There’s about a gazillion ways to do marketing.
So there’s no need for you to do it in a way that doesn’t feel good to you.
Because here’s the truth: if your marketing is even just *the slightest bit* disconnected? It will feel forced, lose your audience’s trust, and drain your energy SO HARD you’ll be lying on the floor frustrated, bawling your eyes out, and second-guessing every move.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated: you probably won’t actually be on the floor crying.
But you’ll still have that sinking sensation in your stomach, that one where you just know something is off, and it will stop you from doing what you should be doing: executing on your marketing strategy so you can get the awareness, sales, profit, and impact you desire.
So how do you know for sure if something is out of sync? And what do you DO if you realise that something is off?
Read on for the 7 signs your marketing is out of alignment with your values and what you can do about it.
Because when every single message, campaign, strategy, and interaction deeply aligns with your mission and values, marketing stops feeling like a chore. Instead, it becomes a powerful force for connection, trust, and that legacy-building impact you so dream of.
And that force? It’s unstoppable.
Sign #1: You Feel Uncomfortable With Some Parts of Your Marketing Strategy
It could be a promotional tactic that feels a little overly pushy. Or your social media posts — which sound more like a generic sales pitch from Robocop than your brand’s unique voice. Or it might even be your automated sales funnel — which is so scripted, impersonal, and boring that any potential client or donor will just feel like another number in the system instead of someone you actually care about.
No matter what it is: something just feels off.
And if you feel this way? You better pay attention.
Because it’s the BIGGEST sign that your marketing is out of alignment with your values.
And while that might seem a little obvious, it is also the sign that most often gets ignored.
I’ve noticed so many amazing entrepreneurs and businesses push through this uncomfortableness, feeling like they “have to” use certain tactics in their strategy to get the the results they hope, quite often following advice they’ve seen online or received from a so-called expert with their “magical marketing formula” who has no clue or care that marketing for is different for everyone.
So pay attention, okay? And make some changes if you notice this sign.
What to do if you notice this sign: reflect on your marketing strategy. What parts about it feel uncomfortable? Can you figure out why? What exactly makes you feel like this? How could you change this so you stop feeling uncomfortable about executing your strategy?
Sign #2: You Can’t Remember the Last Time You Felt Excited About a Campaign
You hit “publish” on your latest marketing campaign… but instead of excitement, you feel like you couldn’t really care less.
“What will it matter anyway?“
If you feel like you’re just checking boxes, pushing through campaigns because you feel like you “have to”, instead of feeling so damn excited about the potential impact that new campaign you just launched could have on the community you’re trying to reach?
Then that might also point to a disconnect between your marketing and your mission and/or values.
Especially if you’re frequently questioning the why behind your marketing, that’s a sign that your marketing strategy may have drifted from its true purpose. Questions like“Does this even make sense?” like to “Why are we doing this?” are good examples of this.
What to do if you notice this sign: have another look at your purpose, mission, and values. Consider what you are truly trying to achieve with the work you do and then align every single effort with that mission. This will help your marketing shift from “box-checking” to real, meaningful engagement. Before launching your next campaign, also ask yourself: Does this support our long-term goals? Does it resonate with the people we want to serve? And how does it contribute in a meaningful way to the impact we are trying to make?
Sign #3: You Feel Like You’re Chasing Trends Rather Than Leading With Your Purpose
Ahhh, trends.
We love them.
They can help increase your reach (think of the trendy sounds on Instagram reels for example).
But there’s also a pitfall many social impact-driven businesses fall into: chasing trends just to get that reach even when it doesn’t align with their values or really doesn’t get them in front of the right audience with the right message.
So if you find yourself jumping on every new marketing trend — just because “everyone else is doing it” and it might help increase your reach? That’s a very clear sign that you’re losing touch with the foundation of your strategy.
And while staying up to date with trends IS important, if you’re only following what’s popular instead of focusing on what’s true to your mission, you might end up diluting your brand’s message or confusing your audience.
What to do: before using a trend in your marketing, take a moment to reflect on why you’re using it. Is it truly beneficial to your goals and mission, and does it fit your message and audience, or are you just going along with the flow? Remember that staying authentic and having a unique approach in your marketing will help you stand out — so tailor your marketing to YOUR unique brand and focus on approaches that reflect your values and mission, rather than trying to replicate what’s working for someone else.
Sign #4: Your Brand Feels Disjointed Across Different Platforms
Do your messaging, visuals, and tone vary wildly across different platforms?
That could also be a sign that your marketing strategy isn’t unified or aligned with your core values.
For example, your website may convey one message, but your social media accounts may use a completely different tone or set of priorities. This inconsistency can make your brand feel fragmented and confuse your audience about what it is you truly stand for.
Of course, it’s important to target your approach for each platform: e.g. different social media platforms have different things that work for them — but make sure you do it in a way that feels consistent across platforms.
What to do: ensure that your brand message is consistent across all platforms. Your values should be reflected in every single piece of communication — whether it’s a blog post, email, or social media post. This build trust and a stronger connection with your audience.
Sign #5: You’re Constantly Tweaking or Rewriting Your Messaging
If you’re spending more time trying to perfect your messaging than actually executing on your marketing strategy or constantly rewriting and tweaking copy, that can indicate that you’re not fully confident in your messaging.
And most of the time? That means there’s a disconnect between what you’re saying and what you really want to say.
This can come from one of three things:
- A lack of clarity on what you want to stand for and your values
- A fear of how your message will be perceived or some other mindset issue (e.g. perfectionism)
- No clear alignment across your business and team on what your messaging is and how to write
You want your messaging to speak to the specific needs, challenges, or desires of your audience.
BUT: you also want it to feel connected to what you and your business stands for.
And usually when you start saying the things you really want to say, the things that need to be said and that you truly stand for (fear be damned), that’s when you manage to reach the people you want to reach and make the impact you want.
Instead, if you’re afraid of putting your message out there, or your marketing messages feel too generic or “one-size-fits-all” or disjointed, as though they could apply to anyone, it could indicate a disconnect with your mission or values.
Remember: the mission is more important than the fear.
And clarity is what will get you and your team to feel confident in your messaging.
So clarify and then SHARE the message you truly stand for – consistently and bravely.
What to do: take a step back and evaluate your content. Does it feel authentic? Does it reflect your mission and values? Does something feel off and — if yes — what? Refine your messaging where needed to make it more targeted and in alignment with your values and what you stand for. Clarity is key here! So pay some extra attention to making sure you’re very clear and very aligned on what you stand for and then consistently insert that message into every single piece of content you put out.
Sign #6: You’re Getting Unusual, Negative, or Less Reactions From Your Audience
Maybe your campaigns aren’t getting the engagement they used to. Or you’re seeing a decline in donor or client retention. Hell, you might even be getting a lot more negative feedback and complaints than usual.
If your audience is starting to react differently — whether that’s fewer comments, fewer likes, more unsubscribes, or more people questioning your motives — it’s a symptom that something may be off in your marketing approach.
It signals that your marketing feels disconnected from the expectations or values of your audience or from the real-world impact you’re trying to create. Which means you have probably lost sight of what’s truly important to your audience, so they aren’t connecting with your message the way they once did.
This is one of the hardest ones on this list to fix quickly, because trust has probably eroded.
So you gotta get on this ASAP — and take it as an opportunity to reconnect with the needs and interest from your audience and community, fine-tune your approach, and rebuild trust with your community.
What to do: Pay close attention the feedback you’re getting. What are people saying? What are their concerns? What do they need? Take a step back and ask yourself if your messaging still speaks to the issues, values, and emotions that matter most to your audience. Reconnect with their needs and interests and adjust your marketing to reflect this. Regularly check in with your audience and community as well to make sure you’re still addressing their most pressing challenges and needs.
Sign #7: Getting Results Feels Like a Constant Struggle
If you’re feeling like marketing is an uphill battle — where every social media post, every marketing campaign, and every email feels like you’re pushing against the tide — it might be a sign that your approach has become misaligned with your purpose and values.
Some red flags that might be a dead giveaway sign for this:
- You feel like you can’t catch a break, like you need to hustle constantly to get a shimmer of results
- You find yourself constantly competing on price or giving out discounts to try and get a sale
- You’re trying to outdo your competitors rather than focusing on building collaborations or community
- You notice yourself disengaging from tracking results: engagement, clicks, conversions, …
And here’s the thing: when you’re marketing strategy is truly aligned? You’ll feel rested, won’t feel the need to compete on price because you know the right people will see your value, will happily build relationships and do collaborations within your field (however that looks like), and tracking progress on the impact you make will feel MEANINGFUL, not just another irrelevant chore.
So if you’re seeing a gap between the struggle you’re having and the results you’re getting, it’s time to reassess.
What to do: shift your mindset from “hustle” to “connection” and try to reconnect with what first inspired you to start your business. Why are you doing this? And what changes would help you find joy in your marketing again? Consider adopting a more intentional and sustainable approach that prioritises long-term growth — and ask yourself: what does that mean for you? Now go implement.
So what to do if you notice one of these signs?
When your marketing feels off-track, it’s not always obvious at first — but if you’re noticing any of these signs?
It’s time to pause and reassess.
A marketing strategy that’s aligned with your values should feel good to execute and connect deeply with your audience.
If you’re not seeing that, it’s a sign to realign and refocus on what truly matters.
Because if your marketing feels detached in *ANY* way, not only will it stop you from executing on your marketing strategy (which does not move the needle forward), it can also create a barrier between you and the people you want to serve.
And that’s the last thing you want.
Want some 1:1 support to help make sure your marketing is on point and truly reflects your mission and values?
In our Impact with Integrity Audit, we’ll make sure every single bit of your marketing is in full integrity with what you stand for. AND… we’ll go even further: we’ll look at how we can leverage your deepest values to the fullest so your marketing truly connects with the people you are trying to reach. This won’t just make you feel EXCITED AF about your marketing, it will also lead to more awareness, sales, and impact.
Let’s work together to create a strategy that truly aligns with your values and drives lasting change.
