Why Monthly Marketing Reports Matter (And What You Should Include in Yours)
TL;DR: Why Monthly Marketing Reports Matter
A monthly marketing report gives you a clear, data-driven view of what’s working and what’s not in your marketing.
Great reports include KPIs, campaign results, SEO data, ad spend breakdowns, and actionable insights.
They help you make faster, smarter decisions that improve ROI and reduce wasted spend.
Agencies should send them consistently and walk you through the results (not just email a chart and disappear).
At Schulze Creative, we build interactive reports in Looker Studio and review them with every client, every month.
“Without data, you're just another person with an opinion.” – W. Edwards Deming
And yet, far too many businesses are running marketing campaigns on gut instinct. No tracking. No strategy. No feedback loop.
Here’s the truth: if you’re spending thousands on Google ads, SEO, or content and not getting a monthly marketing report, you’re flying blind.
At Schulze Creative, we believe reports shouldn’t be optional, confusing, or buried in your inbox. They should be clear, consistent, and insanely valuable. The kind of report that shows exactly where your leads came from, which ads wasted money, and what changes will increase your ROI next month.
This isn’t about dashboards for dashboard’s sake. It’s about making faster decisions. Smarter moves. And most importantly, not wasting a single dollar of your budget.
In this guide, I’m going to walk you through what a great monthly marketing report should look like, what to include, and how we build them for home service businesses doing $1M+ a year. I’ll even share a real client story that shows how one report saved an HVAC company thousands in wasted spend.
What’s a Monthly Marketing Report?
A Simple Breakdown (That Actually Makes Sense)
A monthly marketing report is a clear and easy-to-understand snapshot of what happened in your digital marketing last month. It includes all the key performance data and insights that show how your campaigns are doing across platforms like Google, Facebook, your website, and more.
Not Just Fluff or Busywork
Some people think reports are just "nice to have" but when they're done right, they're a game plan. Good monthly reports help you spot trends, optimize your budget, and get real results.
Who Uses Them?
Marketing agencies (like us)
In-house marketing teams
Business owners and executives who want to stay informed without digging through analytics tools
Why Monthly Marketing Reports Actually Help Your Business
See What’s Working and What’s Not
Instead of guessing which campaigns are driving leads, reports show you exactly where your results are coming from.
Make Smarter, Faster Decisions
No more waiting months to pivot your strategy. Reports give you the data you need to act fast and stay ahead of competitors.
Avoid Wasting Money
You can catch underperforming ads, low-converting pages, or missed SEO opportunities before they burn your budget.
Spot Trends Early
Monthly reports help you identify patterns in seasonality, customer behavior, or market changes, so you can be proactive, not reactive.
What Should Be Inside a Monthly Marketing Report?
Let’s break it down section by section.
1. Key Performance Metrics (KPIs)
You want to track:
Website traffic
Leads generated
Cost per conversion
Return on ad spend (ROAS)
Email open and click-through rates
These numbers help you understand if your investment is paying off.
2. Campaign Summaries
Quick updates on all current campaigns (ads, email, content, etc.)
What we ran
What the goals were
What the results looked like
3. SEO & Website Data
Organic traffic from Google
Click-through rate (CTR)
Top-ranking pages
Keyword movement
Any site issues hurting performance
4. Social Media Performance
Follower growth
Post reach and engagement
Best-performing content
5. Paid Ads Breakdown
Impressions
Clicks
Conversions
Cost per click (CPC)
Cost per lead (CPL)
We make sure your money is being spent wisely.
6. Goals & Progress
What were the monthly goals?
Did we meet or exceed them?
What needs more attention next month?
7. Insights & Recommendations
We never just dump numbers on you. We explain what they mean and what to do next. For example:
"This keyword is starting to rank, let’s build more content around it."
"Your Facebook ad got great engagement but low conversions. Let’s test a new offer."
8. Promotions & Special Offers
We track the success of sales, promos, or seasonal deals:
What worked
What didn’t
What we learned for next time
9. Market & Audience Insights
We share what we’re learning about your audience:
Demographics and behavior
Competitor updates
Industry trends
Why You Should Ask for These Reports From Your Marketing Agency
Keeps your agency accountable: You see the numbers, not just the talk.
Keeps you in the loop: Even if you're not a marketer, you can understand what's happening.
Builds trust: When you're on the same page every month, the relationship gets stronger.
Shows ROI: You know exactly what you're getting for your investment.
Good vs. Bad Reports: How to Tell the Difference
What Makes a Good Report?
Clear, visual dashboards (like Google Looker Studio)
Highlights of key wins and areas for improvement
Specific recommendations for next month
What Makes a Bad Report?
A cluttered spreadsheet with no context
Tons of data, zero interpretation
Only sent when you ask for it
From our experience at Schulze Creative, one of the biggest mistakes agencies make is sending reports only when a client demands them. Reporting should be proactive, consistent, and strategic.
Case Study: HVAC Company Cuts Wasted Ad Spend by 37%
One Colorado HVAC client came to us after burning money on Google Ads without seeing results. When we took over, we set up conversion tracking and started providing detailed monthly reports using Google Looker Studio.
In month two, we noticed several keywords were eating the budget without conversions. Thanks to the report, we paused those keywords and redirected budget to top-performing areas. Within 60 days, their ROI increased by 37%.
That wouldn’t have happened without a strong reporting system.
How Monthly Reports Drive Real Business Growth
They let you double down on what's working
They help fix what's not converting
They make you more agile
They strengthen the collaboration between you and your marketing team
How to Create a Monthly Marketing Report (Without Going Crazy)
Google Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio)
Interactive dashboards
Easy sharing
Connects to Google Analytics, Ads, Search Console, and more
Other Tools That Can Help
Whatagraph
DashThis
AgencyAnalytics
Each tool offers templates, automation, and visual dashboards. Choose the one that fits your goals and budget.
Tips to Make Reporting Easier
Automate data pulling
Use templates
Keep reports focused and clean
Always include your "so what" (recommendations + takeaways)
At Schulze Creative, we spend about an hour building and reviewing each client report. We use Google Looker Studio and walk through the insights live on a monthly call. No guesswork. Just clarity.
Wrapping It Up: Reports That Actually Move the Needle
Monthly marketing reports aren’t just a nice-to-have, they’re essential if you want clarity, control, and consistent growth. When built the right way, they tell you what’s working, what’s not, and what to do next. No guesswork. Just focused, actionable insight that helps you make smarter decisions every month.
From tracking key metrics to analyzing campaigns, SEO, paid ads, and more, your report should be a tool, not a burden. At Schulze Creative, we use Google Looker Studio to build interactive, transparent reports that give our clients a real view into their marketing performance. And we don’t just send them, we walk through every report together, highlighting exactly what’s driving results.
If your current agency isn’t doing this, it might be time to ask why.
Because when you have the right data in front of you, marketing becomes a lot less confusing, and a lot more profitable.
Ready to see what a great report looks like? Let’s talk.
FAQ: Monthly Marketing Reports
What is a monthly marketing report?
A monthly marketing report is a summary of your marketing performance across different channels like SEO, paid ads, email, and social media. It shows your results, key metrics, and what steps to take next.
Why are monthly marketing reports important?
They help you stay informed, make smart decisions, and ensure your marketing budget is being used effectively.
What should be included in a monthly marketing report?
Key metrics, campaign performance, website traffic, SEO data, ad results, goals, recommendations, and audience insights.
What tool is best for building monthly marketing reports?
Google Looker Studio is a top choice due to its flexibility, integrations, and interactive dashboards. Other options include Whatagraph, DashThis, and AgencyAnalytics.
How often should I receive a marketing report from my agency?
You should receive a report every single month, along with a walkthrough so you understand the data.
Does Schulze Creative provide monthly reports?
Yes, we provide comprehensive monthly reports for all clients. They’re interactive, transparent, and reviewed together in a live monthly meeting.
What makes Schulze Creative's reports different?
We don’t hide behind metrics. We show you everything: what worked, what didn’t, and what we’re doing about it. Our reports are custom-built in Looker Studio and tailored to your business.
How long does it take to build a report at Schulze Creative?
We spend about an hour per report, pulling data from Google Analytics, Search Console, and other tools to build a clean, useful dashboard.
Will someone walk me through my report?
Always. Every month, we walk through your report together, explaining what happened and where we go next.
