The $500 Marketing Audit You Can Do Yourself
Not sure if your marketing is working—or where it’s falling flat? A digital marketing strategy audit reveals what’s broken, what’s working, and how to fix it fast. No fluff, just real insights to help you grow smarter.
How to stop wasting money and start making your marketing work harder—without hiring anyone.
Let’s cut to it: if you’re a small business owner, consultant, or solopreneur, you’ve probably wondered...
“Is this website/ad/social thing actually working… or am I just setting money on fire?”
You’re not alone.
The good news? You don’t need to hire a high-priced agency to find out. You can run your own marketing audit—right now—using this guide. I call it the $500 audit because that’s what folks usually pay me to do it. But today? You’re doing it DIY style.
Grab a coffee (or whiskey). Let’s go.
✅ Step 1: The Website Gut Check
First impressions = digital trust.
Ask yourself (and a brutally honest friend):
- Can someone tell what I do in 5 seconds?
- If your homepage headline could apply to any business, it’s too vague.
- Bonus: Say what you do, who it’s for, and what they get. Fast.
- Is there a clear next step?
- “Book a call,” “Get a quote,” “See pricing”—whatever it is, make it stupidly obvious.
- Is it mobile-friendly and fast?
- Test on PageSpeed Insights
- If it loads like dial-up in 1999, you're losing leads.
- Are there trust signals?
- Testimonials, client logos, reviews, certifications, anything that says, “Other humans trust me.”
Score it:
If your site is confusing, slow, or vague, that’s Strike One.
📣 Step 2: Ads That Actually Sell (Not Just Spend)
If you’re running Google or Facebook/Instagram ads, ask:
- Do I know what I'm paying per lead or per sale?
- If not, you're just guessing—and that’s not marketing, it’s gambling.
- Are my campaigns optimized for the right goal?
- Facebook: Are you optimizing for “Leads”? “Traffic”? “Engagement”? These are very different.
- Is my offer clear and compelling?
- A $10 off coupon won’t move the needle if your ad sounds like a textbook.
- Say it plain. Give people a reason to care.
- Is the landing page consistent with the ad?
- If your ad talks about free shipping but the page doesn’t mention it? Drop-off city.
Score it:
If your ads don’t match your offer or your goals aren’t tracked, that’s Strike Two.
📱 Step 3: Social Media Reality Check
Vanity metrics ≠ business results.
- Are you posting for your audience—or for yourself?
- Your content should help, entertain, or connect. Not just say, “We exist.”
- Do your posts have CTAs (calls to action)?
- Even if it’s just “DM me for more info,” always invite the next step.
- Are you tracking what’s working?
- Look at reach, saves, clicks—not just likes.
- Is your profile bio optimized?
- Make it clear what you do and who you help. Add a link that leads somewhere useful.
Score it:
If your profile is unclear and your content doesn’t help or invite engagement, Strike Three.
🧠 Bonus Step: The Message Test
Would you say it like this in real life?
Look at your website, ads, and social and ask:
“Would I actually say this out loud to a customer?”
If the answer is “hell no,” rewrite it. Marketing shouldn’t sound like a robot with a marketing degree. Speak human.
💡 TL;DR – Your DIY $500 Audit Checklist
| Area | What You’re Looking For |
|---|---|
| Website | Clear value, CTA, fast load, mobile-friendly |
| Ads | Clear goals, tracked conversions, offer/landing page match |
| Social | Audience-first posts, good bio, engagement-driven |
| Messaging | Human, helpful, and actually readable |
🎯 Now What?
If you found some weak spots—awesome. That’s progress. Now you can fix them.
Want a second set of eyes? That’s what I do. I’ll run this same audit with deeper insights and a battle-tested action plan.
📅 [Book a Marketing Audit With Me] – or try it yourself first, then bring your questions.
No jargon. No fluff. Just results.
