Ads Generate Leads, But 98% Go to Waste – Here’s How to Fix It

Why Your Marketing Is Like Planting Seeds (and How to Stop Throwing Them in the Trash)

The Problem: You’re Throwing Away 98% of Your Hard Work

Imagine planting 100 seeds in a garden. A few sprout quickly—easy, right? But what if you ignored the other 98 seeds? No water, no care. They’d die, and you’d blame the seeds.

This is exactly what’s happening with your marketing.

• Ads = Planting Seeds: You spend money on ads to generate leads (your “seeds”).
• Quick Harvest: 2% of leads buy immediately. Great!
• The Big Mistake: The other 98% are left to wither. No follow-up. No nurturing.

Result: You’re working harder, not smarter. And it’s costing you sales, and wasting 98% of your marketing budget.

The Simple Fix: Stop Ignoring Your Garden

Most customers aren’t ready to buy the first time they hear about you. They need time to trust you—just like seeds need time to grow.

Here’s how to fix it in 3 steps:

1. Planting Seeds (Ads)

• Ads are just the starting point. They get people’s attention.
• Example: A landscaper runs Facebook ads. 100 people click and fill out a form.

2. Watering the Seeds (Nurturing)

• 98% of leads won’t buy today—but they might in 3 weeks, 3 months, or even next year.
• What nurturing looks like:
  • Automated emails with helpful tips (“How to prep your yard for spring”).
  • A monthly newsletter showcasing your work.
  • Follow-up calls for leads who showed strong interest.
• Example: That landscaper sends a free “lawn care calendar” to all leads. Now they’re top-of-mind when the customer is ready.

3. Harvesting (Sales)

• When leads are “ripe” (ready to buy), your sales team steps in.
• Example: After 3 months of emails, a lead calls the landscaper: “I’m finally ready to redo my backyard!”

Key Takeaway:
Marketing plants and waters. Sales harvests. Without both, your garden starves.

Why This Works for Businesses Like Yours

• No tech skills needed: Tools like email automation do the “watering” for you.
• Saves money: Reusing existing leads is cheaper than constantly buying new ads.
• Builds loyalty: Nurtured leads turn into repeat customers—and even refer friends.

Real-World Example:
A hardware store owner started sending weekly DIY project ideas to leads. Within 6 months, 30% of “dead” leads became customers. “I was shocked,” he said. “These people wanted to buy—they just needed a reminder.”

“But Isn’t This Complicated?”

Not at all. Think of it like setting up a drip hose for your garden:

1. Set it up once: Create a simple email series or call schedule.
2. Let it run: Automation handles the rest.
3. Reap the rewards: More sales, less wasted effort.

Your Next Step

If you’re ready to stop wasting leads:

1. Audit your garden: How many leads are you ignoring?
2. Start small: Pick one nurturing tool (e.g., a monthly email).
3. Watch growth happen: Track how many “dead” leads come back.

Free Resource: [Download our “5 Simple Email Templates to Revive Old Leads”]

Final Thought

Marketing isn’t just about getting leads—it’s about growing relationships. And in business, relationships are what fill your pockets for decades.

“The fortune is in the follow-up.” — Every smart business owner who stopped leaving money on the table.

If you need help with your garden, shoot me an email at info@goldsmithgrowth.com and we'll save your marketing and sales pipeline, together.