What Glaciers Taught Me About Struggling to Generate Leads

Have you ever stood beside a glacier-fed lake like Lake Louise or Moraine Lake and felt that sense of awe, the kind that reminds you how small we are, and yet how connected everything truly is?

While out paddling in Kananaskis recently, I found myself reflecting on something unexpected: digital marketing. Yes, while staring at turquoise waters shaped by centuries of glacial grind, I saw the perfect metaphor for what so many entrepreneurs experience with online marketing.

Because here’s the truth:Generating leads in today’s digital world can feel like watching a glacier melt... slow, uncertain, and just a little overwhelming.

I’ve been there too. I’ve watched as traffic trickled in, as Instagram reels flopped, and as email sign-ups stalled. It’s frustrating. But just like nature, the answers are often rooted in small, powerful shifts.

Why Nature Gets It Right and What That Means for Your Marketing

Nature doesn’t rush. Glaciers carve through stone over time. Trees grow with purpose. Rivers don’t question which way to go, they follow gravity and adjust to obstacles naturally.

When it comes to digital marketing, the same principles apply: clarity, consistency, and connection.

Here are three fun, yet factural digital marketing tips with a comparison to one of my favourite things, nature, to help you generate leads more effectively:

1. 🌱 Stop Posting Just to Post, Plant with Intention

Trees don’t grow by accident. Your content shouldn’t either.

If you’re posting to Instagram or blogging without a clear SEO keyword strategy or value proposition, you’re essentially tossing seeds in the wind.

Tip: Research what your ideal client is searching for. Use free tools like Google Trends or Ubersuggest to find long-tail keywords (like “low-carb baking for beginners” or “how to market handmade crafts”) and build content around that. Plant with purpose.

2. 🌊 Let Your Funnel Flow Naturally

Think of your sales funnel like a river. You need to guide people from curiosity to conversion but it has to feel natural.

Tip: Don’t jump from “Hi, I’m Shannon!” to “Buy now!” in two seconds. Instead, nurture leads with value-based emails, behind-the-scenes content, and helpful freebies. This builds trust which leads to action.

3. 🧭 Your Website Should Guide, Not Confuse

Ever been lost in the woods? That’s how people feel on cluttered, unclear websites.

Tip: Make sure your site has clear call-to-actions (CTAs), fast load times, mobile-friendly design, and a single core message per page. Simplicity wins.

The Bottom Line: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Nature is beautiful because every part works together. But in business? It’s easy to feel like you’re doing all the carving, all the flowing, all the planting alone. I felt like that a lot when I started the Calgary KC bakery.

That’s where hiring a digital marketing professional makes all the difference.

Whether you're struggling with SEO, lead funnels, or storytelling that connects, sometimes the best investment you can make is bringing in someone who sees the full landscape.

If you're ready to stop chasing leads and start attracting them or have questions, send me an email or fill in the contact form and I can help.

Let’s create something meaningful, together.