If You’re Asking “Is This Even Working?”—It Probably Isn’t
Most home service business owners don’t expect instant results from marketing. They understand that SEO takes time, ads need testing, and reputation building is a process. But patience doesn’t mean ignoring problems.
If your gut is telling you something’s off—or you’re starting to lose confidence in the agency or vendor you’re paying—listen to that. The best marketing relationships are built on clarity, progress, and consistent communication. When those go missing, something deeper is usually wrong.
In this article, we’ll walk through the most common red flags that your marketing partner isn’t delivering real results. These are the early warning signs that it’s time to dig in, ask better questions, or start looking elsewhere.
1. You Don’t Know What They Did Last Month
One of the clearest signs of trouble is when you can't answer the question, “What did we pay for?” If your agency or freelancer can’t tell you what they delivered—or you never received a report or summary—you’re flying blind.
Transparency doesn’t mean flooding you with jargon or meaningless stats. It means showing you the actual work done and how it connects to outcomes. If you’re left guessing, that’s not strategy. That’s avoidance.
2. The Only Metrics You See Are Clicks and Impressions
Marketing reports should reflect your business goals. That means reporting on leads, phone calls, form fills, booked jobs, or at minimum, trackable actions that connect to sales.
If all you're seeing are impressions, clicks, or reach—without conversion data or real business context—you’re only getting part of the picture. And often, that’s the part that looks better than it performs.
High activity doesn’t mean high value. If your reports are heavy on volume and light on results, ask why.
3. You Keep Hearing “It Just Takes Time”—With No Timeline
Yes, some marketing efforts take time. But that’s not a license to drift. A good agency sets benchmarks and timelines. You should know what they’re working on now, what you can expect in the next 30 to 60 days, and what kind of progress markers you’ll be watching for.
If every question is met with vague delays or excuses, that’s a red flag. Strategy involves forecasting. If you never hear what’s next, it’s time to push for answers.
4. You Feel Like You’re Chasing Them
Healthy marketing partnerships include proactive communication. If you’re the one always initiating meetings, asking for updates, or trying to understand what’s happening, something’s off.
You shouldn’t have to chase someone to care about your growth. Agencies that lead well stay in touch, share updates before you ask, and take responsibility for performance.
If you’re doing all the follow-up, you’re probably doing more of the marketing leadership than they are.
5. There’s No Improvement Plan When Things Don’t Work
No marketing campaign works perfectly the first time. That’s normal. But when something underperforms, your partner should have a plan to adjust. If your ads aren’t converting or your traffic isn’t turning into leads, the conversation should shift to solutions, not silence.
If your agency shrugs or blames the algorithm without bringing a plan to fix it, that’s a sign they’re managing spend, not managing strategy.
Good Partners Don’t Just Show You Data. They Show You Direction
Marketing should never feel like a black box. You deserve to know where your money is going, what results it’s producing, and what the plan is moving forward.
If something feels off, trust your instincts. Ask hard questions. And don’t settle for partners who dodge, distract, or delay.
Clarity, accountability, and proactive communication aren’t luxuries. They’re the basics. And if you’re not getting those, you’re not getting real results.
