Podcast: How Do I Know If My Marketing Is Actually Working? (and How to Fix It)

Our new Podcast is here! Watch the full digital marketing podcast on Youtube:

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Discover the Real ROI of Working With a Vancouver Digital Marketing Agency

Businesses across Canada are pouring budgets into digital marketing agencies, investing in everything from SEO services and PPC management services to video production and social media marketing companies. Yet for many, the results are frustrating: marketing feels like a black box, and the numbers that come back often don’t translate into real business growth.

Why is this happening? Far too many marketing agencies prioritize vanity metrics—impressions, likes, and traffic—over true business outcomes. The right agency doesn’t just “do marketing.” They focus on growth, profitability, and accountability. If your marketing partner can’t show you exactly how their work is driving leads, sales, and revenue, it’s time to rethink your strategy.

Vanity Metrics vs. Business Growth: What Your Marketing Agency Isn’t Telling You

Vanity metrics—like impressions, reach, or follower count—look impressive but rarely translate to business growth. The best digital marketing company will always prioritize measurable business outcomes:

• Qualified leads generated
• Sales and conversions (sign-ups, bookings, purchases)
• Revenue and profit growth

At Setsail Marketing, a leading Vancouver digital marketing agency, our focus is on performance marketing and inbound marketing that actually drives revenue—not just likes or clicks.

The Three Marketing Metrics Every Business Should Track

So what should you actually measure? The most effective marketing agencies focus on these three critical metrics:

1. Cost Per Lead (CPL) and Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)
2. Conversion Rate (CVR)
3. Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) or ROI

Tracking these figures—along with overall profit—gives you a real understanding of whether your marketing is working or not. Ignore them, and you risk making decisions based on noise instead of results.

Curious how we do it? Learn more about our approach to performance marketing.

How to Audit Your Customer Journey (and Why Most Digital Marketing Companies Don’t)

A truly successful marketing strategy isn’t just about launching campaigns; it’s about understanding exactly what’s working at each step of the customer journey. Most agencies stop short of real attribution. That’s a mistake.

Here’s how you can take control:

• Map Every Touchpoint: Document every interaction, from the first Google Ads impression to the final sale.
• Set Up Tracking: Use tools like Google Analytics, your CRM, and marketing automation to follow your customer’s entire path.
• Analyze Drop-Offs: Identify where leads drop off—and fix those friction points.
• Test Your Own Experience: Try your website design and development on both desktop and mobile. Is it easy to buy or inquire?

The truth: if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Check out Moz’s guide to marketing analytics for a deeper dive.

What Sets the Best Digital Marketing Agencies Apart?

When searching for a digital marketing agency near me, a PPC agency, or a social media marketing company, it’s easy to get lost in buzzwords and bold claims. Here’s what actually makes the difference:

• Proven Results: Ask for real case studies that show increases in leads, sales, and revenue—see ours.
• Transparent Reporting: Your agency should show you true numbers—CPA, CVR, ROI—so you always know what you’re paying for.
• Integrated Services: The most effective agencies handle everything in-house: SEO services, video production, web development, and social media management. This means no silos, no gaps, just results.
• Local Market Expertise: Partnering with a Vancouver-based team gives you insight and agility in your local market.

Building a relationship with a results-driven partner means your goals become their goals. You’ll know your marketing is making an impact—because you’ll see it on your P&L, not just in your inbox.

How AI and Automation Are Changing Digital Marketing Services

The landscape is changing fast. Today’s leading digital marketing agencies use AI and automation to launch campaigns quickly, run smarter attribution models, and create content more efficiently than ever.

But while AI can automate campaign deployment or optimize ad spend, it can’t replace strategic thinking. The most successful companies blend human expertise with cutting-edge tech, leveraging platforms like HubSpot and advanced CRM integrations to deliver exceptional results.

This is where a great marketing agency stands out—they use tools to amplify, not replace, the insights of their team.

Next Steps for Business Owners Ready to Grow

If you’re tired of paying for marketing that doesn’t move the needle, here’s what you can do now:

1. Audit Your Current Metrics: Are you measuring CPA, CVR, ROAS, and profit—or just impressions?
2. Review Attribution: Can you trace every qualified lead or sale to a specific channel or campaign?
3. Optimize Your Website: Make sure your web development and SEO efforts are built for conversion.
4. Choose a Results-Driven Partner: Work with a Vancouver digital marketing agency that’s focused on business outcomes, not fluff.
5. Leverage AI and Automation: Embrace new tools—but ensure your strategy is always led by experts.

Why Setsail Marketing?

With over 273 digital marketing projects delivered, Setsail Marketing is a B-Corp certified Vancouver digital marketing agency that delivers where it counts:

• Performance marketing and PPC management services
• SEO services and local marketing strategies
• Social media management and branded content
• Video production that converts
• Website design and development

We’re not here to impress you with empty numbers. We’re here to help your business scale, profit, and outpace your competition. Our team brings expertise, accountability, and transparency to every project.

Ready to see the difference a truly accountable marketing partner can make? Contact Setsail Marketing and let’s start building a marketing system that drives real, lasting business growth.