Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working — And 5 Fixes to Get Results Fast
You’re investing time, money, and effort into marketing… but you’re not seeing the results you expected. The leads aren’t coming in. The sales feel flat. And your return on marketing spend? Unclear at best.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
As a marketing agency that partners with small to mid-sized businesses, we’ve seen the same five problems come up over and over again. And the good news? Most of them are fixable—without scrapping your entire strategy or hiring a huge team.
Let’s break down the top five reasons your marketing isn’t working—and what you can do about each one.
1.You Don’t Have a Clear Customer Journey
The problem:
Most businesses jump into marketing by picking platforms—Instagram, email, ads—without thinking through the path their customer actually takes before buying. As a result, they create content or campaigns that feel scattered and don’t guide the customer forward.
What this looks like:
Leads drop off after initial interest
No clear process from awareness to purchase
Disconnected messaging across channels
The fix:
Start by mapping your customer journey. What does your ideal customer need to see, feel, or know at each stage—from discovering your brand to making a decision? Align your content to support each touchpoint:
Awareness = educational content
Consideration = testimonials, FAQs
Decision = strong CTA, clear offer
*Download our free Customer Journey Worksheet to identify your biggest gaps.
2. You’re Focused on Tactics, Not Strategy
The problem:
You’re busy doing “all the things”—posting daily, boosting posts, running ads—but none of it is rooted in a defined goal or plan. Tactics without strategy are like building without a blueprint.
What this looks like:
Marketing feels reactive instead of intentional
Results are inconsistent or hard to measure
Every new trend feels like a “must do”
The fix:
Step back and ask: What are we actually trying to achieve? Set clear, measurable marketing goals (e.g., lead generation, brand awareness, conversion). Then build a strategy around them:
Who are we targeting?
What do we want them to do?
What’s the best path to get them there?
With strategy first, the right tactics become clear—and effective.
3. You’re Talking About Yourself Too Much
The problem:
You know your business is great. But if your marketing is all about your awards, your team, your services—your audience tunes out. People don’t care what you do until they know how it helps them.
What this looks like:
“We” language dominates your website and social posts
You list features instead of showing benefits
Low engagement or low conversion despite frequent content
The fix:
Flip your messaging. Lead with your customer’s pain points, goals, or objections. Show them how you solve problems or make their life easier. Use “you” more than “we.”
Instead of: “We use organic ingredients. We hand-make every meal. We believe in quality and tradition.”
Say: “You want dinner handled—and you don’t want to question what’s in it. Our prepped meals save you time and keep your week on track, with ingredients you can actually pronounce.”
OR
Instead of “We source only the highest quality ingredients. We’ve served the Midwest for over 25 years. We offer customizable ordering and fast delivery.”
Say: “Your kitchen runs smoother when your ingredients show up on time and exactly how you ordered them. With ABC Company, you get a supply partner who’s as reliable as your prep crew.”
4. You’re Measuring the Wrong Metrics
The problem:
It's easy to fall in love with “vanity metrics” like likes, followers, or pageviews—but if they’re not leading to actual revenue, they don’t matter. Many businesses fail to track the things that truly move the needle.
What this looks like:
No clear link between marketing and sales (Read More Here)
Celebrating growth without knowing what it means
Confusion over what’s working and what’s wasting budget
The fix:
Shift your focus to performance metrics that align with business outcomes:
Cost per lead
Lead-to-customer conversion rate
Return on ad spend (ROAS)
Website conversion rate
Email click-through rates
Set benchmarks and review them regularly. Your marketing should always have a scorecard.
5. You Don’t Have the Bandwidth to Execute Consistently
The problem:
You have great ideas. You might even have a strategy. But between managing your business and putting out daily fires, marketing falls off the priority list—or gets rushed and inconsistent.
What this looks like:
Long gaps between content or campaigns
Starting strong, then going quiet
Relying on freelancers with no central direction
The fix:
If you don’t have the internal capacity for consistent execution, get support. That could mean hiring a part-time marketer, working with a fractional marketing team (like us), or outsourcing specific pieces to experts.
Consistency builds trust. Without it, your message never sticks—and growth stalls.
How Midsole Marketing Can Help
Your marketing shouldn’t feel like a guessing game.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing real results, let’s talk.
