The Marketing Funnel is Broken

Time to Rethink Everything

We've all been there. You launch a meticulously crafted campaign, pour your heart and resources into brand awareness, and... crickets. Engagement is flatlining; conversions are abysmal, and that carefully constructed marketing funnel…. it clearly is not working,

The truth is, Gen Z didn't just disrupt the funnel; they shattered it. They crave authenticity, not hollow sales pitches. They see through manufactured hype and can smell inauthenticity from a mile away.

It's time to ditch the outdated tactics and embrace a new marketing reality.

Here's the challenge

Forget nickel-and-diming your audience with performative content. Invest in your company; invest in real connections with your audience. Let's create marketing fueled by genuine passion, not fleeting trends.

Imagine a world where "going viral" doesn't equate to a fleeting surge of likes but to creating meaningful connections. We're talking trust-building, community-driven marketing that resonates on a deeper level.

Think about it. We're the ones who created the "Big River Initiative" which is cleverly named after the AMAZON! or turned YouTube into an ad-infested wasteland. And it is people in our ranks who think they can create a performative and self-serving “advisory board. All these things came to light this week for me…

Maybe I'm sensitive, but I'm tired of being treated like a walking dollar sign! Marketing used to be exciting. It was about connecting with people, understanding their needs, and offering solutions. It feels like a constant barrage of empty promises and manipulative tactics. It's exhausting and, frankly, insulting.

We, the marketing industry, are complicit. But the internet remembers. Shady practices are exposed on every platform.

The new generation of consumers sees right through it. They're demanding a shift.

The good news? There's a movement brewing. Marketers across generations are recognizing the need for change. We're talking seasoned veterans with loads of experience, rising stars fluent in the new marketing language, and everyone in between.

The key is to bridge this generational gap. The younger generation can offer fresh perspectives, while the veterans can provide invaluable insights.

This is where organizations like the Marketing Accountability Council (MAC) come in, but it's not about a singular solution. It's about fostering open dialogue and collaboration.

But here's the harsh truth: We can't just talk the talk; we need to walk the walk. We must create products and services that people genuinely want and need, not some half-baked feature that a bigger company can easily replicate and swallow whole. The dream of a big buyout might be tempting, but if we keep wasting people's time and money with fluffy marketing for subpar products, there will be dire consequences.

The future of marketing lies in authenticity, not exploitation. It's about building something of value, sharing your company's true values, building genuine relationships, and creating content fueled by passion, not algorithms.

The choice is ours. Let's make it count. Let's rebuild the marketing funnel, not on fleeting metrics, but on the bedrock of trust and shared purpose. Let's create products and experiences people genuinely value, not just marketing campaigns they can see through.