Posted by Roberto Dal Corso

Why Doesn’t Marketing Work for My Business? - (And How to Fix It Before You Burn More Time and Money)

Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—posting on social media, running ads, updating your website—but nothing seems to move the needle? You’re not alone. When I deliver this session to business owners, whether it’s one-on-one or in a group, I start with this:

"If you’ve ever thought, 'Marketing just doesn’t work for my business,'

I get it.

But marketing does work—when it’s done right.

If it’s not working, the problem isn’t your business. It’s the system."

Marketing isn’t magic. It’s a system. And when that system is missing or broken, you get:

• Money spent on campaigns that flop.

• Time wasted creating content no one sees.

• A website that just sits there like a digital paperweight.

• A sense of frustration and helplessness that’s all too common in the "getting by" zone.

Let’s walk through why that’s happening—and what to do about it.

What It Looks Like When Marketing "Isn’t Working"

Here are the signs I see over and over again:

• You’re doing "bits of marketing" with no overarching strategy.

• Your leads are inconsistent or unqualified.

• You’re relying solely on referrals or word of mouth.

• You’ve tried social media, email, ads, blogs—but nothing sticks.

• You get busy, stop marketing, and the leads dry up.

Sound familiar?

That’s not a failure on your part. It’s a signal: you need a system—not more stuff.

So... Why Isn’t Marketing Working for You?

Here are the five biggest reasons I see, along with what to do about each one.

1. You Don’t Know Your Numbers

Let me ask:

• How many leads did you generate last month?

• What’s your conversion rate from lead to customer?

• What’s your average order value?

• How much does it cost you to get a new client?

If you’re guessing at these answers, you're not marketing—you’re hoping.

Solution: Start tracking your marketing weekly. I help clients build a simple Sales & Marketing Scorecard so they always know what’s working (and what’s not).

Example: One of my clients was running multiple campaigns but had no clear idea which one was actually driving leads. Once we introduced weekly scorecard tracking, she discovered 80% of her leads were coming from one blog post. We scaled it, and her leads doubled in six weeks.

Quick Exercise: Write down your key numbers for the past 30 days. What trends do you notice? Where’s the data unclear? That’s where you start.

2. Your Message Doesn’t Cut Through

If your website or brochure says:

"We’re passionate about helping our clients with bespoke solutions..."

That’s not a message. That’s filler.

People don’t buy passion. They buy outcomes.

Solution: Clarify your message so it answers this question:

"Why should someone buy from you—instead of anyone else?"

We do this by building your "Category of One" message. It’s a game-changer.

Example: I worked with a financial advisor whose pitch was "custom plans for your future." We reframed it to "Helping high-performing professionals retire 10 years early—without sacrificing today." Her bookings shot up by 60%.

Insight: Ask three current clients why they chose you. Their answers often hold the gold.

3. You’re Trying to Talk to Everyone

"I help anyone who needs X..."

That’s one of the biggest blockers to effective marketing. Because if you’re talking to everyone, you’re not connecting with anyone.

Solution: Define your Dream Buyer—and build everything for them. Your content, your ads, your emails… all laser-focused.

Example: A client in the fitness space was offering general training. Once we narrowed it to “helping women over 40 lose stubborn weight without extreme diets,” she saw a 40% increase in engagement.

Exercise: Describe your Dream Buyer in one paragraph. Include their pains, goals, language, and buying habits.

4. You’re Following Tactics, Not a System

Most of the time, business owners come to me saying:

"I need better ads." "Maybe we should do webinars?" "Should I start TikTok?"

That’s all tactic-chasing.

Solution: You need a repeatable marketing and sales system that delivers leads and sales every week, like clockwork. That’s the difference between stress and stability.

Example: One consultant spent CHF 10,000 testing three marketing channels. No system. No consistency. We introduced a five-step EMS plan focused on one clear path to sale. Within 90 days, his revenue jumped by 38%.

Checklist: Do you have a documented marketing plan that shows how someone goes from stranger to customer in your business? If not, that’s your next move.

5. You’re Stuck in the day to day - doing!

Most business owners start with the media—the tool or platform. Facebook ads. Instagram. SEO. TikTok. It feels productive, but it’s jumping ahead.

You must start with three key pillars:

• Market – Who are you speaking to?

• Message – What do they need to hear?

• Media – Where do they spend time?

When you begin with media, you’re just broadcasting. When you start with the market and Tool: Use a simple worksheet: write out 3 things about your Dream Buyer, the top 3 messages that resonate, and the 3 media platforms they engage with. You’ll be amazed how clear things become.

Insight: The content you create must be genuinely useful, practical, and interesting. Not promotional fluff. It should solve real problems, answer real questions, and be something your audience actually wants to consume. When you combine valuable content with the right message and media, your marketing stops feeling like shouting into the void—and starts creating meaningful engagement.

Real Example

One coach I worked with had spent CHF 5,000 on Facebook ads without a single client. Once we clarified her message and defined her Dream Buyer, her next campaign brought in 7 consult calls.

What I Want You to Take Away

If marketing hasn’t worked for you, please hear this:

It’s not because your business is too small, too niche, or too complicated.

It’s because you’ve been relying on tactics—not a system.

Once you fix that, everything changes:

• ✅ Leads become consistent

• ✅ Sales become predictable

• ✅ Growth becomes possible—not accidental

Want to Know Why It’s Not Working in Your Business?

If this resonates, let’s chat. I offer a no-pressure clarity call where we look at what’s working, what’s not, and where your gaps are. You’ll leave with clarity, not a pitch.