How do I know if my marketing is really working?
Marketing Shouldn’t Feel Like Guesswork
If you’ve ever posted something, boosted a few posts, run an ad, sent an email, and then thought, “well, I hope that works?” you’re not alone.
For many small business owners and teams, digital marketing can feel like a shot in the dark. There’s effort going out, but not enough clarity coming back. And in seasons where time and money are tight, that guesswork gets even more frustrating. Am I right?
At Mettle Marketing Co., we believe you don’t need a full marketing department to track what’s working, you just need a simple, honest way to evaluate your efforts. In this post, we’ll walk you through five easy ways to measure your marketing, using tools you likely already have access to.
Why It Matters
When you’re clear on what’s working, you can do more of it. When you’re not, you risk:
Wasting time on things that aren’t moving the needle
Missing out on easy wins that are already in motion
Feeling stuck in a cycle of busywork instead of building momentum
Clarity is powerful and it doesn’t have to be complicated!
Quick note before we dive in:
ROI (return on investment) in marketing doesn’t always look like a direct spike in sales. Especially for service-based, relationship-driven businesses, ROI might show up as increased visibility, stronger brand awareness, better-fit leads, or more inquiries… not just revenue on paper.
The key is knowing what results matter most for your business and then measuring those.
5 Simple Ways to Measure If Your Marketing Is Working
Track Your Conversion Points
Not sure where to start? Start at the finish line.
Look at how many people are taking key next steps like filling out a contact form, booking a call, or making a purchase.Are people doing what you want them to do after seeing your content or visiting your website?
If you’re getting traffic but no conversions, the issue might be your offer, your call to action, or your website user experience.
Use Website and Social Analytics (Just the Basics)
You don’t need to be a data wizard. Start with these key numbers:
Website Bounce Rate: Are people leaving your site right away? (find average bounce rates per industry here)
Time on Page: Are they reading your content or skimming and leaving?
Social Engagement Rate: Are people interacting with your posts, not just scrolling by? (find average engagement rates per industry here)
Tools like Google Analytics, Instagram Insights, and Meta Business Suite can give you plenty of helpful data for free.
Watch the Quality of Your Leads
Here’s a big one: not all leads are good leads. Ooof.
If the inquiries you’re getting aren’t aligned with what you offer (or they aren’t able to pay your price), your marketing might be attracting the wrong people or saying the wrong things.
But if you start hearing things like, “I feel like you were speaking directly to me…” “I’ve been following your posts and finally decided to reach out…” … you’re on the right track.
Ask People How They Found You
We cannot overstate how powerful this is… JUST ASK!
Whether it’s a line on your contact form or a questions on discovery calls or a line on your checkout form, make it a habit to ask, “How did you hear about us?”
The answers might surprise you and they’ll quickly show which platforms or strategies are doing the heavy lifting.
Pay Attention to Momentum
Sometimes (honestly, most of the time), marketing success isn’t a flood, it’s a slow build.
Are more people saving or sharing your content? Are you getting tagged in comments or recommendations? Are you seeing more inquiries month over month, even if they’re small?
That’s momentum. And in marketing, momentum almost always precedes results.
What To Do With What You Find
Once you have a pulse on what’s working:
Do more of it! Double down on the channels and messages that are performing.
Tweak what’s underperforming. Change the format, timing, or message.
Drop what’s consistently draining you. If it’s not helping, it’s hurting.
Look at your numbers monthly, NOT DAILY OR WEEKLY. Patterns, not perfection, are what you’re looking for.
If you’re at client of ours, you’ll get reports from us monthly, quarterly, and yearly. By looking at numbers in broader scopes like this, we’re better able to find patterns and identify momentum areas that truly drive the growth you’re looking for.
When It Might Be Time To Bring In Help
Even with all this clarity, some seasons call for backup.
It might be time to work with a marketing partner if:
You’re looking at analytics… and still aren’t sure what it means
You’re consistently posting and promoting but nothing’s converting
You’re too busy running your business to figure out what’s actually working
At Mettle Marketing Co., we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all strategies. We believe in clarity, connection, and marketing that actually works. If you’re feeling stuck, we’d love to help you uncover the simple next steps that lead to real results.
Book a free discovery call and let’s figure out what’s working and what’s not together.
FAQ
Q: What’s a “good” engagement rate on social media?
For most small businesses, anything above 1% is healthy. Above 3% is great. Find more industry specific knowledge here.
Q: What’s the best tool to track website performance?
Google Analytics is free, powerful, and perfect for beginners. We can help you set it up if needed.
Q: Should I track marketing weekly or monthly?
Monthly is usually best. Weekly data can be noisy—monthly gives you more accurate trends.