5 Ways to Unfuck Your Marketing & Advertising
Marketing and advertising can make or break a business. Yet, so many companies continue to sabotage their own success by making avoidable mistakes—whether it’s chasing shiny new trends, skimping on their budget, or refusing to trust experts who actually know what they’re doing.
If you’re serious about fixing your marketing and advertising, here are five brutally honest ways to unfuck it.
1. Know What You Know—And More Importantly, Know What You DON’T Know
Look, just because you watched a YouTube video on marketing doesn’t mean you’re a marketing expert. You wouldn’t build a house because you saw a tutorial on home construction, so why would you try to DIY your marketing and advertising?
There’s a reason successful businesses hire professionals. Strategic media placement, ad targeting, creative development, and branding all require expertise, experience, and data-driven decision-making.
If you don’t understand how to craft an effective marketing campaign, when and where to advertise, or how to build brand recognition—then defer to the experts. Winging it is not a strategy.
2. Stop Chasing Shiny New Trends Without a Strategy
Every year, some new marketing trend emerges that businesses feel obligated to jump on. Sometimes it’s TikTok. Sometimes it’s AI-generated content. Sometimes it’s influencer marketing.
Here’s the reality: Not every trend is right for your business.
Just because it’s possible to market your business on a new platform doesn’t mean it’s profitable or even relevant to your audience. Before you start throwing money at the next big thing, ask a professional if it makes sense for your business.
3. Stop Trying to Do Marketing on a Shoestring Budget
This might be tough to hear, but if you’re not budgeting properly for marketing and advertising, your business is already screwed.
Marketing is not an optional expense—it’s the engine that drives customer acquisition, brand awareness, and sales. If you only invest in marketing when sales are slow, you’re already too late.
Businesses fail not just because they lack sales, but because they are underfunded and unable to sustain growth. If you’re cutting corners in marketing, you’re crippling your business before it even has a chance to thrive.
Make marketing a priority. Budget for it. Plan for it. Invest in it. Every single month.
4. Build a Brand That Doesn’t Look Like a Cheap Afterthought
Branding is more than just a logo—it’s the identity of your business. And yet, so many companies treat it like an afterthought:
- Using random fonts and colors with no consistency
- Slapping together a logo from Fiverr that looks like it was made in 30 seconds
- Using stock photos that don’t reflect your brand personality
Your brand should be intentional, cohesive, and professional. Every piece of your marketing—from your website to your business cards to your social media presence—should reflect the same high-quality, well-thought-out identity.
If your branding looks cheap, inconsistent, or amateurish, that’s exactly what your audience will assume about your business.
5. Stay in Your Lane (And Leave Your Ego at the Door)
Not everyone is cut out to be the face of their brand—and that’s okay.
Some business owners insist on starring in their own commercials, video ads, or social media content, even when they have zero charisma, terrible camera presence, and no ability to communicate their message effectively.
If you aren’t good on camera, don’t force it.
There are better ways to showcase your brand without making yourself the centerpiece. Let professionals handle the visuals, voiceovers, and ad creatives. Focus on running your business, not feeding your vanity.
Conclusion: Fix It Before It Fails
If your marketing isn’t working, it’s probably because you’re doing it wrong.
The good news? Mad Men Marketing is here to help. We cut through the bullshit, build real strategies that actually drive results, and help businesses stop wasting time and money on ineffective marketing.
Ready to unfuck your advertising? Contact Mad Men Marketing today and let’s do this the right way.