Is Your Marketing Actually Working? Try Our 3-Minute Scorecard
If you run a small business or nonprofit, you’ve probably had this thought: “We should be doing more marketing.” And then the next question follows immediately: “Where do we even start?”
Most small business owners are excellent at what they do, but they don’t always have the time, tools, or expertise to market their business consistently … They’re posting occasionally on social media, updating their website every once in a while, maybe sending an email now and then.
But it’s hard to tell whether any of it is actually working. Marketing can start to feel like throwing things into the void and hoping something sticks.
Before you add another platform or try another tactic, it helps to step back and look at the basics. That’s why we created the IMJG 3-Minute Marketing Scorecard.
What Actually Makes Marketing Work
Across most small businesses and nonprofits, the same few things determine whether marketing is effective.
Clear Messaging - If someone lands on your website, can they understand what you do in five seconds or less? Too many websites focus on the organization instead of clearly explaining the problem they solve for customers or clients.
Audience Focus - Marketing works best when you know exactly who you’re trying to reach. Trying to speak to “everyone” usually means the message doesn’t land with anyone in particular. The more clearly you understand your ideal customer, client, or supporter, the easier it is to communicate in ways that resonate.
A Website That Guides Action - Your website should make it obvious what someone should do next. Call. Schedule. Donate. Visit. Subscribe. If someone has to search for the next step, there’s a good chance they’ll simply leave.
Consistent Content - Consistency matters more than volume. You don’t need to post on social media every day or publish constant updates. But people should see signs that your organization is active, engaged, and present. A simple, repeatable content rhythm is often more effective than bursts of activity followed by silence.
Visibility - Even strong organizations struggle when not enough people know they exist. Visibility can come from many places. Social media, partnerships, press coverage, search results, referrals, and community presence all play a role. The key is choosing a few channels and showing up consistently.
Try the IMJG 3-Minute Marketing Scorecard
Because these areas are interconnected, it can be difficult to know which one needs attention first.
That’s exactly why we created a short Marketing Scorecard to help small businesses and nonprofits evaluate their marketing foundation.
The scorecard takes about three minutes and walks through the key elements that influence whether marketing efforts lead to real results.
After you complete it, you’ll receive:
• A score based on your responses
• A short explanation of what that score means
• Suggestions for where you may want to focus first
For many organizations, this quick exercise brings immediate clarity.
Take the 3-Minute Marketing Scorecard now.
Why this clarity matters …
Many businesses assume their next step is a new website, a new logo, or another social media platform. Sometimes those things help, but often the real issue is simpler—unclear messaging, undefined audience segments, too many scattered marketing efforts. When those pieces become clear, marketing starts to feel much more manageable.
That’s the kind of work we focus on at IMJG Marketing. Helping organizations simplify their marketing, clarify their message, and build real momentum.
Want Help Interpreting Your Results?
If you complete the Marketing Scorecard and want to talk through your results, we’re always happy to schedule a free 30-minute consultation. Sometimes a brief discussion is enough to identify one or two adjustments that will make the biggest difference for your unique business. And, sometimes it’s simply helpful to talk with someone who spends their days helping organizations solve exactly these challenges.