Common marketing problems: straight answers
Step-by-step fixes for the marketing problems Indian business owners face most, from silent websites and wasted ads to hacked sites and low reviews.
Questions on this page
- What to do if my website gets no enquiries: what should I check first?
- My website gets no enquiries. What should I do?
- What to do if my Google Ads are wasting money: where is it usually lost?
- My Google Ads are wasting money. What should I do?
- What to do if my Instagram is not growing: why does growth stall?
- My Instagram is not growing. What should I do?
- What to do if my brand looks outdated: how do I know it is?
- My brand looks outdated. What should I do?
- What to do if my competitors rank above me on Google: how do I find out why?
- My competitors rank above me on Google. What should I do?
- What to do if my business is not on Google Maps: why might it be missing?
- My business is not on Google Maps. What should I do?
- What to do if ChatGPT does not mention my business: why is it missing?
- ChatGPT does not mention my business. What should I do?
- What to do if my packaging does not stand out: how do I diagnose it?
- My packaging does not stand out. What should I do?
- What to do if my logo looks cheap: what makes a logo look cheap?
- My logo looks cheap. What should I do?
- What to do if I get leads but no sales: where does it break?
- I get leads but no sales. What should I do?
- What to do if my reviews are low: why are they low?
- My reviews are low. What should I do?
- What to do if my website is slow: what usually causes it?
- My website is slow. What should I do?
- What to do if my website is hacked: what are the signs?
- My website is hacked. What should I do?
- What to do if my domain expired: can I still get it back?
- My domain expired. What should I do?
- What to do if my ads account got suspended: why do suspensions happen?
- My ads account got suspended. What should I do?
- What to do if my social media agency is not performing: how do I judge it?
- My social media agency is not performing. What should I do?
- What to do if I don't know my target audience: how do I find it?
- I don't know my target audience. What should I do?
- What to do if I need more walk-ins: what drives walk-ins?
- I need more walk-ins. What should I do?
- What to do if I need more calls: what stops people calling?
- I need more calls. What should I do?
- What to do if I need more WhatsApp enquiries: why are there so few?
- I need more WhatsApp enquiries. What should I do?
What to do if my website gets no enquiries: what should I check first?
Check whether the problem is traffic or conversion first. Open Google Analytics and Search Console to see how many people visit and from where. If visits are low, the site is not being found. If visits are decent but enquiries are nil, the page fails to convince: unclear offer, slow mobile loading, hidden phone number or no WhatsApp button. Test every form and button yourself. BRANDSWOT Consultancy's free audit checks these points.
My website gets no enquiries. What should I do?
Fix the basics in this order: clear headline saying what you do and where, visible call and WhatsApp buttons, fast mobile speed, proof such as reviews and photos, and a simple form. Then bring traffic through Google Business Profile, local SEO and a small Google Ads test. Disha Hospital's appointment requests rose from 4–5 to 15–30 a month after its website rebuild.
What to do if my Google Ads are wasting money: where is it usually lost?
Most wasted Google Ads money goes on irrelevant searches, wrong locations and clicks that land on weak pages. Open the search terms report and add negative keywords for job seekers, free, DIY and unrelated services. Check location settings target people in your area, not just interested in it. Confirm conversion tracking works, otherwise Google optimises for the wrong goal.
My Google Ads are wasting money. What should I do?
Pause poor keywords, tighten targeting and send clicks to a focused landing page. Use phrase and exact match for your core services, set a radius you actually serve, schedule ads for business hours and track calls and WhatsApp as conversions. Review the search terms weekly. If an agency manages the account, ask for access and a monthly cost-per-enquiry report. BRANDSWOT Consultancy can audit the account first.
What to do if my Instagram is not growing: why does growth stall?
Instagram growth usually stalls because the content is generic, inconsistent or made for the owner rather than the audience. Check insights for which reels reached non-followers and why. Posts with only offers, festival wishes and stock images rarely travel. Accounts grow when they show real people, useful tips and behind-the-scenes work in the first seconds of a reel.
My Instagram is not growing. What should I do?
Post two or three reels a week built around one clear theme, with a hook in the first two seconds and captions on screen. Reply to every comment and DM quickly, collaborate with local creators and customers, and use location tags. Measure enquiries, not just followers. Small budgets on Meta ads can boost your best reels to the right local audience.
What to do if my brand looks outdated: how do I know it is?
Your brand looks outdated if it no longer matches your prices, customers or quality, or looks older than competitors. Common signs are a cluttered logo, many colours, old fonts, inconsistent signage and a logo that blurs on phones. Ask a few new customers what they expected before visiting. Compare your shop, packaging and Instagram side by side with the best competitor.
My brand looks outdated. What should I do?
Start with a brand refresh unless your business itself has changed. Simplify the logo, choose two or three colours and one or two fonts, and set rules in short brand guidelines. Then roll it out to signage, packaging, website, social media and uniforms in stages. Keep elements customers recognise. BRANDSWOT Consultancy uses its SWOT Method to decide what to keep and change.
What to do if my competitors rank above me on Google: how do I find out why?
Compare your page and theirs side by side for the exact search. Look at how well each answers the query, page speed, title and headings, reviews on Google Business Profile, number of quality links and how long the site has existed. SEO tools such as Semrush or Ahrefs show their keywords and backlinks. The gaps you find become your action list.
My competitors rank above me on Google. What should I do?
Build a better page for each key service and city, then earn trust signals. Add prices or price drivers, process, real photos, case studies and FAQs. Speed up mobile loading, collect more genuine reviews and earn mentions from local news, associations and suppliers. Track progress in Search Console monthly. Rankings usually move over several months and are never guaranteed.
What to do if my business is not on Google Maps: why might it be missing?
Your business may be missing because no Google Business Profile exists, it is unverified, suspended or listed under a different name or address. Search your business name on Google Maps and check. Also check whether someone else, such as a former employee or agency, created the listing. If it exists but is not yours, request ownership through Google.
My business is not on Google Maps. What should I do?
Create a Google Business Profile with your exact business name, address, phone, category and hours, then complete verification. Google may ask for a video, phone, email or postcard check. Add photos, services, products and a website link. Ask happy customers for reviews through a short link. If you serve customers at their location, set a service area instead.
What to do if ChatGPT does not mention my business: why is it missing?
ChatGPT usually skips a business that it cannot find or verify on the web. Common causes are a thin website, blocked crawlers, inconsistent details, few reviews and no mentions on directories, news sites or lists. Ask ChatGPT the question your customers ask and note which sources it cites. Those sources show where you need to appear.
ChatGPT does not mention my business. What should I do?
Make your business easy to find and quote. Publish clear service and city pages that answer questions directly, add Organization and LocalBusiness schema, allow OAI-SearchBot in robots.txt and keep details identical everywhere. Earn reviews and mentions on sites ChatGPT cites. Results are not guaranteed and vary by query. BRANDSWOT Consultancy's AI search optimisation covers these steps.
What to do if my packaging does not stand out: how do I diagnose it?
Put your pack on a real shelf next to competitors and look from two metres away. If you cannot spot it in three seconds, the problem is usually weak contrast, too much text, a small brand name or colours similar to the category leader. Ask shoppers and retailers what they notice first. Check it also reads well as a small image online.
My packaging does not stand out. What should I do?
Redesign around one strong idea: a bold brand block, a distinct colour your category does not use, and a clear product name and variant. Cut secondary text to the back. Keep FSSAI and Legal Metrology details correct and verify current rules with a compliance expert. Test printed mock-ups on shelves before a full run. Published guides put packaging design at ₹20,000–₹2,00,000, as a market range.
What to do if my logo looks cheap: what makes a logo look cheap?
A logo looks cheap when it uses free clip-art, too many effects, crowded details or trendy fonts that clash. Gradients, shadows and outlines often break on signboards and phones. Inconsistent versions across shop, invoices and Instagram also cheapen it. Test it small, in one colour and in black and white; a strong logo still works.
My logo looks cheap. What should I do?
Get a professionally designed logo based on a clear brand strategy, not just a new picture. Brief the designer on your customers, prices and competitors. Ask for a primary logo, simple icon, colour palette, fonts and usage rules. Published Indian guides put logo design at ₹10,000–₹1,00,000 as a market range. Then replace every old version at once.
What to do if I get leads but no sales: where does it break?
Leads without sales usually point to poor lead quality, slow follow-up or a weak sales process. Check how many leads you reach within an hour, what they asked for and why they did not buy. Wrong targeting, vague ads and cheap lead forms bring curious people. Late replies lose ready buyers to competitors who answer first.
I get leads but no sales. What should I do?
Reply to every lead within minutes, ideally on WhatsApp and phone. Use a simple script, send prices or a quote the same day and follow up three or four times over a week. Track every lead in a CRM or sheet with its source and result. Then cut ad sources that never convert. Automated WhatsApp replies help when you are busy.
What to do if my reviews are low: why are they low?
Low reviews usually come from not asking, or from a few unhappy customers who write while happy ones stay silent. Read every review and look for repeat issues, such as waiting time, rude calls or delays. If the complaints are fair, fix the operation first. If ratings are low only because review numbers are small, you mostly need more reviews.
My reviews are low. What should I do?
Ask every satisfied customer for a Google review with a direct link on WhatsApp or a QR code at the counter. Reply politely to every review, including negative ones, and offer to solve problems offline. Never buy fake reviews or offer gifts for ratings, as Google can remove them and suspend the profile. Steady genuine reviews lift the average over time.
What to do if my website is slow: what usually causes it?
Slow sites are usually caused by large images, cheap shared hosting, heavy themes, too many plugins and unused scripts. Test your pages on PageSpeed Insights and check the mobile score and Core Web Vitals. The report lists the biggest problems in order. Remember most Indian visitors use mobile data, so test on a mid-range phone too.
My website is slow. What should I do?
Compress and resize images to WebP, switch to better hosting with a CDN, enable caching and remove unused plugins and scripts. Lazy-load images below the fold and limit fonts. If the theme or builder is heavy, a lighter rebuild may cost less than endless fixes. Disha Hospital's rebuilt site reached a 99/100 mobile speed score.
What to do if my website is hacked: what are the signs?
Signs of a hacked site include strange redirects, spam pages in Google, unknown admin users, pop-ups, sudden traffic drops or a Google warning in Search Console. Search site:yourdomain.com for pages you did not create. Check Search Console's Security Issues report. Act quickly, because Google may label the site unsafe and customers will leave.
My website is hacked. What should I do?
Change all passwords for hosting, the CMS, FTP and email, and remove unknown users. Restore a clean backup or ask your developer or host to clean the files. Update the CMS, themes and plugins, then add a security plugin or firewall. Request a review in Search Console once clean. Set up regular backups and maintenance so it does not repeat. BRANDSWOT Consultancy offers monthly website care plans.
What to do if my domain expired: can I still get it back?
Usually yes, if you act fast. Most registrars give a grace period after expiry when you can renew normally, followed by a redemption period with an extra fee. After that, the domain may be released for anyone to buy. Log in to your registrar today, or contact whoever registered it for you, and check the status.
My domain expired. What should I do?
Renew it immediately through your registrar, then turn on auto-renew and update the payment card. If an agency or freelancer registered it, ask them to renew and transfer ownership to your name. Check your website and business email work again afterwards. Keep the domain registered in your own name, in an account you control.
What to do if my ads account got suspended: why do suspensions happen?
Ad accounts are usually suspended for policy issues such as unverified payment details, suspicious activity, circumventing systems, misleading claims or restricted categories like health and finance. Read the exact reason in the email or account notice. Check whether your landing page makes promises the platform bans, such as guaranteed cures or returns.
My ads account got suspended. What should I do?
Read the stated policy, fix the cause on your ads and website, then submit an appeal through the official Google Ads or Meta support form. Complete advertiser or business verification if asked. Do not open a new account to get around it, as that can lead to permanent bans. Keep records of changes. Healthcare advertisers should also follow NMC conduct rules.
What to do if my social media agency is not performing: how do I judge it?
Judge a social media agency on agreed goals, not likes alone. Compare enquiries, reach to new people, content quality and response times against the plan you agreed. Ask for monthly reports linking content and ads to leads. If no goals were set, that is the first problem. Give a new strategy two or three months before judging it fully.
My social media agency is not performing. What should I do?
Hold a review meeting, share the numbers and agree on clear goals and a 60-day improvement plan. Make sure you have admin access to all pages, ad accounts and content files. If nothing improves, end the contract per its notice period and move to a new partner. With BRANDSWOT Consultancy, clients own their ad and analytics accounts and approved files after full payment.
What to do if I don't know my target audience: how do I find it?
Start with your existing best customers, since they show who your target audience really is. List your top 20 customers by value and note their age, location, job, reason for buying and how they found you. Ask a few of them why they chose you. Check Google Analytics and Instagram insights for patterns. Patterns become your first audience profile.
I don't know my target audience. What should I do?
Write one or two simple customer profiles: who they are, what problem they have, what they compare you with and what makes them buy. Test messages built for those profiles in small ads and posts, then keep what works. Revisit every six months. BRANDSWOT Consultancy's SWOT Method maps customers and competitors before any design or marketing.
What to do if I need more walk-ins: what drives walk-ins?
Walk-ins come from people finding you nearby, trusting you quickly and having a reason to visit now. That means a strong Google Business Profile with directions, good reviews, clear signage, a visible offer and local awareness. Ask current walk-ins how they heard about you. Sri Sai Narayana Hospital grew from under 800 patients a year to 1,200+ walk-ins a month.
I need more walk-ins. What should I do?
Optimise your Google Business Profile, ask every customer for a review and post weekly offers. Run Google and Meta ads within a few kilometres of your location, using directions and call buttons. Improve signage and shopfront visibility, partner with nearby businesses and run local events. Give customers a reason to return and refer friends.
What to do if I need more calls: what stops people calling?
People do not call when they cannot find your number fast, are unsure of the price or do not trust you yet. Check that your phone number is tappable at the top of every mobile page and on Google Business Profile. Show business hours, service areas and reviews. Check missed calls too, since unanswered calls lose customers.
I need more calls. What should I do?
Run Google call ads and call assets for your core services in your area, during hours you can answer. Add click-to-call buttons on every page, optimise Google Business Profile and track calls as conversions. Answer within a few rings or call back fast. Ananthapur Packers and Movers grew enquiries from about 10 to 40–50 a month with focused Google Ads.
What to do if I need more WhatsApp enquiries: why are there so few?
Few WhatsApp enquiries usually means the button is hard to find, the number is not on ads and profiles, or replies are slow. Check that every page has a floating WhatsApp button with a pre-filled message. Make sure the number is on Google Business Profile, Instagram and ads. Track clicks to see where chats start.
I need more WhatsApp enquiries. What should I do?
Add a WhatsApp button to your website, Instagram bio and Google Business Profile, and run click-to-WhatsApp ads on Facebook and Instagram. Use a greeting message, quick replies and a catalogue to answer fast. Share useful content on WhatsApp Status. For higher volume, the WhatsApp Business API adds auto-replies and a team inbox.