Running a business means juggling a lot—marketing is just one part of that. And while you might think your website, social media, and ads are doing fine, an online marketing audit can be a bit like a surprise check-up.
Sometimes, it reveals things you didn’t even realize were happening—both the good and the not-so-great.
But here’s the upside: those unexpected findings can offer valuable opportunities for growth and improvement.
Let’s take a look at 6 surprising things an online marketing audit might reveal about your business, and why they matter.
1. You’re Talking to the Wrong People
Think you’ve nailed down your target audience? An audit might say otherwise. It’s easy to assume that your content is reaching the right people, but data can tell a very different story.
Imagine you own a high-end landscaping service. You’re getting a ton of traffic to your website, but after an audit, you realize that most of your visitors are renters who don’t even have a yard!
Oops.
Instead of reaching homeowners who can actually hire you, your efforts are wasted on the wrong group.
Once you have this insight, you can tweak your content and advertising to speak directly to your true target—homeowners with sprawling backyards who are ready to pay for a professional touch.
2. Your Best Content Is Hiding in Plain Sight
Sometimes, your most valuable content isn’t getting the attention it deserves. An audit can spotlight which pages or posts are quietly performing well—and which could be doing even better.
For example, you run an online store selling eco-friendly beauty products. Your audit reveals that an old blog post on “5 Natural Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare” is still driving tons of traffic.
But here’s the catch: that post is buried in your blog archives.
By giving it a fresh update and linking it to your homepage, you could get even more eyes on it—and boost sales of the products you mention in the article. Think of it as finding hidden treasure in your own backyard.
3. Your Website Might Be Slow (And It’s Hurting You)
No one likes waiting for a website to load, especially not potential customers.
If your site takes too long to appear, visitors might leave before they’ve even seen what you have to offer.
Let’s say you own a local bakery, and you’ve filled your homepage with beautiful, high-resolution photos of your cakes and pastries.
It looks great, but an audit reveals that those large images are slowing down your site. Customers are clicking away before they even see your daily specials!
One way to fix that is to optimize those images and speed up your site. You can keep those cake-lovers on your page long enough to place an order.
4. Your Competitors Are Outranking You for Surprising Reasons
Ever wonder why your competitors seem to be showing up higher on search engines? An audit can dig into the details and show you exactly where they’re pulling ahead.
For a boutique clothing store, this may reveal that a nearby competitor is outranking you on Google—not because their clothes are better, but because they’ve written a popular blog post on “How to Style Summer Dresses for Every Occasion.”
Now that you know, you can create something similar (or even better!) content to attract those same visitors to your site.
Sometimes, it’s the little things, like a well-placed blog post, that can make a big difference in bringing in new customers.
5. Your Social Media Isn’t Sending the Right Message
You might be posting regularly on social media, but are you saying what your audience wants to hear? An audit can show you if your posts are actually connecting with your followers—or if they’re missing the mark.
For example, you own a wellness studio offering yoga and meditation classes. You’re constantly posting updates about class schedules and membership deals.
Unfortunately, your marketing audit reveals that your audience isn’t engaging with those posts. Why?
Maybe they’re more interested in tips for staying calm during stressful times or how to practice mindfulness at home.
When you shift your content to focus more on what your audience cares about—stress relief and mindfulness—you’ll not only increase engagement but also build a stronger connection with your community.
6. Your Ads Might Be Missing the Mark
Even if you’re running paid ads, they might not be delivering the results you hoped for.
A marketing audit can tell you if your ads are too broad, too narrow, or just not resonating with the right audience.
Take, for example, a home cleaning service that’s running Facebook ads targeting homeowners. Sounds good, right?
Digging deeper may show you that the ads are being shown to people in cities where you don’t even operate. All that ad spend is going to waste!
By refining the target audience to specific zip codes where you offer your services, you can get better results without spending more money.
Get Your Free Marketing Audit Today
Marketing is hard enough without flying blind. A free marketing audit shines a light on the stuff you might be missing – maybe it’s a blog post that’s quietly bringing in tons of traffic, or maybe your ads are targeting the wrong people entirely.
Either way, wouldn’t you rather know?
Here at CMC Advertising, we offer free marketing audits because we think every business deserves a chance to see the big picture.
It’s not about selling you something – it’s about showing you what’s possible.
Call 619-337-8088 or send us a message to get the ball rolling – a member of the CMC Advertising team will be with you ASAP!
