6 Red Flags Your Marketing Strategy Isn't Working (and How To Fix It)

Every marketer’s goal is to create value for customers and leads for sales. But sometimes, it can be hard to know when your efforts are failing. Admitting defeat is never easy, but it’s necessary to right the ship. 

If you’re noticing your marketing strategy is starting to spiral, here is a list of red flags to look out for (and solutions for fixing them).

1. Your leads don’t convert
2. You aren’t working closely with your sales team (and vice versa)
3. Nobody “Likes” You
4. Your website performance is stuck (or declining)
5. People opt out more than they opt in
6. Nobody is downloading or looking at your content

1. Your leads don't convert

You've got the traffic, you're getting clicks, and people are filling out your forms. But then what? If your leads aren't moving through your funnel and converting into actual customers, you might be missing crucial elements in your strategy.

Solution: Give lead scoring a shot 

Ask yourself:

• Is our content targeted to the right audience, or are we casting too wide a net?
• Do we have a clear understanding of where leads are getting stuck in the buyer's journey?
• Are we qualifying leads properly, or sending unqualified prospects to sales?

If not, it may be a great opportunity to try lead scoring. Here are a few ways to implement a strong lead-qualifying system: 

• Create a robust lead scoring system that helps identify which leads are "sales-ready" and which need more nurturing. Work with your sales team to define what makes a qualified lead and develop content specifically for each stage of the buyer's journey.
• Set up automated email workflows that deliver targeted content based on user behavior and engagement. These should gradually guide prospects toward conversion rather than pushing for a sale too early or too late.
• Establish regular check-ins to review lead quality, not just quantity. A smaller number of high-quality leads will always outperform a mountain of tire kickers.

2. You aren't working closely with your sales team (and vice versa)

The classic marketing-sales divide is more than just an organizational cliché (it's a revenue killer). Your sales team is sitting on a goldmine of information that could transform your marketing strategy if only you'd tap into it.

Sales representatives speak with prospects and customers every day. They hear the objections, understand the pain points, and know exactly when interest peaks during the sales process.

Solution: Create a feedback loop

• Schedule regular meetings between marketing and sales teams to share insights and align messaging. Occasionally, allow marketers to join sales calls to hear customer language firsthand. Create a shared document where sales can input common questions and objections they encounter.
• Use the sales team's insights to inform your content calendar. If they're frequently answering the same questions about your product, that's your cue to create content addressing those concerns.
• Develop persona documents together, leveraging sales' direct customer interactions to refine your understanding of who you're really talking to. Get specifics about when prospects are most receptive to communication — is it Monday mornings or Thursday afternoons?
• Finally, celebrate wins together. When marketing delivers a high-quality lead that converts, make sure everyone knows about it and understands what worked.

3. Nobody “Likes” You

Social media can be a fickle beast. If your posts are met with crickets instead of clicks, it might be time to rethink your social strategy. Aside from being morally disappointing — low engagement is a clear indicator that you're missing the mark with your audience.

Solution: Rethink your platform strategy and content approach

• First, evaluate whether you're on the right platforms. Just because everyone's talking about X (RIP Twitter) doesn't mean your audience is there. Research where your specific customers spend their time and focus your efforts accordingly.
• Make your posts personal to your buyer personas. Generic content gets generic results. Craft messages that speak directly to the challenges, aspirations, and interests of your ideal customer.
• Focus on compelling imagery and videos that tell a story without requiring a click-through. Remember that link-sharing actually hurts your reach on many platforms. Social algorithms prefer native content that keeps users on the platform. 
• Engage authentically with your followers by responding to comments, participating in industry conversations, and showcasing the human side of your brand. People connect with people, not faceless corporations.
• Lastly, test and measure everything. The data never lies — use it to refine your approach continually.

4. Your website performance is stuck (or declining)

Your website is your digital storefront, and if foot traffic is down or visitors aren't sticking around, something needs to change. A stagnant or declining website performance can undermine even the best marketing efforts elsewhere.

Solution: Conduct a comprehensive website audit

• Start by identifying exactly which metrics aren't improving. Is it traffic, time on page, bounce rate, or conversions? Each problem requires a different solution.
• Ensure your site is technically sound. Page load speeds, mobile responsiveness, and broken links can drive visitors away before they even see your content. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify technical issues.
• Review your calls to action. Are they clear, compelling, and valuable to the visitor? Generic "Contact Us" buttons won't cut it anymore — offer something specific that solves a problem.
• Benchmark your site against competitors. How does your user experience compare? What do they offer that you don't?
• Publish relevant, timely content based on keyword research and customer questions — not just whatever topics you find interesting internally.
• Consider a StoryBranded approach for your homepage. Unlike a simple regurgitation of your main navigation, a StoryBranded homepage puts the customer at the center of the narrative, clearly communicating how your products or services solve their problems. This approach clarifies your message and guides visitors naturally toward conversion points.

5. People opt out more than they opt in

Email marketing still delivers one of the highest ROIs of any marketing channel — but only if people actually read your emails. High unsubscribe rates and low opt-in numbers are clear signs your messaging isn't resonating.

Solution: Segment and personalize your communications

• Clean up those email lists! Not everyone will be interested in everything you offer. Segment your audience based on behavior, interests, and position in the buying cycle.
• Create targeted content for each segment that addresses their specific pain points and offers clear value. Generic newsletters sent to everyone are a thing of the past.
• Optimize your send times based on engagement data. Different audience segments may be more receptive at different times.
• Giving users control often results in fewer unsubscribed. Implement a preference center that allows subscribers to choose what types of content they receive and how often. 
• Focus on quality over quantity. One valuable email that helps solve a problem will always outperform five "just checking in" messages.
• Test different subject lines, content formats, and CTAs to see what resonates best with each segment. Use the data to continually refine your approach.

6. Nobody is downloading or looking at your content

Content marketing is an investment. If no one is consuming the content you work so hard to create, you're not getting any return on that investment. In today's AI-saturated environment, generic content simply doesn't cut through the noise.

Solution: Deliver genuinely valuable, original content

• Go beyond the basics to provide actual value for your audience. Don't just use the same AI-generated content everyone else is doing. Dig into your customers' pain points and find ways to solve them with your products or services.
• Create content that showcases original research, unique insights, or specialized expertise that can't be found elsewhere. Proprietary data and industry surveys can set your content apart.
• Experiment with different content types, such as videos, podcasts, interactive tools, or assessments, that engage users in multiple ways.
• Update your existing content library. Regularly audit and reoptimize older blog posts, guides, and resources that once performed well but have declined in traffic. Update statistics, refresh examples, improve SEO elements, and add new insights based on current industry trends.
• Focus on quality over quantity. One comprehensive, well-researched piece will drive more engagement than ten superficial blog posts.
• Promote your content strategically across multiple channels, but tailor the messaging to each platform. What works on LinkedIn won't necessarily work on Instagram.
• Finally, make your content actionable. Every piece should leave the reader with clear next steps that move them closer to a solution—and ideally, closer to becoming your customer.

Turn those red flags into opportunities 

Identifying these red flags in your marketing strategy isn't about dwelling on failure. Use them to create opportunities for growth and improvement. Marketing is never "set it and forget it." It requires constant monitoring, testing, and refinement.

The good news? Every red flag presents a clear path forward. By addressing these issues head-on, you can transform a faltering marketing strategy into one that consistently delivers results.

We can help

Not sure where to start?  Let's talk about turning those red flags green.

At Vye, we specialize in helping businesses identify their marketing weak spots and develop strategies that drive real growth.

Check out some of the work that we've driven for clients in the past.