In our last article, When Metrics Mislead, we explored why strong performance on the surface doesn’t always translate to commercial impact. We found that marketing dashboards can look healthy, yet revenue targets still fall short.

So once you’ve spotted the gaps, how do you move fast and fix what matters?

The answer often lies in small, overlooked opportunities that are easier to act on than you might think. Here’s how we suggest you spot them.

HubSpot’s The 2025 State of Marketing Report¹ found that only 31% of marketers claim that data helps determine their most effective marketing strategies. Most are reacting, reporting or delaying important improvements until there’s "more time". Does that sound familiar?

But major gains don't always require major changes. In fact, some of the most valuable results come from quick fixes hiding in plain sight. How do you go about spotting them?

Most marketing teams have plenty of data. Too much, sometimes, if we’re honest. But too often, reports are filled with clicks, impressions and traffic volume. These don’t always show whether marketing is really driving outcomes. Worse, they can hide underperformance where it matters most.

Ask yourself:

• Are reports clearly separating activity from outcome metrics?
• Do all your teams agree on what success looks like?
• Is your attribution model tracking the full customer journey, not just last touch?
• Are you reviewing performance by segment, such as channel, audience or funnel stage?

Paid, organic, and email channels can all show positive numbers on their own – but users don’t interact with one channel at a time. Conversions suffer when those channels are disconnected.

Ask yourself:

• Can you describe the full user path from first click to conversion?
• Do all touchpoints align in message and intent?
• Are calls-to-action (CTAs) consistent across platforms?
• Do teams share campaign goals and timing?

High effort doesn't always equal high impact. If marketing, sales and finance define success differently, teams pull in different directions. And as the saying goes, that’s a great way of going nowhere fast.

Ask yourself:

• Do all teams define a qualified lead the same way?
• Are campaign results reviewed together, not just in silos?
• Are your KPIs focused on outcomes like sales-qualified leads or return on investment?

Your campaigns are doing their job. They’re sending people to your site. But if that experience doesn’t deliver, visitors drop off before taking action.

Ask yourself:

• Are mobile load times fast enough?
• Is the primary CTA visible and easy to act on?
• Does on-page content match what visitors expect?
• Have you used scroll or heatmaps to track how users behave?

When teams are at full capacity testing slows down and priorities get pushed aside. The right ideas are all there, but no one has time to act on them.

Ask yourself:

• Is your team spending more time reporting than improving?
• Could one change in copy, layout or timing unlock better results?
• Are new ideas being tested, or just added to the queue?

Easy wins often hide in plain sight. That’s why we created our Performance Marketing Audit. It helps you step back, focus fast and act on what really drives performance at all levels.

Get in touch, and let us help uncover the easy wins you might be missing.

¹Source: HubSpot (2024). The State of Marketing Report. Retrieved from https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing