đ± How Do I Know My Digital Strategy Is Working? (Hint: It's a Lot Like Growing a Garden)
- Shannon Hurst
- May 17
- 3 min read
Youâve launched the website. Youâve posted on social. Youâve sent out the emails and maybe even run a few ads. Youâre showing up but still wondering:
âIs any of this actually working?â
First of all, if youâre asking that question, you're not alone. It's one of the top concerns business owners have when it comes to digital strategy. And honestly? It's a good one. You should want to know that your time, energy, and money are doing more than floating around the internet like a lost balloon.
But hereâs the thing knowing whether your digital strategy is working isnât always obvious right away. Itâs not like flipping on a light switch.
Itâs more like growing a garden. đż
đ» The Roots Happen First (Even If You Can't See Them)
When you first plant a seed, nothing seems to happen for days or even weeks. But under the surface, roots are forming. The same goes for digital strategy. Your first few blogs, social posts, or email newsletters might not lead to instant sales but theyâre laying the foundation.
Every piece of content, every interaction, every post is building brand awareness, trust, and connection. Itâs prepping your soil. And thatâs not wasted effort, itâs essential.
đ Signs It Is Working
Here are some early bloomers that show your digital efforts are gaining traction:
People are finding you. Your website traffic is growing, especially from organic search or social.
Theyâre sticking around. Your bounce rate is dropping and people are spending time on your site.
You're getting engagement. Comments, saves, shares, even if theyâre small, mean your content is resonating.
New leads are warmer. They say things like, âIâve been following your posts,â or âI loved your recent blog.â
Youâre showing up. Youâre ranking for keywords, being tagged, or appearing in searches more often.
These are the digital equivalent of sprouts poking through the soil.
đ§ Define âWorkingâ For You
One thing I learned, not everyoneâs strategy should look the same. For some, success means more leads. For others, itâs community growth or driving course sign-ups.
You need to know:
What am I measuring?
Whatâs my actual goal?
What does âgrowthâ mean for me?
Once you know what to watch for, itâs easier to recognize progressâeven if itâs slow and steady.
đ Itâs Not Always Pretty (But Thatâs Normal)
Sometimes, things donât grow where you expected. A blog flops. A campaign underperforms. A week goes by with no leads. It happens, even in the best gardens.
But that doesnât mean the strategyâs broken. It means itâs time to adjust, test, and learn. Maybe your audience needs different messaging. Maybe youâre planting tomatoes in the shade. The key is paying attention and being willing to shift.
đŠ Give It Time, but Donât Ghost It
One of the biggest mistakes I see is when people give up too soon. Or worse they disappear. They stop posting, stop emailing, stop tending to the very garden they worked so hard to plant.
A strong digital strategy needs consistency. That doesnât mean burning out. It means finding a rhythm that works and showing up in ways that feel aligned and intentional.
đŒ Final Thought: Itâs Working If Youâre Growing
If your content is clearer, your audience is more engaged, and youâre feeling more confident about your message yes, itâs working.
It might not be fireworks right away. But if you're seeing signs of life, movement, and momentum, youâre doing something right. Keep nurturing it.
And if youâre still unsure or overwhelmed? Sometimes it just takes an outside perspective to spot whatâs blooming.
If you need help figuring out if your strategyâs working or how to fix it if itâs not? Letâs dig in together.
đ© Reach out or DM to chat strategy, story, or content that actually connects. And no I don't charge for the first consultation. If I can help through suggestions I will for free!
I want you to succeed so there is no charge until you hire me to dig in.
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