Welcome to The Growth Report

It’s Ben Wright here, founder of Risely.

At Risely, we’ve audited hundreds of marketing accounts and we keep seeing the same costly mistakes that no one’s really talking about.

Most guides tell you to track your ads or post more Reels. That’s surface-level advice. This year, we’re calling out deeper problems that quietly hold businesses back from growth.

Here are three mistakes we’re helping clients fix right now and what to do instead.

1. Treating Google Business Profile Like a Set-and-Forget Directory

Far too many businesses claim their Google Business Profile once, add a few photos, and move on. But in 2026, GBP is not just a directory, it’s your local storefront on Google.

And it’s no longer enough to simply exist there.

We still see profiles with:

• Inactive posting schedules

• Incomplete service menus

• Old photos or logos

• No questions answered

• No messaging enabled

• Reviews going unanswered (or worse — no reviews at all)

What to do instead:
Think of GBP like a social platform. Update it weekly, publish helpful posts, respond to every review, and use your service list like a menu that builds local SEO relevance.

Bonus: Link your YouTube videos and landing pages to your GBP, it boosts engagement and your authority signals.

2. Only Measuring Marketing Success by Lead Volume

It’s easy to focus on the number of leads. But what if half of those leads never close? Or worse, never respond?

This is one of the most overlooked (and damaging) mistakes we see: judging performance by quantity, not quality.

High lead volume paired with:

• Low close rate

• High no-show or no-answer rate

• Leads that don’t fit your ideal customer

…is not success. It’s noise.

What to do instead:
Start tracking lead-to-close ratio, cost-per-acquisition, and call answer rate (especially for phone-driven industries). The goal isn’t more leads, it’s better leads and more revenue.

3. Relying on One Marketing Channel Too Heavily

It’s tempting to go all-in on the one thing that’s working right now, whether that’s Google Ads, organic SEO, or Meta retargeting. But depending on one traffic source is risky, especially in 2026.

Google’s zero-click AI results are increasing. Meta ad costs are volatile. Platforms change constantly. If you’re too reliant on one source, one algorithm tweak can cut your leads overnight.

What to do instead:
Balance your strategy. Diversify your traffic mix between:

• Search (SEO + GBP)

• Paid (Google Ads, Meta)

• Owned (your website, email list)

• Social (organic content with local relevance)

Build a system, not a single channel.

Making small shifts now can save you from bigger problems later. Let’s make sure your 2026 marketing strategy is built to grow, not just survive.

Top Digital Marketing Articles This Month:

• A 90‑Day SEO Playbook for AI‑Driven Search Visibility – Practical steps for earning visibility in modern search environments where AI summaries and generative results are changing how customers find businesses.

• 2026 PPC Trends to Get Ahead of Now – A look at the evolving paid media landscape based on expert insights, including how advertisers must adapt their campaigns this year for performance and efficiency.

• How to Prioritize Brand Mentions for LLM & SEO Visibility – New guidance on building durable organic search visibility through strategic brand mentions and citations rather than relying solely on traditional SEO tactics.

P.S.

• Follow me on X/Twitter and LinkedIn for more insights like this.

• Book a quick 1:1 call with me to talk through your AI or marketing strategy.

• Learn more about Risely’s services here.