Margo Waldrop reflects on the wins, failures, and occasional existential dread that come with content work. Her argument: a touch of experience, a bit of sarcasm, and a lot of strategic thinking still go a long way.
I knew I was out of my depth the moment someone said “rizz” during a meeting and everyone else nodded like it belonged in the company handbook.
Meanwhile, I was staring into my webcam, unsure if I’d just been praised or insulted. (Apparently, it’s short for charisma—and yes, it’s somehow both a noun and a verb.)
Welcome to modern marketing: a place where buzzwords evolve faster than campaigns, old ideas return with new filters, and sometimes the brainstorming session eats the project manager alive.
People like to say marketing is a young person’s playground. Translation: if you didn’t grow up with a ring light, your expertise is outdated.
To which I respond: cute idea—but no.
They have speed. I have stamina (and snacks).
Let’s be clear: I’m not against youth.
Younger creators can shoot, edit, post, and analyze a campaign while reheating leftovers. I respect that multitasking magic.
But I’ve been doing this since before “brand voice” was a title on LinkedIn. Back when strategy lived in binders, and emojis didn’t fix messaging problems.
I may not speak fluent TikTok, but I know how to write copy that converts. I know how to tell a CEO “no” without setting off a Slack firestorm. And I know the difference between content that’s catchy and content that actually works.
Trends come and go. Fundamentals stay. I can explain why a post succeeded—and how to replicate it.
Templates can’t fix bad ideas
Here’s the secret no one likes to admit: you can’t design your way out of a weak concept. No automation tool will make a brand relevant if its story doesn’t make sense.
I’ve watched too many projects die in endless feedback loops and comment threads.
The truth is, old-school marketing—rooted in psychology, positioning, and strategy—still works. It’s not nostalgic; it’s effective.
Platforms evolve. Fonts change. But if your message is hollow, no amount of aesthetic polish will save it.
New ideas are great—but logic matters more
I don’t need to understand every viral app to know when a campaign won’t land.
No, I’m not dancing for brand awareness. No, I’m not turning a crying goat sound into a marketing pillar. Because a real strategy doesn’t depend on luck or trends—it depends on clarity and purpose.
If your entire plan hinges on a viral moment, you’re not building a campaign; you’re betting on chance.
And honestly, a million views mean nothing if your landing page is broken and your product description sounds like a fever dream.
Experience brings a few underrated skills
There’s a quiet arrogance in the idea that new automatically means better. That questioning a brief makes you “negative.” That speed matters more than substance.
But experience teaches things enthusiasm can’t:
- How to recognize a doomed campaign before it drains your budget
- When not to hit “send” on that email blast
- When clarity beats cleverness every time
And perhaps most importantly—when to stop. You don’t need a dozen revisions to know when something’s finished.
Call me a dinosaur—but I still get results
Sure, I might double-space after periods. I still believe headlines should make sense. I still think “content creator” and “strategist” aren’t the same thing.
But my work delivers. I don’t need to chase every trend or pretend every sound clip is a brand moment.
So yes, I’m older, a bit sarcastic, and very likely to ask, “What’s the ROI on this before we cancel the email budget?”
That’s not a flaw—it’s an advantage. Platforms evolve daily. Solid strategy doesn’t.
Call me a dinosaur if you want. Just remember: dinosaurs ruled the world for a very, very long time.
