Koozai > Blog > How to Identify a Failing Marketing Strategy

How to Identify a Failing Marketing Strategy

| 2 minutes to read

Not sure if your marketing is actually working? You’re not alone. Whether you’re running a business or managing the marketing, it’s easy to get caught up in busy day-to-day tasks and miss the bigger picture.

Here are some clear signs your marketing strategy might be letting you down, and what you can do to fix it.

1. You’re spending more but seeing less in return

If your ad budget keeps increasing but results aren’t improving, something’s off. Paid search and social ads should drive measurable leads or sales. If they’re not, it’s time to dig into the data.

Look at key metrics like cost per acquisition and return on ad spend. If those numbers are getting worse, not better, your strategy needs a review.

2. You’ve stopped growing

If your traffic, leads or sales have flatlined (or dropped), your strategy may have stalled. This often happens when your SEO, content or paid efforts aren’t being updated regularly.

For example, if your organic traffic hasn’t grown in months and your content hasn’t been refreshed, Google may have moved on. This is especially true now that AI Overviews, ChatGPT and Perplexity are changing how people search.

3. Reporting is unclear or doesn’t mean much

It’s hard to make smart decisions if you’re not sure what you’re looking at. If your reports are full of confusing metrics or vanity stats like impressions without conversions, you won’t know what’s working.

You should have clear reporting that links back to business goals. That could be leads, revenue, or email signups.

4. You’re trying everything, but nothing sticks

If you’re constantly jumping between platforms or tactics with no clear focus, you’re likely spreading your efforts too thin. You might have tried a newsletter, Google Ads and SEO all at once, and none of them are working well.

A good strategy helps you prioritise. It tells you what to do and what to stop doing.

5. You don’t know what content to create next

If you’re stuck for content ideas or not sure what your audience wants, your strategy is probably reactive rather than planned. That usually means missed opportunities, especially in search.

A strong strategy includes keyword research, a content calendar, and regular checks on what’s working.

6. Your brand messaging is all over the place

If your ads, blogs and social posts all sound like they came from different companies, your messaging is off. This confuses potential customers and can hurt trust.

Your strategy should include clear brand guidelines, tone of voice, and campaign messaging to keep everything consistent.

7. You’re not keeping up with what’s changing

The way people find and interact with businesses is changing fast. AI Overviews are appearing in search results. Perplexity is answering questions directly. Tools like ChatGPT mean people aren’t always using search engines the way they used to.

If your strategy hasn’t adapted to these changes, you might be losing visibility even if your site is technically fine.

What to do next

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s worth stepping back and reviewing your strategy. A digital marketing audit can help highlight gaps, missed opportunities, or channels that aren’t pulling their weight. Get in touch with us at Koozai to find out how we can help you with your digital marketing.

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Kelly-Anne Crean

Head of Operations

Kelly-Anne Crean is Koozai’s Head of Operations, with over 16 years of experience in digital marketing and SEO. Having worked both in-house and agency-side, she brings a well-rounded understanding of what businesses truly need from SEO. Her expertise lies in technical SEO, website migrations, strategy, and reporting. She focuses on making SEO measurable and aligning it with business goals such as increasing visibility, driving conversions, and generating revenue. She has worked with a wide range of high-profile clients including De’Longhi (Braun), Srixon, Whyte and Mackay and the V&A. Passionate about mentorship and education, Kelly-Anne is a mentor for Women in Tech SEO and sits on the Employers’ Advisory Panel at Solent University Southampton, helping ensure students are prepared for careers in the creative and digital industries. Kelly-Anne regularly contributes to the SEO community. She has written for respected platforms including Sitebulb and BrightLocal, and has appeared on industry podcasts such as Search with Sean. She’s perhaps the most organised person you’ll ever meet, and she’s also our Queen of self-defense, with over 10 years of Krav Maga under her belt.

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