It's pretty easy to get stuck just going through the motions of everyday tasks. We do it all the time — we get so caught up mundane routines that we miss the signs that something isn't working.

In marketing, too often we get caught in the motions of making sure the ads are live and running, writing article features and launching campaigns in time without actually analysing whether it's actually working and yielding results.

Well, the sad truth is that nothing is going to change unless we identify where the problem actually lies and do something different to change it.

So, with this in mind, here are 10 signs that your business marketing is in a rut and that some changes are required:

1. There is no set definition of success for your business 

Without a solid direction or goal for your marketing plan, you can't plan appropriately or measure success.

2. There is no marketing strategy or plan in place 

Doing marketing on the fly when you're feeling threatened by your competitors or a new product launch is a mistake that a lot of businesses make. With doing a little here and there, without any plan or strategy, you can't expect maximum results.

What you need is a process, a plan and an always-on approach, as well as a more sporadic product or service push for new and / or seasonal items.

3. Nothing is working and every marketing effort seems to fail

When emails, social media, display ads and search aren't bringing meaningful results to your business, it might be time to try a new approach.

4. There is no accountability

Marketing budget is expensive if used poorly but, in the right hands, it's an investment in your business, which is why it's important to ask yourself why your efforts aren't working and make a change.

5. You are not getting objective feedback

Your friends, colleagues and family may be good for stroking your ego but when it comes to spending marketing money, especially in the tough times we live in presently, you need objective opinions and a trusted advisor that will guide you in the right direction and give objective opinions and fresh perspective.

6. There is nothing new being tried 

You may consider yourself old-fashioned and that's fine as long as it doesn't apply to your marketing. Not trying anything new means that you won't get any new results. A good marketing strategy will ensure a 90% marketing budget split on tried and tested ways, bringing brand awareness, user engagement, or signups and sales, and 10% on trying something bold and new to raise the bar for your brand.

7. You take on all the marketing yourself

While you may be an expert in your line of business, you can't possibly manage to do marketing (which is a full-time job) as well as run your business full-time. There are certain things that are just worth paying someone who's qualified to take care of. This way, you're making the best use of your time as a business owner.

8. There is no full-time hired help

While it would be great to have a whole team of designers, marketers, SEO experts, web developers and copywriters working on your brand, the reality is it really it is more cost-effective to hire a marketing agency to work on your marketing for you.

An ad agency has access to all these creative people for you, ensuring you have everything you need to put your best foot forward.

9. You aren't communicating with your marketer

Perhaps you have hired professional help and your products and services have a specific buying cycle, or specific product launches at certain times of the year or month.

You could also be doing an offline marketing campaign and along with other marketing efforts, which is great unless you aren't communicating this with your digital marketing team.

Your marketing team are an extension of your business and they can only help you if they're in the loop about what's going on in your business. It's better to give too much info on your business, its products and services so that your offline efforts match your online efforts and your product pushes match your product or services seasonal demand.

10. Marketing is done on a trial and error basis

How much time and money have you been wasting on marketing ideas, campaigns and ads that haven't worked? How many months have you spent testing and evaluating only to find that you aren’t getting the results you had hoped for?

Think about it, or better still actually work it out. In the long-term, marketing mistakes are costly and they can definitely hurt your business.

For more information, visit www.arcinteractive.co. You can also follow Arc Interactive on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.