MARKETING AUDIT

A marketing audit that tells you the truth.

A marketing audit is a top to bottom review of what you spend, what you say and what it actually returns. John Graham Seeliger reviews your marketing with 40 years of perspective and gives you a plain, prioritized list: keep this, stop that, fix this first. Blunt assessments. Zero fluff.

LET'S TALK Send a message

By John Graham Seeliger, Principal and CSO Updated

What does a marketing audit look at?

Everything that touches a customer before they buy: who you target, what you say, where you say it, what it costs and what comes back. We look for gaps, bottlenecks, hidden revenue and unicorns.

Most audits we do turn up the same three things. Money going to a channel nobody can prove works. A message that describes the company instead of the customer's problem. And at least one opportunity sitting in plain sight, often in the customers you already have.

That last one is common. An Arizona bank we worked with wanted new customers; the research showed their current clients knew nothing about the bank's other products. Retargeting inward produced 30% business growth.

What we review

  • Your customers: who buys, who doesn't and why
  • Your message and offer, against your competitors
  • Every channel you pay for, and what it returns
  • Your website and how people contact you
  • Your sales follow up (where many leads die)
  • Your budget: what to keep, cut or move

You get a written report and a working session to walk through it, with the fixes ranked by impact.

WARNING SIGNS

How do you know your marketing isn't working?

  • Busy, but not growing

    Clicks, likes and views are up. Sales aren't. Attention is being bought, but not the right attention.

  • Nobody can say what pays

    You spend in several places and can't name which one brings in customers. That's the first thing we find out.

  • Leads that don't close

    Plenty of inquiries, few sales. The problem may be the audience, the offer or the follow up, not the advertising.

  • You sound like everyone else

    Put your ad next to a competitor's with the names covered. If you can't tell them apart, neither can your customers.

  • Sales went flat

    What used to work stopped working. Markets shift; the marketing has to shift with them.

  • The agency picks the plan

    If the people selling you a channel are also deciding your strategy, get a second opinion.

What happens after the audit?

You decide. Some businesses take the list and fix it themselves. Others have us build a new marketing strategy from the findings, or bring John on as a fractional CMO to see it through.

Either way you leave with something useful: a clear picture of where your money goes, and what to do next. And if you're on the right track, we'll tell you that too.

"Thanks for helping us out of a jam. What a pleasure to deal with a competent, no nonsense professional for a change!"

Bonny Lepore, Print and Advertising Director, Yaffe Advertising (Phoenix, AZ)

QUESTIONS

Straight answers.

How long does a marketing audit take?

Weeks, not months. The exact timing depends on how many channels you run and how quickly we can get access to the numbers, and you get the date up front.

What do I need to provide for a marketing audit?

Access to your ad accounts, website analytics and sales figures where possible, examples of your marketing, and an hour or two of your time for the opening conversation. If you don't track much yet, that is a finding too.

How much does a marketing audit cost?

It depends on the size of the business and the number of channels. The first conversation is free, and you get a written quote before we start.

Is a marketing audit worth it for a small business?

Often more than for a large one, because every wasted dollar hurts more. Small businesses usually get the fastest payback from cutting what doesn't work. See small business marketing.

Will you tell us if our marketing is fine?

Yes. No sugar coating, no pressure. If you are on the right track, the report will say so.

KEEP EXPLORING

LET'S TALK

Ready when you are.

Not sure if you need help? No worries. A quick conversation costs nothing, and you'll know exactly where you stand. Plus, what your next step should be. If any. No sugar coating, no pressure, no BS. Call now. And if you're on the right track, we'll tell you that too.

Start the conversation.

Phone:
602.558.7540

Email:
johngseeliger@cox.net
jgs@creativestrategiesmktg.com

Location:
Phoenix, AZ, serving the Phoenix metro and all of Arizona

What's going on?

By sending this form you agree to our Privacy Policy.