Why isn’t my current marketing strategy bringing in leads?

You’re showing up. You’re posting, promoting, maybe even running some ads. But the leads? They’re either nonexistent or not what you hoped for.

Maybe you feel like you’re getting crickets. Maybe you’re getting interest from people who just aren’t a good fit for your product or service because they aren’t ready, aren’t aligned, or you simply don’t want to work with them (psst, that’s okay if you don’t want to work with everyone who comes in your doors!).

Sound familiar?

At Mettle Marketing Co., we hear this all the time in our discovery calls in one way or another but it can be boiled down to two different versions of the same statement:

“We’re not getting any leads.”
”We’re getting leads… but they’re not a good fit.”

If you’re nodding along, this post is for you. Below is a short self-assessment to help uncover why your strategy might be falling flat and what to do about it.

Ask Yourself These 5 Questions

1. Do I have a clear strategy? Or just a list of things I’m doing?

   Random activity brings random (or no) results.

   If your marketing feels like a checklist… “post something,” “send a newsletter,” “run an ad,” but lacks intentional planning, you may be working hard without traction.

   Strategy attracts consistency. Randomness attracts silence (or the wrong people).

   Bonus Tip: if your marketing calendar looks like a bunch of “national holiday” posts (national donut day, national scavenger hunt day, etc.), then you’re probably on the side of “randomness” and not “strategy”

2. Am I targeting the right audience? Or just trying to reach anyone who will listen?

   If you’re not clear on who you’re trying to reach, you'r message simply won’t land.

   Too broad? You’ll attract low-quality leads.
   Too vague? You probably won’t attract anyone at all.

   Bonus Tip: look at your last few posts or ads from your ideal client’s perspective… would they look at it and say, “This is for me!”?

3. Is my messaging clear and aligned with the clients I want to serve?

   Your brand message should filter IN the right people and OUT the wrong ones.

   If your tone is unclear, your value isn’t obvious, or your visuals give mixed signals, potential leads are probably just scrolling past OR they’re reaching out without a clear picture of what you actually offer (& what you offer is MORE than just your product or service, it’s your personality, your voice, and your expertise).

   The right people don’t just need to find you, they need to recognize themselves in your content.

4. Do I have strong, clear calls to action?

   You might be showing up, but are you inviting people into something?

   No CTA (call-to-action) = no action.
   Vague CTA = vague response.
   The right CTA connects where your audience is right now to the next logical step.

   Bonus Tip: CTAs can look different in different places and you should have a mix of them in your marketing for the different stages your ideal client might be in (ie., “Comment below if this resonates with you,” “comment GUIDE if you want more information sent directly to your inbox,” “click ‘JOIN NOW’ if you’re ready to jump in”)

5. Am I building trust or just trying to get attention?

   This is especially true for quality leads: they need to feel confident before they commit.

   If your marketing is all about visibility but lacks relationship, depth, or value, people may watch but never act.

   High-quality leads come from connection. No trust, no traction.

What Your Answers Might Be Telling You

If you’re getting no leads (or the wrong ones), the issue might not simply be effort, it’s alignment.
And that’s a good thing. Because alignment is fixable.

You probably don’t need to do more. You just need to refocus.
You need to get clearer on who you’re talking to, what you’re saying, and what they need to hear next.

When It’s Time to Bring in Outside Eyes

If you’ve been consistent but stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure why you’re attracting silence (or the wrong crowd), it might be time for help.

At Mettle Marketing Co., we help purpose-driven businesses clarify their strategy, simplify their messaging, and start drawing in the people they’re actually excited to work with.

Book a free discovery call and let’s troubleshoot what’s not working together.

FAQ

Q: What if I’m getting leads, but none of them convert?
This usually means something is misaligned—your message might be attracting interest, but not from the right people. Time to re-evaluate your targeting and call to action.

Q: What if I’m not getting any leads at all?
Start by reviewing your strategy. Are you visible enough? Are you showing up where your ideal client is? Is your content clear and audience-specific? If not, that’s likely where the breakdown is happening.

Q: What’s the difference between brand awareness and lead generation?
Brand awareness helps people recognize you. Lead generation invites them to take the next step. You need both—but if you’re not converting, your funnel may be heavy on awareness and light on clarity.