How Long Does It Take for a Marketing Strategy to Work?

The honest timeline behind real marketing results

One of the most common questions I get is:

“How long before this starts working?”

It’s a fair question. Especially if you’ve invested in marketing before and didn’t see the results you hoped for. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But there is a dependable process, that leads to long-term results.

When I work with clients, I use my proven system called the GROWTH Marketing Strategy Framework, which I have used to grow businesses from 3mil-25mil in less than 3 years. It helps eliminate the guesswork, organize your priorities, and build a strategy that supports bottom line outcomes.

Let’s walk through what that process looks like and how long it takes to start seeing meaningful traction.

Quick Wins Come First

Before diving into a long-term plan, I always start by working on clarity, and for quick wins. Small adjustments that create early momentum.

Clarity comes first, then the quick wins like improving a lead capture flow, or fixing a broken email sequence. These changes can make a difference quickly, and they build trust in the process while we prepare to go deeper.

But real strategy takes more than quick fixes. That’s where the next phase begins.

The First 30 Days: Foundations and Systems

The first month is all about laying the groundwork. That means putting the essential pieces in place so your marketing can actually support your goals.

Here’s what happens during this phase:

• We clarify your messaging using the StoryBrand Framework so that your ideal customers engage, and your team is aligned for maximum momentum

• We update your website to reflect that clarity and guide people to take action

• We build out your systems and funnels, including lead magnets, automation, and tracking. So that you can convert interest into engagement and sales.

Without these foundations, even great campaigns will underperform. Once they’re in place, we’re ready to move into an ongoing strategic sprint cycle.

90 Day Strategic Sprints

After the groundwork is done, I guide clients through 90-day strategic sprints using the GROWTH Marketing Strategy Framework. These sprints are focused, time-bound, and tied to specific outcomes that drive revenue growth. Think lead generation, or campaign conversions.

Here’s what happens in each sprint:

• Goals are clearly defined so we can focus on meaningful success

• Revenue priorities are established so we focus efforts where ROI is highest

• Opportunities are identified so we know what to pursue and when

• We evaluate your assets so we can use what works and build what’s missing

• Timelines are set to keep us on track, without overloading your team

• Hurdles are identified and planned for so momentum doesn’t stall

This structure makes the strategy manageable and keeps everyone aligned. The beauty of the GROWTH Marketing Strategy Framework is that you can follow the same 6 step process to create strategies as you need them, ensuring you always operate with intention, and in alignment with your business objectives.

Why Most Strategies Fail

Most marketing strategies don’t fail because they’re bad. They fail because the business gives up too early, changes direction too often, or never connects the plan to actual business outcomes.

The first 30 days should be about building a foundation. The next 90 should be about focused execution. When businesses jump ahead or skip the hard parts, the entire effort suffers.

Unrealistic expectations, especially about how fast results should come, will lead to frustration and burnout. But a grounded strategy, built on systems and sprints, puts you in a position to grow with clarity and confidence.

Want to Know Where Your Strategy Stands?

If you want to see how your current marketing strategy stacks up, I created a free tool called the Marketing Strategy Scorecard.

It only takes a few minutes. You’ll get a personalized score across six key areas of your marketing and find out where you’re strong, and where you’re stuck.

Take the Free Marketing Strategy Scorecard