8 Reasons Marketing Efforts Stall — And How to Get Things Moving Again

Posted on 10/3/2025, 1:40:49 PM

Marketing your business is tricky. You might think that you’ve finally cracked the code, only to discover that, actually, the initial burst of positive outcomes were the exception, not the rule. And then there are the happier surprises, in which an experimental, low-stakes punt turns out to be an unexpected hit.

In any case, even mostly successful marketing strategies run their course at some point or another. Marketing is an ever-evolving field, and it’s not realistic to think that what worked for you two years ago would continue to deliver success. 

All marketing strategies will stall at some point. The question is, how do you get things moving again? Mostly, that comes down to identifying why marketing efforts eventually begin to falter, and then using some quick fixes to bring them back up to speed. 

You’ve Forgotten Your Core Values

Marketing without purpose is like shouting into the wind. You’ll exert a lot of energy, but you won’t get much results. Most brands know that they have to hone in on their target audience. What’s equally important, yet often forgotten, is that the brand’s messaging must continue to be in line with the underlying ethos of the company. Do your marketing materials continue to reflect who you are, why you exist, and your broader sense of purpose? Marketing can take you down some strange paths that move you away from the brand’s true self. Grabbing hold of the reins, get back on the right road, and you should find that your brand’s marketing messaging is tighter than ever. 

Overreliance On One Platform

Some brands swear by Instagram marketing. Others never stray too far away from Google. Some know Facebook inside and out. Some businesses…well, you get the idea. All brands have their preferred marketing platform, but sometimes, that preference can turn into obsession. It can be inconvenient to learn that your marketing platform isn’t as effective as it once was, but actually, it’s better to view it as an opportunity. If you’ve been sticking to just one marketing avenue, then you’ll have a whole ocean of other options at your disposal — and you never know what might come from them. 

Your Website Is Stuck In the Past

You could have the most brilliant marketing on the platform, but if your website isn’t up to standard, then it’s unlikely that you’re getting the kind of results that you’d like to experience. Your website might have been dazzlingly brilliant two years ago, but if it hasn’t evolved during that time, then it won’t be too surprising if sales aren’t what you expect. Working with a website designer or UX expert can help bring your website into the modern age. Remember — getting your potential customer’s attention is only the first hurdle; it’s often what they find when they finally land on your website that determines whether they actually become a customer. 

Lack of Expertise

In a hypercompetitive online landscape, marketing expertise can be the difference between building long-term success and wasting your marketing budget. Even businesses that have in-house marketing staff can find it difficult to get the kinds of results that they need/want, since, well, there’s only so much that one or two staff members can do. At some point, ambitious brands may need to hire a digital marketing agency to take their marketing to the next level. This approach usually makes more sense than hiring an additional marketing employee, since it’ll give you access to a whole team of marketing experts. 

Marketing Data Is Left Unanalyzed

There’s something to be said for marketing intuition. But there’s even more to be said for evidence-based marketing. You’ll have a whole ocean of marketing-related data. If you’re leaving it on the table, then you’ll be missing out on a golden opportunity to optimize and improve your marketing efforts. It’s data that’ll show you what’s working, what isn’t working, and what’s worth exploring. 

Your Campaigns Are Based on Trends

Ah, digital marketing trends. They’re useful in some way, since it makes figuring out your approach much more straightforward. If it’s working for everyone else, then it’ll probably work for you.

Some brands essentially follow their competitors’ marketing strategy to a T. Yet, while that might generate some success, it’s unlikely to help you on a long-term basis. For one thing, simply following what others are doing prevents you from developing your own marketing approaches. Ultimately, the best marketing strategy is one that makes the most sense for your brand, and you can’t figure that out if you’re just watching what others are doing. 

Too Much Emphasis on Attention-Grabbing 

If you spend enough money, then you will get the attention of your target audience. But getting their attention doesn’t mean that your marketing efforts have been successful. It’s the results of your marketing strategy that determine whether it has been a success or not. While it’s worthwhile coming up with ideas that will help you to stand out from the crowd, it’s equally important to focus on what happens next. Working to improve your customer’s experience can help turbocharge your marketing efforts. It’s a way to communicate: we’re not just talk; we also know how to walk the walk. Keep in mind that your marketing efforts will be most effective if your customers become repeat customers — and there’s nothing that’ll influence that more than their overall experience. 

Your Budget Is Too Small

This is a point that most businesses don’t want to hear. With more businesses than ever looking for ways to cut costs, it’s not always ideal to learn that the reason your marketing is failing is because you’re simply not spending enough money. But actually, that really often is the case. You don’t have to spend the earth to get marketing results, but equally, you can’t spend peanuts and expect to make a splash. Most businesses spend between 2% - 10% of their revenue on marketing, and we’re pretty confident in saying that it’s the brands that spend closer to 10% that are the happier of the two.