Why your marketing hasn't worked (the full breakdown)

Hey Reader,

I've been sitting on this blog post for way too long.

You know how it goes—tweaking one more section, second-guessing a subhead, trying to fix the excessively large H3 heading, and wondering if it's "ready."

Meanwhile, 60+ of you replied to my last email basically saying: "WHERE IS THIS POST?!"

So here it is. No more perfectionism. The beast is loose.

Read: Why Your Marketing Isn't Working (And What to Do Instead)

This is the full breakdown of everything I've been talking about:

  • The two ecosystems (online business vs. real-world marketing) and why almost all marketing advice you've followed is designed for the wrong one
  • Why your lead magnets, launches, and webinars aren't converting (it's not you)
  • The three business models and how to match your marketing to yours
  • What actually works when you're selling to corporate clients, established professionals, and real-world buyers

Fair warning: it's 2,800+ words. This isn't a quick skim.

Bookmark it. Read it with your coffee. Come back to it when you're questioning your entire marketing strategy at 2 AM.

And when you're done? Hit reply and tell me which ecosystem you've been marketing to.

Yours in rebellion,
Michelle

P.S. If this post makes something click for you, I'd love to hear about it. These replies fuel me more than you know.

P.P.S. I'd love it if you'd share it with a friend who also markets and sells outside the online bubble.


What's Up?

First Week of January 2026

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What I'm Working On

I'm prepping for the new, improved Marketing Retreat for The Expert Up Club. Members are the first to implement this new marketing approach. Wanna join us? Respond with the word CLUB & let's chat.

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What I'm Excited About

The Pitt is coming back on January 8th. That will make the bleak Seattle winter more enjoyable.

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What I'm Loving

I've started using Wispr Flow, and if you're an external processor, you'll love this app. It makes writing so much faster.

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Dr. Michelle Mazur

Message Strategist & Founder of The Expert Up Club

Podcast / 3 Word Rebellion Book

Make Marketing Suck Less

Marketing strategies for solo business owners who sell outside the online business bubble. Messaging and marketing for consultants, service providers, and experts whose clients live in the real world—where funnels don't work and referrals matter more than reels.