Marketing Won’t Pay the Bills: The Real Reason You’re Not Making Sales

Marketing doesn’t pay the bills—sales do. That’s a lesson Annie P. Ruggles drives home in her episode on the “Business Ownership Podcast” hosted by Michelle Nedelec. If you’re wondering why your “best funnels” and relentless social posts aren’t translating into money, here’s the cold, hard truth according to Annie P. Ruggles:

“We have the best funnels I’ve ever seen. Are any of us making money?...And no, nobody was.”
– Annie P. Ruggles

Why? Because most of us don’t ask. We avoid the vital moment where we actually invite people to buy. Annie P. Ruggles calls this “sales avoidance”—the idea that if you shout about your business long enough from social rooftops, people will throw you money. But as she points out, “Up to 86% of buyers desperately need to be asked, and more than once.”

Lesson:

Consistent marketing is important, but asking for the sale is non-negotiable. “When you ask them and then get out of the own way of receiving the thing...If you’re not going to do that, then all you’re doing is marketing.”
– Annie P. Ruggles

The second stumbling block? Boredom. Annie P. Ruggles describes entrepreneurs hitting a “revenue ceiling” or getting into “six-figure boredom,” where after hustling endless hours, the spark fades and nothing feels inspiring:

“I’ve lost that love and feeling in my own business. My client pool is dried up. My list is bored. What do we do? And the answer is: change up how you’re selling, change up how you’re serving and throw up a different beacon.”
– Annie P. Ruggles

What does throwing up a different beacon look like? It means bringing your quirks, passions, and even bold opinions into your brand. Find your differentiation. Don’t hide your weirdness—make it your superpower:

“It empowers boldness. It empowers other thinking in the people around you. The ripple effect is huge.”
– Annie P. Ruggles

Drop the “shoulds.” Ruggles sees countless business owners weighed down with strategies they hate, simply because someone said they “should,” like writing a book or posting on TikTok. Her advice:

“A lot of the first step is actually unlearning and recalibrating from the have-tos...There are many, many, many paths.”
– Annie P. Ruggles

Above all, consistency wins—no matter the quirk, channel, or style. If you’re passionate, unapologetic, and delivering real solutions, your tribe will find you. And if polarization scares you? Good. It means you’re finally standing for something.

“The risk of owning...your differentiation means you’re going to become a more polarizing figure. And honestly, once you get over the initial pain of that, it’s pretty liberating.”
– Annie P. Ruggles

Takeaway for every business owner, freelancer, or service-provider:

Ask for the sale. Show your quirks. Abandon the “shoulds.” Stay consistent. That’s how you’ll sell more—while loving your business again.

Credit Where It’s Due:

Real talk and quotable wisdom from Annie P. Ruggles on the “Business Ownership Podcast” hosted by Michelle Nedelec.