Digital marketing quotes are an invaluable source of insight and direction to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital landscape.
My favorite, “The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing,” is a quote from Tom Fishburne, the founder and CEO of Marketoonist.
This quote reminds me that if done right, marketing should seamlessly integrate into the customer’s experience without ever feeling intrusive or forced.
And this is just one of many nuggets of wisdom I’ve discovered over the years.
I’ve curated this list of my favorite quotes across various categories. And as a bonus, I’ve also included at least one quote from a HubSpot employee who’s an expert in each category.
Let’s dive in.
Why use marketing quotes?
Quotes are a powerful way to tap into the wisdom and experience of others. They offer valuable perspectives and capture the essence of important concepts in a concise, impactful manner.
Whether it’s an inspiring quote to motivate your team or a content marketing quote to provoke discussion about one of your strategies, quotes can be a powerful way to help guide you and your team toward achieving your goals.
The abundance of marketing quotes include content marketing quotes, famous marketing quotes, branding marketing quotes, inspirational marketing quotes, storytelling marketing quotes, social media marketing quotes, and digital marketing quotes.
Marketing Quotes
- “It’s not what you sell that matters as much as how you sell it!” – Brian Halligan, CEO and co-founder, HubSpot
- “Many companies have forgotten they sell to actual people. Humans care about the entire experience, not just marketing, sales, or service.” – Dharmesh Shah, CTO and co-founder, HubSpot
- “Ignoring online marketing is like opening a business but not telling anyone.” – KB Marketing Agency
- “Marketing’s job is never done. It’s about perpetual motion. We must continue to innovate every day.” – Beth Comstock, former CMO and vice chair, GE
- “The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself.” – Peter Drucker, management consultant, educator, and author
- “Integrated marketing offers opportunities to break through to consumers in new markets.” – Betsy Holden, senior advisor, McKinsey and Co.
- “The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing.” – Tom Fishburne, founder and CEO, Marketoonist
- “To continue winning the internet marketing game, your content has to be more than just brilliant. It has to give the people consuming it the ability to become a better version of themselves.” – Michelle StinsonRoss, MD of marketing operations, Apogee Results
- “Business has only two functions — marketing and innovation.” – Milan Kundera, writer and playwright
- “Build something 100 people love, not something 1 million people kind of like.” – Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO, Airbnb
1. “It’s not what you sell that matters as much as how you sell it!” – Brian Halligan, CEO and co-founder, HubSpot
In today’s competitive landscape, customers have their pick when it comes to purchasing a product. The difference you can make is how you sell your product to stand out from competitors.
2. “Many companies have forgotten they sell to actual people. Humans care about the entire experience, not just marketing, sales, or service.” – Dharmesh Shah, CTO and co-founder, HubSpot
Successful businesses treat their prospects and customers as humans, not just numbers. Keeping the humanity of your customers foremost in mind will transform the way you do business.
3. “Ignoring online marketing is like opening a business but not telling anyone.” – KB Marketing Agency
In the Internet Age, it is vital to your business’s success to have a presence online. Online marketing is the name of the game.
4. “Marketing’s job is never done. It’s about perpetual motion. We must continue to innovate every day.” – Beth Comstock, former CMO and vice chair, GE
It may be tempting to sit back and relax after launching a long-worked-on campaign, but marketers always need to be a step ahead of their customers, preparing the next campaign or piece of content.
5. “The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself.” – Peter Drucker, management consultant, educator, and author
This is the heart of inbound marketing: selling your product or service to those who are already looking for it — whether they know it or not.
6. “Integrated marketing offers opportunities to break through to consumers in new markets.” – Betsy Holden, senior advisor, McKinsey and Co.
Be on the lookout for integrated marketing opportunities so you can expand brand awareness to new, relevant audiences.
7. “The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing.” – Tom Fishburne, founder and CEO, Marketoonist
Everyone is tired of being sold to. We are constantly bombarded by ads, so we tend to ignore them. Instead of fighting for customers’ attention, create content that captures their interest and offers them real value.
8. “To continue winning the internet marketing game, your content has to be more than just brilliant. It has to give the people consuming it the ability to become a better version of themselves.” – Michelle StinsonRoss, MD of marketing operations, Apogee Results
People want to know what’s in it for them. What value does your product or service offer them that it’s worth their time, attention, and money?
9. “Business has only two functions — marketing and innovation.” – Milan Kundera, writer and playwright
Innovation creates new ideas while marketing sells them. Master both to achieve all your goals.
10. “Build something 100 people love, not something 1 million people kind of like.” – Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO, Airbnb
The quality of your customers is more important than the quantity. Those who love what you offer will be far more loyal and likely to spread positive reviews than those who are only mildly pleased by your offering.
Digital Marketing Quotes
The world of digital marketing is ever-changing — the following quotes will help you think about ways to ensure your digital strategy remains relevant and impactful for your target audience.
11. “Businesses get blinded by the allure of a large subscription list, but unengaged subscribers aren’t just not interested in what you’re sending, they’re actually harming your deliverability.” – Meghan Keaney Anderson, vice president of marketing, HubSpot
It’s often tempting to hang onto every hard-won subscriber you’ve ever gained. However, it’s essential to regularly clean your list because email service providers (ESPs) use engagement signals to decide if your emails go to the inbox or spam folder. Focusing on quantity over quality can hurt your email performance in the long run. Instead, prioritize engagement.
12. “Marketers need to build digital relationships and reputation before closing a sale.” – Chris Brogan, president, Chris Brogan Media
In the digital age, customers have access to endless choices and information. As a marketer, you must prioritize creating digital touchpoints for potential buyers to know, like, and trust your brand. Differentiating your brand and building trust is crucial in today’s oversaturated market.
13. “Less is more. Keeping it simple takes time and effort.” – Jeff Bullas, CEO, Jeffbullas.com Pty Ltd.
It can be tempting to jump on every platform and follow every trend, but spreading yourself too thin is counterproductive. Instead, prioritize mastering a few key strategies or channels before expanding further.
14. “Instead of one-way interruption, web marketing is about delivering useful content at just the right moment that a buyer needs it.” – David Meerman Scott, keynote speaker and author
Good marketing should never feel like an interruption. Instead, it should enhance your audience’s experience at each touchpoint. Timing and relevance is the name of the game.
15. “Content, in all its forms, is the single most critical element of any marketing campaign.” – Rebecca Lieb, founding partner and analyst, Kaleido Insights
Content, whether articles, videos, or social media posts, forms the foundation of every digital marketing campaign. No matter how great your strategy, channels, or timing, they can never make up for poor content quality.
16. “Inspiration is the most important part of our digital strategy.” – Paull Young, charitable giving lead, Facebook
Let your marketing be driven by and inspire creativity. Aim for original ideas and innovative approaches that resonate with your audience.
17. “Digital marketing is not the art of selling a product. It is the art of making people buy the product that you sell.” – Hecate Strategy
As a marketer, your job is never to “push a product onto an unwilling consumer.” Instead, it’s about understanding your audience thoroughly enough to craft messages, experiences, and campaigns that seamlessly connect their needs/pain points to your product.
18. “Don’t build links. Build relationships.” – Rand Fishkin, founder, SparkToro
Link building can sometimes feel impersonal and spammy. Instead, build genuine connections with influencers, partners, and customers. Nurturing these relationships cultivates a strong network and naturally increases opportunities for more “organic” link placements.
19. “Discoverability equals sales in the digital world.” – Dev Chandan, founder, Dev Chandan
This one is self-explanatory. Potential customers can’t buy from you unless they know you exist.
20. “Before you create any more ‘great content,’ figure out how you are going to market it first.” – Joe Pulizzi and Newt Barrett, co-authors
Creating high-quality content is only half the battle. A solid distribution strategy ensures your content reaches the right people at the right time. No matter how “great” your content is, it has no value if your audience never sees it.
Famous Marketing Quotes
- “Instead of interrupting, work on attracting.” – Dharmesh Shah, CTO and co-founder, HubSpot
- “Just because you are the loudest, doesn’t make you right.” – Brian Halligan, CEO and co-founder, HubSpot
- “Content is king.” – Bill Gates, co-founder, Microsoft
- “Master the topic, the message, and the delivery.” – Steve Jobs, co-founder, Apple
- “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.” – Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the United States
- “It’s important to remember your competitor is only one mouse click away.” – Douglas Warner III, former CEO, J.P. Morgan Chase and Co.
- “Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” – Walt Disney, co-founder of The Walt Disney Company
- “Brand is just a perception, and perception will match reality over time.” – Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO, SpaceX
- “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou, Civil Rights activist and poet
- “Marketing is really just about sharing your passion.” – Michael Hyatt, NY Times best-selling author
Sometimes, you might want to lean on the words and experiences that a successful person you admire once said or described. Here are some famous quotes you can apply to your business’s marketing efforts to help you do just that.
21. “Instead of interrupting, work on attracting.” – Dharmesh Shah, CTO and co-founder, HubSpot
Honey attracts flies better than vinegar. Don’t push your way into a prospect’s life; they’ll find the interruption annoying and so be more likely to write you off. If, on the other hand, you attract customers, they’re more likely to stick around because they are there of their own accord.
22. “Just because you are the loudest, doesn’t make you right.” – Brian Halligan, CEO and co-founder, HubSpot
Focus on the clarity and truth of your message, not the noise you can make.
23. “Content is king.” – Bill Gates, co-founder, Microsoft
Content that educates and helps prospects solve their problems is more likely to lead to a purchase and long-term customer satisfaction.
24. “Master the topic, the message, and the delivery.” – Steve Jobs, co-founder, Apple
You will only convince others if you are convinced and knowledgeable yourself. Be sure you know what you’re selling, why you’re selling it, and how it can help your prospects.
25. “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.” – Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the United States
This quote is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s revolutionary when you apply it to marketing.
26. “It’s important to remember your competitor is only one mouse click away.” – Douglas Warner III, former CEO, J.P. Morgan Chase and Co.
In this day and age, it’s easier than ever for consumers to choose the provider they like best from the comfort of their sofa. One bad experience can send them fleeing to your competitors. Be sure to give a reason for your customers to stick around.
27. “Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” – Walt Disney, co-founder of The Walt Disney Company
The magic of a good product or service, along with an excellent customer experience, will keep customers around and lead them to tell others about your business.
28. “Brand is just a perception, and perception will match reality over time.” – Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO, SpaceX
Don’t underestimate the power of brand perception. Starting with a clear, strong brand vision can help you guide brand perception, but you have to stay vigilant about how others perceive your business.
29. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou, Civil Rights activist and poet
Focus on making people feel good about your company and your offer to create lasting positive impressions.
30. “Marketing is really just about sharing your passion.” – Michael Hyatt, NY Times best-selling author
We can all smell marketing that isn’t sincere. The best thing is to be selling something you believe in and are passionate about. People will buy your authenticity.
Content Marketing Quotes
The following quotes provide new ways for you and your team members to approach creating, publishing, and distributing your content and ideas — no matter the products or services your company produces and sells.
Check out our Content Marketing Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide for Modern Marketers to learn more about content marketing for your business.
31. “When it comes to content, the best marketers know that self-promotion is good!” – Kieran Flanagan, vice president of Marketing, HubSpot
While many marketers shy away from self-promotion for fear of seeming “spammy,” when executed effectively, promoting your content should be a win-win for you and your audience. The key is simply to focus on the value and relevance of your promotions.
32. “What separates good content from great content is a willingness to take risks and push the envelope.” – Brian Halligan, CEO and co-founder, HubSpot
Don’t be afraid to explore new ideas, formats, channels, etc. It’s essential to strike a healthy balance between maintaining what’s currently working and being willing to innovate and experiment.
33. “Quality content means content packed with clear utility and is brimming with inspiration, and it has relentless empathy for the audience.” – Ann Handley, CCO, MarketingProfs
Understanding your audience — their needs, pain points, goals, etc. — is crucial for creating high-quality content that effectively engages them. Without this deep understanding, crafting content that genuinely resonates and adds value is impossible.
34. “Marketing is telling the world you’re a rock star. Content Marketing is showing the world you are one.” – Robert Rose, chief strategy officer, The Content Advisory
One significant advantage of content marketing is that it allows you to “demonstrate” rather than “proclaim” expertise. Rather than simply telling your audience you can solve their problem, you have several avenues and formats to showcase your product and expertise “in action.”
35. “Content marketing is really like a first date. If all you do is talk about yourself, there won’t be a second date.” – David Beebe, founder and CEO, Storified Hospitality Group
It’s always about your audience — their problems, needs, and how your product can help them meet their goals. Your content must center your audience at every stage, from messaging to marketing.
36. “Focus on the core problem your business solves and put out lots of content and enthusiasm and ideas about how to solve that problem.” – Laura Fitton, INBOUND and influencer relations, HubSpot
This is a foolproof way to create relevant, high-quality content consistently. Creating content around the core problems your product solves ensures you’re attracting, engaging, and creating value for your ideal audience.
37. “Content builds relationships. Relationships are built on trust. Trust drives revenue.” – Andrew Davis, author and keynote speaker, Monumental Shift
Content is a powerful way to attract, engage, and build relationships with prospective customers. Every content touchpoint is an opportunity to educate, build credibility, and establish trust with your audience. The byproduct of this trust is the eventual decision to buy and recommend your product.
38. “Content marketing is the gap between what brands produce and what consumers actually want.” – Michael Brenner, CEO, Marketing Insider Group
Content marketing acts as a bridge between products and consumers. As a marketer, your role is to use your content to demonstrate how your products or services solve your audience’s specific challenges. This means crafting messages directly addressing your audience’s pain points and illustrating how your offerings can solve those problems.
39. “One of the best ways to sabotage your content is not to tie it to your goals. Know why you’re creating content.” – Ellen Gomes, senior content marketing manager, Glint Inc.
All content should have a goal, whether broad or specific. It’s crucial to understand why you’re creating content, how you expect it to perform, and where it fits into your overall strategy or sales funnel.
40. “There are three objectives for content marketing: reach, engagement, and conversion. Define key metrics for each.” – Michael Brenner, CEO, Marketing Insider Group
When setting content goals, it’s essential to determine which metrics you’ll be paying attention to. A simple trio to monitor effectiveness is reach (how many people see your content), engagement (how many people interact with your content), and conversion (how many people take the desired action your content encourages.)
Inspirational Marketing Quotes
- “Recruiting great marketers should be your number one priority.” – Kipp Bodnar, CMO, HubSpot
- “Do the right thing as marketers to build trust.” – Jon Dick, vice presdient of marketing, HubSpot
- “Take a risk and keep testing because what works today won’t work tomorrow, but what worked yesterday may work again.” – Amrita Sahasrabudhe, vice president of marketing, FastMed Urgent Care
- “Good marketing makes the company look smart. Great marketing makes the customer feel smart.” – Joe Chernov, vice president of marketing, Pendo.io
- “Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.” – Lou Holtz, former football coach at Notre Dame
- “The creative process is fueled by divergent thinking — a breaking away from familiar or established ways of seeing and doing.” – The Innovator’s Toolkit, Harvard Business Essentials
- “If you take a risk and it doesn’t go as planned, welcome to the club.” – Fran Hauser, startup investor, advisor, and author
- “The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” – Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook
- “We need to stop interrupting what people are interested in and be what people are interested in.” – Craig Davis, co-founder, Sendle
- “Speak to your audience in their language about what’s in their heart.” – Jonathan Lister, vice president of global sales solutions, LinkedIn
Inspirational marketing quotes exist to help you spark new ideas and excite your team members about the endless number of opportunities in the field. They also can positively motivate your team to produce unique marketing content for your audience.
41. “Recruiting great marketers should be your number one priority.” – Kipp Bodnar, CMO, HubSpot
A talented, hard-working, and collaborative marketing team is key to the success of all your marketing efforts.
42. “Do the right thing as marketers to build trust.” – Jon Dick, vice president of marketing, HubSpot
Trust is the foundation of any relationship, including between a business and prospective customers. As marketers, we’re often the first point of contact a person has with our brand, so it’s essential we start the relationship off right by building trust.
43. “Take a risk and keep testing because what works today won’t work tomorrow, but what worked yesterday may work again.” – Amrita Sahasrabudhe, vice president of marketing, FastMed Urgent Care
Marketers are tasked with relentless creativity. Risk-taking and trial-and-error will eventually lead to success.
44. “Good marketing makes the company look smart. Great marketing makes the customer feel smart.” – Joe Chernov, vice president of marketing, Pendo.io
At the end of the day, it’s not about you — it’s about the customer. Aim to change the way customers feel about themselves when they use your product or service.
45. “Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.” – Lou Holtz, former football coach at Notre Dame
All three — talent, motivation, and attitude — are key to being an accomplished marketer.
46. “The creative process is fueled by divergent thinking — a breaking away from familiar or established ways of seeing and doing.” – The Innovator’s Toolkit, Harvard Business Essentials
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box — even if it means failing several times before finding success.
47. “If you take a risk and it doesn’t go as planned, welcome to the club.” – Fran Hauser, startup investor, advisor, and author
Failure sucks, but it happens to the best of us. Only those who get back up and try again will see success.
48. “The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” – Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook
Risk-taking is the first step in innovation. Be prepared for both success and failure, but don’t fail to act.
49. “We need to stop interrupting what people are interested in and be what people are interested in.” – Craig Davis, co-founder, Sendle
Davis’s perspective offers us a paradigm shift; it’s not about stealing people’s attention, it’s about winning it.
50. “Speak to your audience in their language about what’s in their heart.” – Jonathan Lister, vice president of global sales solutions, LinkedIn
Getting personal is the best way to a prospect’s heart. Make sure you know who you’re selling to, what their story is, and how your solution can help them.
Marketing Career Quotes
A marketing career is both exciting and challenging. These quotes are tidbits of advice from industry leaders and trailblazers to inspire you and foster resilience. They are potent reminders to embrace growth by taking risks, running experiments, and being willing to pivot when necessary.
51. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.” – Steve Jobs, co-founder, Apple
It’s important to create things you’re genuinely proud of. Ensure that every piece of content, campaign, or project reflects your commitment to your craft and aligns with your values.
52. “Execution and failure are a part of the process. You have to accept that.” – Morgan Debaun, CEO, Blavity
Planning is essential, but avoid getting stuck at this phase. You’ll never feel completely ready, so you need to take the leap at some point. Sometimes things will work out, and other times they won’t. But when they don’t, remember that failures are learning opportunities and a natural part of every journey.
53. “The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.” – Robert Greene
Always keep learning and expanding your skillset. Stay adaptable, curious, and open to new ways to apply your knowledge.
54. “Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.” – Denis Waitley
The digital landscape is dynamic. Staying ahead in this niche requires staying current on new technologies, platforms, and shifts in consumer behavior. However, it’s crucial not to follow every latest trend mindlessly. Instead, prioritize strategic adoption over reacting impulsively to changes.
55. “Always deliver more than expected.” – Larry Page
Do your best to exceed expectations in every interaction with your audience, clients, and partners.
56. “My advice for anybody who is trying to learn to do marketing is to niche yourself down in a specific industry…if you pick something, be the best at it.” – Brittany Thompson, social marketing and media manager, Virtual Resort Manager
The age-long debate is whether to niche or not. While there are compelling arguments for both, niching down at the start of your career is a great way to build expertise quickly, understand the nuances of that particular market, and position yourself as an expert.
57. “I’ve spent my entire life relying on light bulb moments and jumping in full-force.” – Emily Weiss, founder, Into The Gloss and Glossier
Embrace moments of creativity and inspiration. Learn to trust your instincts, embrace bold ideas, and recognize timely opportunities.
58. “I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow.” ― Marissa Mayer, co-founder and CEO, Sunshine
No matter how long you work on a strategy or a project, there’ll always be something that can be further improved or tweaked. Learning how to recognize when to stop refining and start implementing is important.
59. “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” – Tony Robbins
Beware of the sunk cost fallacy. If data shows your current approach isn’t working, don’t hesitate to pivot. Stay focused on your goals, but remain flexible in your methods.
60. “Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength.” – Sara Blakely, founder, Spanx
Starting with a blank slate allows you to approach ideas, strategies, and platforms without preconceived notions. This means you can evaluate every opportunity with fresh eyes, free from biases experienced marketers may have. It opens the door to seeing unconventional opportunities they might overlook.
Branding Marketing Quotes
Branding marketing quotes will help you consider how you share and promote your content and think of new and exciting ways to establish your business’s image.
Read our Ultimate Guide to Branding to learn more about branding your business and content.
61. Don’t push people to where you want to be; meet them where they are.” – Meghan Keaney Anderson, vice president of marketing, HubSpot
Tailoring your content to meet customers at every stage of their buyer journey is crucial. By consistently focusing on adding value and enhancing their experience, you strengthen the relationship while guiding them smoothly through the sales funnel.
62. “People will ignore or skip anything they don’t like. So brands have to start making things they love.” – Steve Pratt, partner, Pacific Content
Your audience is spoiled for choice. The only way to break through the noise is by giving them something worth paying attention to. This means crafting authentic, relevant, and engaging content.
63. “Smart marketers and smart brand managers understand the importance of leveraging frame of reference to build their brands.” – Mark Shapiro, chair, Vistage Worldwide, Inc.
Use familiar ideas and contexts to align your brand and offering with what your audience already understands or believes.
64. “Brand equity is the sum of all the hearts and minds of every single person that comes into contact with your company.” – Christopher Betzter, brand strategist
Everyone who interacts with your brand is a potential advocate or detractor. That’s why it’s crucial to consistently deliver positive experiences across all touchpoints, whether with customers, partners, or the public.
65. “A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is — it is what consumers tell each other it is.” – Scott Cook, co-founder of Intuit
Brand perception and word of mouth heavily influence a new buyer’s purchasing decisions. Ensuring that every interaction leaves existing customers satisfied is essential for managing your brand’s reputation and cultivating a loyal army of advocates.
66. “Products are made in the factory, but brands are created in the mind.” – Walter Landor, founder, Landor
Consumers’ perception of a brand often carries more weight than its utility. For marketers, this highlights the importance of strategic positioning and messaging in influencing consumer behavior and loyalty — especially within competitive markets.
67. “Branding is about signals — the signals people use to determine what you stand for as a brand. Signals create associations.” – Allen P. Adamson, co-founder, Metaforce
Your brand’s signals include everything from visual representations to core messaging. Be strategic and deliberate about how these signals align with your brand’s identity.
68. “Never lose sight of your brand, its value, and its inherent need to be fed, nurtured, and placed above all else!” – Chet Baker, senior vice president of corporate development, Entrinsic Health Solutions
Your brand is an asset that will outlive any individual promotion, strategy, or product. For this reason, it’s essential to never lose sight of your brand’s values.
69. “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” – Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon
Again, the importance of your brand perception and reputation can’t be overstated. When the dust settles, and a funny ad or discount promotion isn’t there to actively influence the audience, what do they say about you?
70. “Your brand is a story unfolding across all customer touch points.” – Jonah Sachs, author
Every customer interaction with your brand counts. From the first point of contact to post-sale communication, each interaction shapes customer opinions and experiences.
Email Marketing Quotes
If you’re looking for some inspiration about getting the most out of your email marketing campaigns, here are a few of my favorite quotes to get your wheels turning.
71. “Your email list is one of your most valuable assets.” – Amy Porterfield, online marketing expert
Unlike social media or blogs, your email list is a channel you wholly own and control. It allows you to bypass third-party platforms, algorithms, and noise and open up a more intimate line of communication with your audience.
72. “Email has an ability many channels don’t: creating valuable, personal touches — at scale.” – David Newman, marketing expert
Email is one of the few channels that enables direct, personalized communication with your audience. When executed well, each email can feel like a one-on-one conversation, even when reaching a large audience simultaneously.
73. “Personalization — it is not about first/last name. It’s about relevant content.” – Dan Jak, marketing consultant
For content to be effective, it needs to be relevant to the person consuming it. As marketers, we must leverage data to profile, segment, and engage our audience. This means moving past the basics of personalization to craft and deliver experiences tailored to each email recipient.
74. “I want to do business with a company that treats emailing me as a privilege, not a transaction.” – Andrea Mignolo, executive and team coach
Would you prefer emails from a brand that builds a relationship with you or one that sees you only as a sales target? As marketers, we must step back, put ourselves in our audience’s shoes, and ask, “Would I want to receive this email?”
75. “Email is the most effective channel for keeping customers engaged over time.” – Megan Marrs, marketing specialist
Email marketing is based on opt-in consent. This means that the people who receive your emails have specifically indicated an interest in hearing from you directly. Combined with a consistent, personalized, and value-focused content strategy, this creates a powerful opportunity to nurture and sustain long-term relationships with your audience.
76. “When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.” – David Ogilvy, advertising tycoon
Like most people judge a book by its cover, most of your audience will judge your content by its headline. No matter how great your content is, your headline will often make or break its performance.
77. “Your goal should be to own quality time in your customer’s inbox.” – Andrew Davis, marketing speaker and author
Getting into your customer’s inbox is just half the battle; you must also earn their attention and trust once you’re there. Most people receive hundreds of emails every day, so make sure you’re giving them a reason to care specifically about yours.
78. “Marketing without data is like driving with your eyes closed.” – Dan Zarrella, author and social media scientist
Leveraging data, whether from CRMs, social analytics, or ESPs, is crucial for making informed decisions and optimizing campaign performance.
79. “Email marketing is like a first date. If you’re too pushy, you won’t get a second one.” – Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital
Have you heard the saying, “You only get one chance to make a first impression”? Well, email marketing works the same way. If your initial email feels like another item cluttering your recipients’ inboxes and demanding their attention without payoff, you risk being sent to the spam folder or ignored altogether.
80. “Reaching the inbox isn’t your goal — engaging people is.” – Matt Blumberg, author and tech entrepreneur
Your most important email marketing metric shouldn’t be your list size. Instead, focus on how much of that list engages with your content and converts consistently.
Storytelling Marketing Quotes
Storytelling marketing quotes can improve the impact of the stories you and your fellow marketers tell about your business, branding, and products on your customers and target audience.
Develop your storytelling skills with our Ultimate Guide to Storytelling.
81. “Nothing sticks in your head better than a story. Stories can express the most complicated ideas in the most digestible ways.” – Sam Balter, senior marketing manager of podcasts, HubSpot
Storytelling is a great way to communicate or simplify your message. Weaving compelling stories into your content engages your audience’s emotions and makes your message more memorable.
82. “If your stories are all about your products and services, that’s not storytelling. It’s a brochure. Give yourself permission to make the story bigger.” – Jay Baer, content marketer and co-author
Your story shouldn’t feel like a sales pitch. Instead, it should seamlessly integrate your product or service into a broader narrative that resonates with your audience.
83. “The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation that is to come.” – Steve Jobs, co-founder, Apple
Stories are powerful tools that shape the audience’s sentiments and actions. Learning how to weave stories effectively is an important skill that will be invaluable for crafting your brand’s identity and perception.
84. “You can’t sell anything if you can’t tell anything.” – Beth Comstock, former CMO and vice chair, GE
In today’s saturated digital market, you must craft a compelling narrative about your product or service that conveys why your audience should care about it and what sets it apart.
85. “The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.” – Brandon Sanderson, author
Rather than outrightly telling your audience what to think, prompt them to engage with the ideas in your stories and deeply engage with the narrative.
86. “Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” – Jean Luc Godard, director, writer, and editor
Stories are a great way to convey the impact and value of your solutions without making them too complex. Framing marketing messages within a narrative context makes your offer more understandable and compelling.
87. “Make the customer the hero of your story.” – Ann Handley, chief content officer, MarketingProfs
Your story’s focal point and protagonist should always be the customer rather than your product. In this narrative, the product is simply the catalyst propelling the customer forward on their hero’s journey.
88. “Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.” – Robert McKee, author
With so many messages vying for our attention simultaneously, stories have become one of the most powerful ways to cut through the noise and create an impactful narrative.
89. “And do you know what is the most often missing ingredient in a sales message? Storytelling. Good storytelling is a vital component of a marketing campaign.” – Gary Halbert, author
A great story transforms a sales message from a “transactional pitch” into an engaging narrative. It allows the marketer to drive the sale in an impactful and enjoyable way for the audience.
90. “The brands that win are the brands that tell a great story.” – Mitch Joel, author and founder, Six Pixels Group
A great story humanizes your brand, makes it memorable, and allows your message to resonate more deeply with your audience.
Social Media Marketing Quotes
Social media marketing quotes are a great way to influence the strategies you implement at your company and provide thoughts about how social media can positively impact your marketing efforts.
Learn everything you need to know about social media marketing in our Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing Campaigns.
91. “Social media marketing is about creating content that brings your audience together as a community and inspires authentic conversations while increasing your brand’s awareness.” – Krystal Wu, social media community manager, HubSpot
Social media is a powerful channel for creating genuine interactions and discussions with your community. Sharing content on these platforms allows you to leverage real-time engagement to nurture the relationship with your audience and increase brand visibility.
92. “It’s important to be where your audience of potential customers is today, and where they might be tomorrow.” – Andrew Delaney, senior manager of social media, HubSpot
Not all social media platforms are created equal. You also don’t need to be on every major platform. When choosing where to focus your effort, you need to understand where your audience currently spends time, where they might be gravitating, and how they consume content on those platforms.
93. “Social media requires that business leaders start thinking like small-town shop owners.” – Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO, VaynerMedia
Don’t be afraid to do things that don’t scale. Allow your business’s soul and personality to shine through in your interactions. Create genuine, personal relationships with your audience and adopt a long-term approach rather than fixating on quick wins.
94. “Social media was designed to SHARE what you’re doing and who you are, not BE what you’re doing and who you are.” – Richie Norton, author
Social media should amplify your brand, not control it. It should complement your strategy, not dictate it. Avoid getting caught up in performing for the algorithm and losing your authenticity and unique brand identity.
95. “I use social media as an idea generator, trend mapper, and strategic compass for all our online business ventures.” – Paul Barron, Foodable Network CEO
Social media is a great way to stay up-to-date on emerging trends, competitor performance, and current market sentiments.
96. “Going viral is not an outcome; it’s a happening. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t. Just remember, fans are vanity, and sales are sanity.” – Lori R. Taylor, founder, Rev Media Marketing
Virality is very hard to predict and not a reliable measure of success. Focus on what is within your control and optimize for tangible business results like conversions and sales.
97. “Social media is about the people! Not about your business. Provide for the people, and the people will provide for you.” – Matt Goulart, founder, Ignite Digital
A great social media strategy is an “audience-centric” strategy. Every piece of content should be framed around your audience’s needs, interests, challenges, etc. This shows your audience that you care about them and are not just promoting your business.
98. “Social marketing eliminates the middlemen, providing brands the unique opportunity to have a direct relationship with their customers.” – Bryan Weiner, board of directors, Cars.com
Social media interactions provide the rare opportunity for real-time, one-on-one conversations with your audience. Leverage this opportunity to build authentic relationships, directly address feedback, and create deeper human connections with your audience.
99. “Our head of social media is the customer.” – McDonald’s
The customer is king. This means that how you strategize, optimize, and engage should be directed by the feedback you receive on every interaction.
100. “Don’t use social media to impress people; use it to impact people.” – Dave Willis, writer and pastor
Always prioritize content quality over chasing trends or engagement farming. But remember, creating meaningful interactions and impactful content doesn’t mean you can’t inject fun and creativity into your messaging.
Start Using Marketing Quotes to Inspire Your Team
Marketing quotes can inspire your team members to produce their best work, drive home the points you make in meetings, and help you shed light on any situation at work. No matter what your company does, there are several quotes you can use to help you work towards your specific marketing goals both individually and with your team.
So, review the sections above and find some quotes to save on your desktop, write them down in your notes, or share them with your co-workers today.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in April 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
