⃣ Spreading Too Thin Across Platforms

Mistake: “We tried every channel at once—and burned out.”
– Sean Frank, Ridge CEO

Why it hurts: Early on, your team and budget are limited. Jumping on every new platform dilutes focus and slows real momentum.

Fix:

1. Pick 2–3 channels that best match your audience.

2. Set a 30-day test with clear KPIs (e.g., CPL, engagement rate).

3. Double down on the top performer—only diversify after you hit scale.

4. Repeat tests quarterly to adapt.

2️⃣ Treating Social Media as a Broadcast, Not a Conversation

Mistake: “We posted, but never replied to comments.”
– Tommy Clark, ex-Head of Social at Triple Whale

Why it hurts: Social platforms reward engagement. If you ignore DMs or comments, you lose reach—and trust.

Fix:

• Split your daily social time: 50% creating, 50% engaging.

• Reply to followers AND to peers in your niche.

• Track “community engagement rate” as a KPI (replies + mentions).

3️⃣ Copying Your Email Strategy for SMS

Mistake: “We blasted SMS like email, spammy and impersonal.”
– Jason Wong, Doe Lashes Founder

Why it hurts: SMS is a two-way channel. Treating it like a newsletter makes people unsubscribe fast.

Fix:

• Write SMS like you’re texting a friend:

  • Short, direct, and personal.

  • Use first names and emojis sparingly.

• Include a clear call-to-reply (e.g., “Reply YES to claim”).

• Track reply rates and adjust tone weekly.

4️⃣ No Clear Theme for TikTok Content

Mistake: “We reposted old YouTube clips—no views.”
– Ashwinn (ZipRecruiter example)

Why it hurts: TikTok’s algorithm needs a consistent theme to learn who to show your videos to.

Fix:

1. Define a niche topic (e.g., “30-sec biz growth hacks”).

2. Plan your first 10 videos as “training data” for the algorithm.

3. Stick to that theme for at least 30 days before pivoting.

5️⃣ Scaling Ad Spend Without Scaling Creative

Mistake: “We upped the budget but ran the same 2 ads.”
– Cody Plofker

Why it hurts: Audiences fatigue quickly. More spend on stale creative means wasted dollars.

Fix:

• Align creative output with ad budget:

  • For every $1K added to spend, produce 1–2 new ad concepts.

• Run rapid A/B tests on headlines or visuals.

• Pause underperforming ads and reallocate budget to winners daily.

🔁 Recap: Your Growth-Mistake Checklist

1. Focus First: Test 2–3 channels, then scale winners.

2. Be Social: Spend equal time replying as posting.

3. SMS ≠ Email: Craft texts like friendly pings.

4. Train TikTok: Teach the algorithm your one theme.

5. Creative vs. Spend: Match new ads to new dollars.

Next Steps:

1. Pick one mistake you’re making right now.

2. Use the “Fix” steps to course-correct this week.

3. Track your KPI improvements over 7 days.