Creative Problem Solving in Marketing: How to Troubleshoot Marketing Strategy for Better Conversions

Why I Call Myself a Creative Problem Solver

(And How It Can Help You Troubleshoot Your Marketing Strategy)

Let’s get something straight: I don’t call myself a “creative problem solver” because it sounds good on a website. I say it because it’s the most accurate way to describe what I do daily. Not just checking tasks off a list. Not just posting content to post. Not just doing what “worked last quarter.”

In marketing, the landscape shifts fast. Algorithms, consumer behavior, platforms, AI, it all evolves quickly. What worked in April may flop in June. You’ve probably seen it, right? A strategy that got great reach suddenly tanks, or your content just isn’t pulling in leads like it used to.

And when that happens, I don’t panic. Because I don’t rely on formulas. I rely on:

• 🔍 Research

• 🧠 Creative Thinking

• 🧩 Strategic Problem Solving

Let’s break those down. In this article, you’ll see how I use research, creativity, and strategic problem solving to identify what’s actually broken in a marketing plan and what to do about it. 

You’ll learn the questions I ask clients, the tools I use to dig deeper, and how to start troubleshooting your own marketing with more clarity and less chaos.

How to Troubleshoot Marketing Strategy for Better Conversions

Research That Goes Beyond the Surface

Most marketing strategies start too late, after the offer is live or the campaign is halfway done. But what if we started earlier? Before a single graphic is made or email is written?

That’s where research comes in.

When I’m building out a strategy, whether it’s a full campaign or a single web page, I start by asking questions like:

• Where are your people actually hanging out online?

• What are they typing into search bars (not just in your niche, in general)?

• What have your analytics been trying to tell you?

• Where are people dropping off in your sales process?

• Which posts are getting comments vs. clicks vs. nothing?

This is what you don’t see in a template.

It’s what I do BEFORE I even think about what your Instagram grid looks like.

💡 DIY Tip: You can start right now. 

Check your Google Analytics. Where are users bouncing on your website? What’s your highest-performing post in terms of actual clicks (not likes)? What do people DM you about the most?

That’s your data talking. Start listening.

Creativity Isn’t Just for Branding, It Helps Your Marketing Strategy

We’ve all heard “think outside the box” but in strategy, creativity is often skipped for trends and templates. That’s a mistake. Real creativity shows up when:

• You find a new way to say something everyone’s already saying.

• You adapt a tactic from one industry to your own.

• You see a gap in the customer journey that no one else noticed and decide to build something that meets that need.

Creativity in marketing isn’t just about design. It’s about alignment: 

→ Matching your strategy to your actual business goals 

→ Matching your message to your actual audience behavior 

→ Matching your content type to your time and resources

And yeah, sometimes it’s about ditching the popular idea for the one that makes sense for you.

💡 DIY Tip: Look outside your industry.

Browse three websites or social accounts from completely different industries than yours. What are they doing to connect, convert, or stand out? Screenshot one thing that made you pause, then ask yourself: Could I adapt this idea for my audience?

Troubleshooting A Marketing Strategy Starts with Better Questions

One of the first things I ask a client who says “I just want more sales” is… what does that really mean? Because “sales” is a result. It’s not a strategy.

So we slow down. We get curious. And we ask questions like:

• Do you need more sales? Or more qualified leads?

• Are you getting website traffic? Or are people bouncing?

• Is your offer unclear? Or is it clear but buried behind vague copy?

• Are your CTAs visible? Or are users just confused?

You can’t fix what you haven’t defined. You must take a look at how to troubleshoot marketing strategy for better conversions.

💡 DIY Tip: Play the “why” game.

Take your most frustrating marketing issue (e.g., “my posts aren’t converting”) and ask why five times in a row. 

• Why aren’t they converting?

• Why might the CTA not be working?

• Why would someone scroll past without clicking?

Then do it again with your best converting. Each “why” gets you closer to the real issue.

This Is the Process of Creative Problem Solving

Here’s what it looks like when I sit down with a client:

1. We define the real goal.

   Not just “I want to grow.” Is it lead gen? Conversions? Brand trust? Community?

   
   

2. We gather what we know.

   We dig into past campaigns, look at what worked, what didn’t, and what fell flat. We look at analytics, comments, unsubscribes, bounce rates.

   
   

3. We challenge assumptions.

   Why did we do this launch this way? Why are we on that platform? Why are we not repurposing that high-performing email from last quarter?

   
   

4. We research.

   What’s working in the industry? What’s outdated? What can we test without risking everything?

   
   

5. We build a strategy that fits.

   Not just something pretty. Something functional. Something that builds trust and makes sense for bandwidth, budget, and audience.

And I don’t expect my clients to do this alone. I walk with them. I troubleshoot. I refine. That’s what makes the difference.

💡 DIY Tip: Audit your own funnel.

Go through your full process like a customer would. Click every link. Fill out every form. Try to book your own call. What’s clunky? Confusing? Too long? This kind of walkthrough often reveals overlooked friction points that are costing you conversions.

Want Strategy That Solves the Right Problems?

If you're stuck trying to “fix your marketing,” ask yourself:

• What do I want to happen when someone interacts with my brand?

• What tools or data do I already have that I haven’t looked at recently?

• What’s the biggest pain point my audience keeps repeating?

• What platform or strategy is draining energy but not producing results?

If you're not sure of the answers, that’s okay. This is the starting line. Because marketing isn’t just visuals and hashtags. It’s strategy, layered with insight, rooted in clarity, and powered by problem-solving. 

If you’re tired of throwing content at the wall, let’s figure out what’s really missing in your strategy. Schedule your free discovery call and let’s get started. 

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