This quarter is wrapping up. You’ve been juggling client work, big-picture strategy, and way too many last-minute marketing tweaks. You know marketing is crucial for growth, but let’s be honest—when was the last time you actually took a step back and assessed what’s working?
Not what feels busy. Not what looks good on social. But what’s actually bringing in revenue without requiring you to be ‘on’ all the time?
If your marketing has been more reactive than strategic (no shame! We’ve all been there). This quick 10-minute marketing audit will help you recalibrate before the next quarter. No fluff. No complicated reports. Just five simple questions that will instantly reveal where your marketing is supporting your growth—and where it’s holding you back.
Make sure you listen all the way to the end, because you don’t want to miss #5. It’s the #1 reason businesses plateau. When you tweak this, you’ll start attracting clients who already value your work and see you as the obvious choice.
Step 1: Are You Still the Bottleneck in Your Marketing?
Let’s start with a tough but necessary question. How much of your marketing still depends on you?
This isn’t about delegating just for the sake of it. It’s about building a sustainable strategy that doesn’t collapse every time you take a vacation, get sick, or—let’s be real—just need a break.
The “CEO vs. Marketer” Test
Ask yourself:
- Are you the one writing your emails, social posts, or website updates?
- Are you spending more time creating content than closing sales?
- Does your marketing stall every time your schedule gets full?
If you answered yes to any of these, it’s time to shift. A CEO’s job is to drive vision, strategy, and sales—not to be stuck in the weeds of content creation. My most recent solo episode on Why You’re Doing Too Much Marketing (And What To Do Instead) would also be a great resource for you!
How One Founder Got Out of the Weeds
One of my clients, a powerhouse business coach, came to me feeling overwhelmed. She was cranking out social posts, emails, and launch sequences but still struggling to hit her revenue goals. Why? Because she was too deep in the details.
Once we systemized her content (and got her OUT of the daily grind), her revenue doubled in six months. She didn’t work more—she worked smarter.
Your Turn:
Identify one marketing task you can delegate, automate, or eliminate. Maybe it’s email writing, repurposing content, posting as frequently, or updating your website. Start with one, and watch how much mental space it frees up. (And if you’re not sure, listen to this episode on 5 Money-Making Activities You Can’t Afford-To-Ignore to help you make your decision.
Step 2: Is Your Marketing Bringing in Clients—or Just Keeping You Busy?
Marketing should do one thing: bring in high-quality leads that turn into sales. If it’s not doing that, something is off.
Here’s where most CEOs get stuck:
- They’re creating content but not seeing conversions.
- They rely too much on referrals and word-of-mouth.
- They feel like they’re always launching, but sales feel unpredictable.
The “Last 5 Clients” Test
Take 60 seconds and write down where your last five clients came from. Was it:
- Instagram or social media?
- Your email list?
- Google search?
- Referrals?
- Direct outreach?
If you’re still relying heavily on cold outreach and referrals, that means your inbound marketing isn’t pulling its weight.
How to Stop Chasing Clients & Start Attracting Them
A tax professional I worked with was booking clients only through Facebook DMs. It worked, but she spent hours manually reaching out and engaging in groups. After shifting to a values-first marketing strategy, she was able to maintain her business while freeing up so much time from not having to do so much outreach.
Your Turn:
If inbound marketing isn’t bringing in steady leads, optimize your messaging and nurture strategy so clients come to you. Find the gaps. (My free Messaging Audit is a great way to do that!)
Step 3: Is Your Email List Actually Working for You?
Let’s talk about the most underutilized (but highest ROI) marketing channel: email.
If you have an email list but don’t send to it consistently, it’s like having a VIP client list you never talk to. No wonder sales feel harder than they should be.
Quick Audit: How Healthy Is Your Email List?
Check your last three email campaigns:
- What’s your open rate? (Anything above 35% is solid.)
- Are people clicking links and taking action?
- Did any of those emails lead to actual sales?
If your emails aren’t converting, it’s not because email is dead. It’s because your strategy needs tweaking.
How One Brand Fixed Their Emails & Boosted Sales
I worked with a brand that was sending sporadic emails. No real strategy. Just updates when they felt like it (or had capacity for it). When we shifted to a consistent, value-driven email plan, their email revenue 5xd. Read the case study here!
Your Turn:
Commit to sending at least one high-value email per week. The more consistently you show up, the more your list will trust (and buy from) you.
Step 4: Are You Relying Too Much on Social Media?
Be honest—if Instagram shut down tomorrow, would your marketing still work? Or would it all disappear?
The Social Media Trap
Social feels like a business necessity. But if it’s your only marketing plan, you’re at the mercy of an algorithm that changes constantly.
I once had a client whose Instagram account got hacked mid-launch. No backup strategy. No email list. She lost all momentum overnight. That’s when she came to me.
Why Every Business Needs a “Home Base” Off of Social
A home base is a marketing platform you own—your email list, blog, podcast, or SEO-driven website. Unlike social, these platforms don’t vanish when the algorithm shifts.
Your Turn:
Pick one owned channel (email, blog, podcast) and commit to consistently nurturing your audience there. Then, check out my episode with Holly Haynes, who doubled her revenue by owning her brand voice off of social media (and how it’s totally possible for you, too!)
Step 5: Does Your Messaging Still Match Your Growth?
Your business has evolved. Has your messaging kept up?
If your marketing still speaks to who you were last year (instead of who you are now), you’re losing high-value clients.
If you’ve raised your prices, you also need to elevate your messaging to bring in those right fit clients who see the value and are happy to pay the price tag for what you have to offer.
The “Does This Still Fit?” Test
- Are your offers clearly and uniquely positioned for your ideal client?
- Do your website and emails reflect your next-level brand?
- Are you using outdated language that no longer aligns?
How One CEO Elevated Her Brand & Attracted Better Clients
I worked with a speaking coach who was still marketing to early stage entreprenuers—even though her new program was now geared for high-level business owners. Once we repositioned her messaging, she booked $52K of revenue in her first launch (and has been reusing those same emails I wrote for her ever since!)
Your Turn:
Refresh your website, sales pages, and email sequences to reflect where your business is going—not where it was. And I get it, it can feel futile to try and read your own stuff because you are so familiar with it! If that’s the case, join Copy Critique Club so that you can quickly and easily see what you need to change and why. It’s not a course or an extra call on your calendar. You simply submit what you want me to look at, and then you implement my recommendations and watch your conversions finally get to where you deserve them to be.
This 10-Minute Marketing Audit Shows How Small Tweaks Lead To Big Results
Your marketing should:
✅ Bring in clients without requiring constant effort.
✅ Attract high-value leads who are ready to buy.
✅ Be systemized so it works even when you step away.
Marketing should work for you—not drain your time and energy. In just 10 minutes, you’ve pinpointed where your strategy is thriving—and where a few small tweaks could create big results.
If you realize there’s room to improve, that’s a good thing. It means you now have clarity on exactly where to focus so your marketing can be more effective and attract better clients.
I’ve put together a Free DIY Messaging Audit—a simple, step-by-step guide to help you refine your positioning, clarify your message, and ensure your marketing actually connects with the right clients.
Grab the free Messaging Audit by clicking here and make sure your marketing is doing the heavy lifting for you.Marketing shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. With this audit, you’ll know exactly what to tweak (with before and after examples so it’s super clear). Then, you can step into the next quarter with a strategy that works.
