Why Your Marketing Sucks (And What to Do About It)

Chris Campbell
7 min read

Most businesses don’t fail because they don’t have a good product. They fail because they suck at marketing and sales. I get it. I’ve been there. I struggled for years, made a ton of mistakes—some of them very expensive. But once I cracked the core marketing principles, everything changed. I’m Chris Campbell. I’ve been in marketing for over 10 years, built a successful social media marketing agency, and scaled multiple eight-figure businesses. No big deal. But here’s the hard truth: most business owners screw up their marketing because they make it all about themselves. “Look how cool I am.” “Look how cool my product is.” “If you want to be cool like me, buy my stuff.” “If you don’t buy my stuff today, the world will end.” News flash: Nobody cares.

The Key to Effective Marketing

Marketing should not be about you. It should be about them—your customer, their pain, their desired outcome. Your job is to guide them from their personal hell (pain points, anxiety, struggles) to their own version of heaven (the transformation they want).

The Market Pyramid: The Secret to Scaling Your Marketing

Imagine your audience as a pyramid:

  • Top 3% – These are the customers ready to buy now. They’re actively shopping and aware of your brand.
  • Next 6-7% – They’re open to buying but not actively searching.
  • Next 30% – They’re not even thinking about it.
  • Next 30% – They don’t think they’re interested (but they could be!).
  • Last 30% – They know they’re not interested.

Most businesses target only the top 3%, making it insanely competitive. But the real money is in the next 6-7% and beyond. This untapped market exists in every industry—from tires to online courses to beauty products.

So, how do you reach the entire pyramid instead of just the small, oversaturated 3%?

Step 1: Define Your Ideal Client Profile (AKA Buyer Persona)

You need to deeply understand your audience:

  • What do they have before buying your product? What do they have after?
  • How do they feel before and after purchasing?
  • What does their day look like before and after using your product?
  • What’s their status before and after?

This isn’t about you—it’s about mapping out their transformation.

Step 2: Craft Your Stadium Pitch

Imagine standing in a stadium full of your ideal customers. You have the mic. What do you say?

Your stadium pitch should appeal to everyone in the market pyramid—not just the top 3%. Most businesses screw this up by writing marketing that only speaks to active buyers.

Example: Let’s say you sell tires. If your ad says, “Tires for sale, 50% off this weekend,” the only people who will care are those already shopping for tires. That’s the red ocean—high competition, low profits.

Instead, try: “What you need to know to keep your family safe on the road this winter.” Now, everyone pays attention. This is education-based marketing, which pulls in people who weren’t even thinking about tires before.

The Big Marketing Idea

The first 10-20 seconds of your message should hook people by:

  • Highlighting the big transformation your product offers (without mentioning the product directly).
  • Making it intellectually interesting.
  • Making it emotionally compelling.

Example: Instead of saying “Buy our online sales course,” say “How this simple sales skill could let you quit your job and travel the world.”

Step 3: The Story Lead

After the hook, tell a story to establish credibility:

  • A customer success story.
  • Your personal story.
  • A social proof example.

People connect with stories, not bullet points of features and benefits.

Step 4: The Desire Demand Bridge (The 80% of Your Marketing)

This is where you overcome limiting beliefs and reframe your audience’s worldview.

Your audience will have doubts, fears, and hesitations. To convert them, you need to:

  1. Identify their top 3 objections.
  2. Create educational content that flips their limiting beliefs.
  3. Use testimonials, social proof, and case studies to prove your product works.

Step 5: The Offer (S.I.N. Formula)

Your offer should be:

  • Superior – What makes it better than the competition?
  • Irresistible – Why can’t they say no?
  • No-Brainer – How do you remove risk (guarantees, bonuses, scarcity)?

Your goal is to make buying from you the only logical choice.

The Red Ocean vs. The Blue Ocean

The red ocean is the bloody fight for the top 3% of customers. Everyone is marketing to them, and it’s cutthroat.

The blue ocean is the untouched 97% of the market. No competition. No feeding frenzy.

Most businesses don’t know how to tap into it because they don’t understand educational-based marketing or how to craft a stadium pitch.

Mapping Out the Buyer’s Journey

The ultimate goal is to guide a complete stranger into becoming a loyal customer who refers others. That’s the buyer’s journey, and your marketing should map it out step by step.

Once you master these strategies, you’ll never struggle with marketing or sales again.

Want Help Crafting Your Stadium Pitch?

I put together a free template to help you build your stadium pitch. Grab it in the link below.

And if you found this valuable, like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more no-BS marketing strategies.

Alright, motherfuckers. Let’s go dominate.

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