On this week’s Dear Katie, I was asked a question a lot of people have had in recent years: ”Marketing doesn’t work for me. I’ve done social media ads, newsletters, funnels, you name it, I’ve done it. Zero results. What am I missing?”
Here’s the truth: doing isn’t the same as doing well.
I’m not trying to dissuade anyone either.
Doing is often better than doing nothing in marketing, but you would be surprised how small tweaks in your processes can supercharge your results.
Let me give you an example.
One of our clients had been “doing” newsletters for years.
Every week, they hit send.
Their open rates hovered around 6%.
That’s when they hired us.
My team and I reviewed the newsletter, subject lines and really what made their audience click.
Small, strategic changes led to open rates jumping to 20% (and we’ll continue working on increasing this amount).
When you have 10,000 – 30,000+ subscribers on your list, the difference is huge:
If just 1% of your email offers converts, getting more people to open = more conversions.
Marketing is more than working your way through a checklist and ticking off items:
You’re doing all of these things, but every action demands a strategy.
If your strategies are off, then your results suffer, and it’s easy to think that “marketing doesn’t work for me.”
It’s like closing your books without understanding your bookkeeping.
You’ve closed out the books, missed deductions and then say, “bookkeeping doesn’t work.”
Bookkeeping works. Marketing works.
Doing it without a strategy doesn’t work.
Outcomes are the goal, not activity.
You need to do more than just “something.”
Marketing requires an intentional strategy that you refine to continue moving the needle.
So where should you run?
I like to go into the process with an audit to better understand what works and doesn’t in my clients’ marketing.
Not sure where to put your energy this year? Here’s a simple thing you can do: run a 2025 Marketing Audit.
Find out:
What’s working? And why?
What’s not working? And why?
The purpose of the audit isn’t to do more. The goal is to identify a few things that will move the needle (if they’re done well).
If you feel like marketing isn’t working, you’re probably closer than you think.
Often, the missing piece isn’t what you’re doing but how you’re doing it (the strategy).
And, that’s a wrap on this Dear Katie question.
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Now I want to hear from you. Do you have a question?
Until next time, cheers to your success!
Katie
It’s often not about the number of tactics you try, but how well you execute them. A lack of strategy can lead to poor results, so focus on refining your approach.
Consider reviewing your subject lines and content. Small changes can significantly improve open rates, leading to more engagement and potential conversions.
Conduct a marketing audit to assess your current strategies. Determine what’s effective and what needs improvement to better allocate your resources.
A successful strategy is intentional and data-driven. It involves setting clear goals, understanding your audience, and continuously refining your tactics based on results.
Focus on outcomes rather than just activities. Make sure each marketing action has a clear purpose and is aligned with your overall strategy.
Consider hiring a professional or agency that specializes in marketing for your industry. They can provide insights and strategies tailored to your needs.