---
title: The Invisible Monster-Rand Fishkin INBOUND17 Session Recap | Niswey
description: Rand Fishkin's INBOUND17 session talks about the marketing myths that need to go and how to overcome the bias in our marketing decisions.
---

[Blog - Digital Marketing Agency, Niswey ](https://www.niswey.com/blog)

# [The Invisible Monster-Rand Fishkin INBOUND17 Session Recap | Niswey](https://www.niswey.com/blog/invisible-monster-rand-fishkin-inbound17-session-recap)

 Written by [Nilanjana Dey](https://www.niswey.com/blog/author/nilanjana-dey) | Sep 30, 2017 2:00:22 PM

So INBOUND 2017 comes to an end but we cannot get out of this without talking about Rand Fishkin’s INBOUND17 spotlight session. As expected the crowd at INBOUND was geeking out over attending his session. And the moment he stepped on stage, it was magic.

Whether it was his session or his “Nevertheless she persisted” t-shirt, it was all pretty “dope”.

> Still geeking out over attending [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) session! [@HubSpot](https://twitter.com/HubSpot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) left the best for last. [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/rOXOjiGZZS](https://t.co/rOXOjiGZZS)
> 
> — Ashley Feller (@ash_feller) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/ash_feller/status/913427249688346626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> What’s not to love about [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)’s [#inbound17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/inbound17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) talk? Marketing ROI, [@everywhereist](https://twitter.com/everywhereist?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) in the audience & his “Nevertheless She Persisted” shirt
> 
> — Sophia Bernazzani (@soph_bern) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/soph_bern/status/913415567834537985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Now let’s talk about the invisible monster that he slayed during his session.

Rand Fishkin’s INBOUND17 session was all about cultural conditioning and how it biases our actions. And if you think it was some socio-political rant that’s got nothing to do with marketers, think again. Much like cultural conditioning in society, our marketing mythology also has some deep-rooted beliefs of what works, what doesn’t, how to measure ROI and more. And all of these beliefs, when internalized, might be keeping us from achieving phenomenal success with our marketing.

These false notions make up the invisible monster that’s mucking up our marketing.

So, what are these false beliefs? Let’s see:

### Myth #1: Investments Must be Measurable

As marketers, we know all about SMART goals. Being able to measure the impact of our investment, whether it’s time or money, is critical for us and our clients.

However, in practice, we often veer towards investing in marketing channels that are easy to measure, because well, it’s easy. Email marketing and all forms of advertising give us concrete numbers for clicks and conversions.

However, we do not regularly invest time and energy in building up our hard to measure channels:

> [#Marketing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marketing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) activities that are hard to measure but still worthwhile. Slide taken from the [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) presentation. [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/fTH0GHuScU](https://t.co/fTH0GHuScU)
> 
> — Precision Marketing Group (@PMGTweets) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/PMGTweets/status/913459544382169088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

These are worthwhile channels. The ones that will build your brand, create sustainable traffic, and a loyal audience base. But because we don’t have ways to measure their impact, we don’t pay attention to them.

However, we need to achieve a balance between these two types of marketing channels. And here’s what Rand suggests we do: Set aside X% of your time to invest in the hard-to measure-channels. X could be something you decide, say 20-25%, and stick to it.

> Do you structure your [#marketingstrategy](https://twitter.com/hashtag/marketingstrategy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) this way? [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) recommends investing in "hard to measure" channels. [#inbound17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/inbound17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/PToO2a5NqS](https://t.co/PToO2a5NqS)
> 
> — Alexis Silvers (@Alexis_Silvers) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/Alexis_Silvers/status/913441509244067840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Myth #2: Channels Should Be ROI Positive

Seeing results from the hard-to-measure channels can take some time. And that brings us to the second marketing myth: all channels should bring in positive ROI, and fast. As marketers, we are used to hearing clients say “We don’t see any results. Nothing’s happening” and we switch tactics to try something else. But have we really given this strategy/task enough time to improve and show results?

Rand talks about his “best-web-series-for-every-marketer”, White Board Friday, and how it was months before Moz saw any positive ROI.

But things got better with time:

> .[@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) "The Jewish guys who get better looking as they age." [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/FXl6TMaSmd](https://t.co/FXl6TMaSmd)
> 
> — Alex Plaxen (@APlaxen) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/APlaxen/status/913415555088048129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

**The key, he says, is looking at the potential trajectory, not the current ROI.**

> [#Marketing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marketing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) myth: Channels must be ROI positive from day one. Truth: TIME pays off. Wait and see! [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/n6ZZXARSrE](https://t.co/n6ZZXARSrE)
> 
> — Jaime Kaufman (@Jaime_BKaufman) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/Jaime_BKaufman/status/913425920756736000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

And this is something that touched a nerve with all marketers reeling under the pressure of showcasing instant ROI. *nervously raises hand*

> Dear CMOs,
> 
> Can we look at more trajectories instead of day 1 ROI?
> 
> Sincerely,   
> Your organic SEO team[#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/zSh7N3vGmf](https://t.co/zSh7N3vGmf)
> 
> — Lei Chen (@ChenCandy22) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/ChenCandy22/status/913417165864361986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Myth #3: Marketers are not Technical

I have no idea how “Marketers are not technical people” even became a thing. I mean, we are using several different tools every single day, finding new hacks to get stuff done, working with GA tracking codes, fixing HTML code snippets, and manipulating spreadsheets like nobody’s business. How is that not being technical?

And that is exactly what Rand said as well. “Technical” is much more than being a software engineer.

> "Marketing culture leads us to believe Marketers =/= Technical" (marketing culture is WRONG via [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/UtCqliTO0V](https://t.co/UtCqliTO0V)
> 
> — D'Ana Guiloff (@DAnaGuiloff) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/DAnaGuiloff/status/913416944044449792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 'Software engineer is not the only way to be technical' [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) on how marketing has changed and developed [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> 
> — Merit Hansmitt (@merithansmitt) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/merithansmitt/status/913417000776617985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Remember [#marketers](https://twitter.com/hashtag/marketers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). If you can do any of these things you are “technical” [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/cABaLYs8oP](https://t.co/cABaLYs8oP)
> 
> — Ramona Sukhraj (@ramonasukhraj) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/ramonasukhraj/status/913416864696537089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Yes, the industry has a skills gap and not everyone can do everything. But there are ways around that, and with the internet, there’s also some tool or website that will get things done for you. What you can do to minimize the skills gap is:

- Learn
- Hack
- Outsource
- Recruit specific talents
- Substitute
- Work around the issue

### Myth #4: Search Investments are Either SEO or PPC

It’s 2017 and we are still not thinking about search beyond SEO and PPC. While that might still be a major chunk of the pie, it’s definitely shrinking, and there are other places to get ranked in search.

> .[@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw): "54% of search results ONLY include [#SEO](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SEO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) and [#PPC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PPC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) (vs. snippets, images, videos, tweets, local, etc.)" [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> 
> — Jason Barbato (@Digital_JB) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/Digital_JB/status/913418145624395777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Rand pointed out what these other places might be:

- Knowledge Panels
- Featured Snippets
- Related Questions
- Local Packs
- Images
- Tweets
- Site Links
- Top Stories
- Videos

At this point, there was also some talk of flying squirrels. But since this is a remote coverage, I have no idea what went down. Or…maybe I do and I don’t want to tell you!

> .[@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) "How do you get rid of flying squirrels?" [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/6WWmT3CqPb](https://t.co/6WWmT3CqPb)
> 
> — Alex Plaxen (@APlaxen) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/APlaxen/status/913417730296074242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Getting back to business, besides the ranking opportunities mentioned above, he also pointed out that you do not just search on Google anymore:

> Where do you search online? ?️ [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/8Znsjo0GFQ](https://t.co/8Znsjo0GFQ)
> 
> — Speak Creative (@speakcreative) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/speakcreative/status/913418122169913344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

And if that’s the case, then we have to expand our horizons when we plan for getting noticed by our audience via search:

> Little SEO details to consider in 2017: [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/JzM4SQ8JLN](https://t.co/JzM4SQ8JLN)
> 
> — Ramona Sukhraj (@ramonasukhraj) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/ramonasukhraj/status/913418471643459585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

He then went on to drop some potent advice on how to derive SEO value from your images.

And that’s pretty useful for industries where purchase decisions are based on visual appeal.

> Trying to drive website traffic from Google images? Add a image description in the photo! Via [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#Inbound17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Inbound17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#SEO](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SEO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#MarketingTips](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarketingTips?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/hcesztrh65](https://t.co/hcesztrh65)
> 
> — Alexis Silvers (@Alexis_Silvers) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/Alexis_Silvers/status/913464858846384128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Myth #5: Organic Reach on Facebook is Dead

While the engagement numbers for Facebook can look bad, Rand says that we don’t have to necessarily believe that nothing good can come off it. The trick is being smart about what you do:

- Post valuable content and earn your followers from among the people who share that content
- Be careful of poor performing posts, because they bring your entire engagement down
- Figure out what content and timings truly work with your audience, and stick to it
- Build an audience off Facebook, and then engage them on Facebook

### Myth #6: Content Marketing Means Publishing On Your Website

For most of us, content marketing primarily means publishing blogs and other content types on our/clients’ website. However, if your website is not yet up, or has a CMS issue, or is new and light on domain authority; do you still get as much value from solely publishing on your site?

What Rand points out is that we need not stick to our own site! There is obviously **guest posting to other sites, which will help us “rank like a boss”.** But he also cautions that we should view guest posting as more of a way to spread our message, rather than just a way to rank.

> Yasssss!!!!! [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/pmjMKvJH3J](https://t.co/pmjMKvJH3J)
> 
> — Christina Garnett (@RoanokeMaven) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/RoanokeMaven/status/913419487042469894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Then, of course, he told us some of the best sites to place our content:

> Where to place your [#content](https://twitter.com/hashtag/content?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), from [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#SEO](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SEO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/aGeBfdPLcn](https://t.co/aGeBfdPLcn)
> 
> — Jason Barbato ([@Digital_JB](https://twitter.com/Digital_JB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw))… [pic.twitter.com/grlQKYy9xj](https://t.co/grlQKYy9xj)
> 
> — Patric van Maaren (@PatricVanMaaren) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/PatricVanMaaren/status/913499563255836673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Myth #7: Google Ranking = Links, Keywords, Technical Issues

By now, we all have an innate sense of how Google changes its ranking algorithms. Its only concern is to give the users what they search for and they are continuously trying to refine that process. **So the key ranking factor is not keywords or backlinks, it’s searcher task accomplishment.**

The only question to answer is: Is my content answering the question that users are asking.

Of course, it ties back to the whole concept of [user intent](https://www.irayo.com/search-user-intent-the-end-of-keyword-based-optimization/). And in addition to that, it also means that post-click action is now a critical ranking factor.

Are users sticking around and reading your content or are they bouncing out to click on other search results?

Interestingly, this is something that Tom Shapiro also talks about in his [Future or SEO session at INBOUND17](https://www.niswey.com/inbound-2017/future-of-seo-inbound17/).

So the idea is to make your site and content as useful and valuable for the users as possible.

Rand mentions the signal-to-noise ratio of the site, the proportion of great pages on the site, and how the bad pages, the ones that have high bounce rates, can drag you down. He suggests you either:

- Improve them by adding more relevant information
- Remove them
- Redirect them to other engaging and relevant pages

### Myth #8: You Can’t Earn Back Traffic from Google

Google now has SERP features like “People also ask”, featured snippets etc which tend to give away the answers to user queries without them having to go to any website. Google is taking away our traffic!

But Rand says it’s actually possible to win back 90% of that traffic. Once again, the key is to look beyond the conventional SERP ranking and work on ranking for other elements. 

And finally, at the end of shattering all these marketing myths, Rand left us with one question to consider, every time we make a strategic or tactical choice:

> Focus on "how," not "if"! The close from [@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#marketing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/marketing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/uDEiBPXa4Y](https://t.co/uDEiBPXa4Y)
> 
> — Jason Barbato (@Digital_JB) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/Digital_JB/status/913421694890586115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

If you want to take a look at Rand’s complete presentation and all the tips and tricks he shared, here you go:

 

** [The Invisible Giant that Mucks Up Our Marketing](https://www.slideshare.net/randfish/the-invisible-giant-that-mucks-up-our-marketing) ** from **[Rand Fishkin](https://www.slideshare.net/randfish)**

It turns out we have a lot of unlearning to do here. We are sure you would be itching to go back to drawing board, identify your biases, and then come up with some phenomenal strategies.

That’s the power of a Rand Fishkin session, we believe we can now fight the invisible monster. We think this tweet sums it all up:

> .[@randfish](https://twitter.com/randfish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) was AMAZING. He came. We saw. He turned [#marketing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/marketing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) on its head ? [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@HubSpot](https://twitter.com/HubSpot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> 
> — NaBeela Washington (@Simplee_B) [September 28, 2017](https://twitter.com/Simplee_B/status/913422737485582336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

So that’s it from Rand’s session. And don’t forget to [check out our coverage to catch up on all things INBOUND17.](https://www.niswey.com/inbound17)  
   
 

[View full post](https://www.niswey.com/blog/invisible-monster-rand-fishkin-inbound17-session-recap)

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