The Marketing Delusion Series
The Get-Real Guide for Marketers Who’ve Had Enough
Welcome to The Delusion Series—the no-BS guide to calling out the myths marketers keep telling themselves (and their customers).
The marketing industry has spent years running on fake numbers, overpromised products, and the belief that branding alone can make people buy.
We’re tearing it all down, one delusion at a time.
Current Articles in the Series
📌 The Delusion of Digital Ad Impressions
Ad impressions are the marketing equivalent of participation trophies. They look great in reports, but do they drive meaningful engagement? We explain why “eyeballs” don’t equal impact and how brands waste millions chasing vanity metrics.
📌 The Product Delusion
Marketers love to believe that great products sell themselves. Spoiler alert: They don’t. This piece exposes the myth of product-driven success and why even the best products need clever positioning, distribution, and actual human interest to thrive.
📌 The Growth Delusion
Bigger isn’t always better; chasing infinite growth is a fast track to burnout and brand erosion. We look at how marketing’s obsession with constant expansion is ruining businesses and what sustainable success looks like.
📌 The Branding Delusion
Branding is essential, but let’s be honest—most branding discussions have become detached from reality. This piece challenges the idea that “brand love” translates to sales and argues that consistency, utility, and availability matter way more than your logo’s Pantone choice.
📌 The Objective Delusion
Marketing loves objectives, but let’s be honest—most goal-setting is a trap. This piece dismantles the myth that strict KPIs, ROI, and ROAS drive success, arguing instead that true innovation comes from exploration, adaptability, and curiosity. Metrics matter, but chasing them blindly distorts incentives, stifles creativity, and locks marketers into short-term thinking. If your strategy can’t survive without a spreadsheet full of vanity numbers, it’s time for a reality check.
I’m Jake Sanders—The Guy Who’s Calling It All Out
As a member of the Marketing Accountability Council (MAC), I've had the opportunity to reflect on some common misconceptions in marketing. My goal has always been to better understand what drives consumer behavior and to advocate for practical strategies that deliver real results rather than just looking good on paper. With my new project, The Delusion Series, I aim to challenge conventional ideas in marketing. I hope to encourage a conversation about the realities of our industry.
Why This Matters
It’s time to unlearn the myths, cut through the BS, and start marketing with honesty, strategy, and self-awareness.
📢 Follow The Delusion Series to get the truth marketers don’t want to admit.
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