I Hear You: Are Your KPIs Giving You Trouble?
Let's explore together how KPIs can overwhelm you and how you can deal with this situation.
Onur Kendir
Senior Engineering Leader in Fintech, Digital Marketing, AI
This section is for you. And maybe you should read it, because you might not come across such content again.
This time I wanted to do something different. Moving away from technology trends and strategic analyses, I want to touch a more human place. Because sometimes what we need most is to hear a voice that understands us.
KPIs... How exhausting can this three-letter word sometimes be, right? Today I want to look at the story behind those numbers. Because you're not the only one living that story.
As a digital marketing employee, you wake up every day. You get your coffee, open your computer. In front of you is a goal: This month $150,000 revenue. You do your best. You set up campaigns, determine budgets, manage ads, balance the sales team with CRM, do segmentation, run A/B tests, track analytics. So you're actually doing everything.
But when the end of the month comes, the target hasn't been met. And suddenly all eyes turn to you. It's as if everything is your fault.
But you're not guilty. You did your best.
Real Responsibility
The Weight on Your Shoulders
As a digital marketing employee, you don't just manage ads; you actually carry the weight of the entire company. Because your increasing revenue means everyone in the company gets their salary on time. A beautiful responsibility, but also very heavy.
You wake up every morning with the same thought: How can I reach more customers today? You set up campaigns, adjust budgets, publish ads. You become a bridge between CRM and sales. You do segmentation, run tests, analyze data.
But again the end of the month comes and the target isn't met. Then it's as if the weight of the entire system is only on your shoulders.
But in reality, you're not guilty. Because there are problems in the system itself: the website is slow, social media is irregular, content quality is low, customer service is inadequate. You're doing your best, but the weight of the missing chain falls on you.
The truth is:
• You are just a part of the system, not all responsibility is on you
• But the heaviest weight is on your shoulders
• This responsibility is valuable, but also very exhausting
Real Problem
Budget Trap
You developed a strategy, wanted to go beyond advertising. But you asked for budget and couldn't get approval. Or you couldn't bring forward a new solution because you got very little support.
You try alternative ways. Sometimes you succeed too. But due to budget inadequacy, your potential always remains limited. You can maybe increase revenue by twenty percent next month — but no one sees this effort.
Actually, if just a part of the budget allocated to advertising was transferred to a strong content strategy, you could maybe achieve sustainable revenue even without advertising after a few months.
Content and conversion strategy is much more effective than advertising in the long term. When the right investment is made, it can ensure a company's regular growth for years. For this, you first need to change your perspective.
The real problem is:
• You find alternative solutions but budget is insufficient
• You have performance but expectations are always higher
• Content strategy is more effective than advertising, but gaining the right perspective is essential
Change Your Perspective
Being a Transformer
You should start seeing yourself not just as someone who optimizes, but as a transformer. It's not about learning the standard, but redefining it.
What does transforming mean for you?
Maybe designing a new website. More user-focused, more psychological, more sales-oriented. But not just visually — it should be different structurally too. For example, content management should be in a system that accelerates production, not one that suffocates you.
You need to understand AI. Not just use it, but think with it. Text, visual, video... There are different dynamics for each. SEO yes, but even this word is insufficient now. The real goal is to connect with the user's mind. This is not SEO — this is communication combined with empathy.
Producing content, shaping it, growing it, then keeping it alive on many platforms... This is now a new way of thinking. That's why instead of getting stuck in classic campaign patterns, you should first think like a professional, then create your own matrix.
Remember:
• You are a transformer, not just an optimizer
• Change your perspective, build your own system
• Challenges exist not to stop you, but to help you exceed your limits
I Hear You
In this writing series, we will share the challenges, concerns, and hopes we experience in professional life. Sometimes a story, sometimes advice, sometimes just to say I understand you — I'm here for that.
If KPIs are challenging you, if you feel inadequate, or if you just want to share what you're experiencing, you can write to me. I want to listen to you, understand you, and help as much as I can.
In the next episode, we will talk about impostor syndrome. I will write for everyone who has asked themselves the question 'Can I really do this job?'
Remember, you are not guilty. You did your best.
You are a transformer. Challenges exist not to make you give up, but to help you break through the circle. There are people who understand you. And I am one of them.
If you want to make a difference, read this series to the end. Because real transformation doesn't start in an article, but in the process where you discover yourself step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do when I can't meet my KPIs?
First, don't blame yourself. KPI failure usually stems from many parts of the system, not just one. Factors you can't control, like website speed, content quality, and customer service, directly affect results. The most important thing you can do is clarify your own contribution and make the weak points in the system visible.
Why do I feel like I'm carrying so much burden as a digital marketing professional?
Because digital marketing is no longer just ad management; it's a role where the company's entire revenue target is loaded onto your shoulders. You have multi-layered responsibilities like managing campaigns, bridging between CRM and sales, keeping the budget balanced, and reporting results. This burden is real and heavy.
How can I find solutions when facing budget constraints?
Develop alternative strategies. Support the results you can't get from advertising with content strategy and organic growth. Focus on SEO, blog posts, and user-focused content production that provide lasting results in the long term. If your ad budget is limited, focus on sustainable methods.
What does it mean to be a transformer?
Being a transformer means not being satisfied with just optimizing existing systems. You focus on fundamental changes like changing website design, understanding AI tools, and rebuilding content strategy. Instead of learning standards, you redefine standards.
How can I deal with impostor syndrome?
Impostor syndrome is very common, especially in high-responsibility roles. When you feel inadequate, you feel this way not because you're truly inadequate, but because the complexity of the system and high expectations are challenging you. Normalizing this feeling is the first step to overcoming it.
How should I explain to the team when I fail?
Be transparent. Support the reasons why KPIs aren't being met with data. Present what steps you took, where you struggled, and your alternative solution suggestions. Instead of going on the defensive, making the weak points in the system visible strengthens you.
What should I do to feel stronger in professional life?
Create your own matrix. Go beyond standard roles and develop yourself in areas like AI, content psychology, and SEO depth. Gain T-shaped competency: deepen in one area, have basic knowledge in others. This makes you indispensable.
FinTech Growth Strategies
Data-Driven Digital Marketing & AI Innovation