I Don’t Wanna Hurt Your Feelings, But You Plan To Fail If You Have No Marketing Strategy

51% of small businesses have NO MARKETING STRATEGY.

Well let me tell you something…..

I guarantee if you don’t have one, your competitors absolutely DO, and you shouldn’t be wondering at all why they have more business than you.

A wise woman once stated “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” (Taylor Swift) and you know what, she’s bang on.

Whether your business is homemade soap, clothing, services or even hot dogs (believe me, hot dog carts can make A LOT OF MONEY)

The success of your business will depend big time on your marketing strategy.

I’ve worked with plenty of businesses that relied on word of mouth, they didn’t feel they needed to put any money into marketing because their customers were happy and passed on their names.

That’s awesome, and it is certainly important that your business is serving your customers and making them happy - but you actually have no control at all over whether a customer even passes on your name.

You do, however, definitely have control over how much you want to put into Facebook Ads or invest in SEO.

So let’s discuss why you can’t just keep puttering along hoping your customers will do your marketing for you. Let’s also discuss how you can start creating a little marketing plan for growth, because if you do good business you should be growing.

What Happens When You Have No Marketing Strategy?

Running your biz without a plan at all just isn’t a good idea.

It’s pretty safe to say if you aren’t steering the ship in any direction, it’s most likely going to crash - eventually.

Here are some other things that will probably happen:

You’ll Waste Money

Without a plan, you’re likely to spend money on random efforts. One month, you might boost a Facebook post; the next, you might print flyers. These marketing attempts might give you short-term results, but they rarely build long-term growth.

You’ll Lose Focus

Do you want to attract new customers, increase sales, or boost brand awareness? Without clear goals, your marketing efforts can feel like you’re spinning your wheels—and getting nowhere fast.

Your Competition Will Do Better Than You

Newsflash: Your competitors do have a marketing strategy. If you’re not deliberate about reaching your audience, someone else will be.

Your Brand Identity Will Get Lost

A consistent brand voice and message are key to building trust and loyalty. Without a plan, you risk confusing your customers with mixed messages.


Marketing: It's Not Rocket Science (But It Helps to Aim)

Mmmmk so I’ve explained why you can’t just coast through business life with no plan, now for the fun part - let’s talk about what you CAN do, starting right where you are!

You NEED to KNOW your Target Market

The first and most important part of any marketing strategy is understanding who you are selling to, it seems super simple but surprisingly a lot of businesses don’t really know.

When I ask this question the most common response I get is “I’m selling to everyone” - well, no, no you aren’t. I’ll explain why.

You can’t even create a marketing plan without knowing WTF YOU’RE MARKETING TO! So you NEED to know this.

In fact, I would even go as far as saying - it is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL to know and understand your target market. Actually, you need to know them REALLY WELL.

You need to know their needs, desires, interests and what keeps them up at night. This is the foundation of any marketing plan.

You’re going to use tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics and social media analytics to gather this information.

Know Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

There is plenty of competition in the world, so what is so special about your business?

Could be your eco-friendly packaging, your insanely good customer service, or your local roots.

As they say in one of my fave movies “The Secret Is In The Sauce” (Fried Green Tomatoes if ya didn’t know) and your sauce needs to be real good!

Set Measurable Goals

These goals need to be super measurable, specific, relevant and time-bound. I guess I could squeeze achievable in there too, but I love setting UNACHIEVABLE goals, just to stretch the faith a little.



Pick Some Marketing Channels That Make Sense

Not all marketing channels are created equal. If your audience is Gen Z, TikTok might be your best bet.

If you’re targeting professionals, LinkedIn could be more effective. Focus on where your audience spends their time.

I usually suggest Facebook and Instagram to start, as they are the most popular social media platforms.

Also, don’t overwhelm yourself trying to be active on so many channels, start with one - get to know it, and when you feel comfortable move another one.



Design & Plan a KICK-ASS Content Plan

Content is the tender MEAT of the modern marketing sangy. Your marketing plan NEEDS IT. Content is everything.

Blogs, videos, social media posts, and email campaigns all work together to engage your audience.

Plan your content around your audience’s interests and your business goals.

Hot tip here: Don’t be creating content just to advertise yourself. Content is FOR YOUR AUDIENCE.

Think “How can I give my target audience value” - in fact, that’s what I’m doing RIGHT now - for you.



Track n’ Adjust

Marketing is NOT a “set it and forget it” kind of deal. Use analytics tools to track your performance and make adjustments as needed.

Marketing is a long winding journey, never a destination.


Some Marketing Strategy Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to stumble (believe me, I’ve done it plenty of times - and will do it again!) Here are some stuff to watch out for:

Trying to Do It All: Focus on a few key strategies instead of spreading yourself too thin. (this will cause burnout)

Ignoring Your Data: Numbers don’t lie. Use them to inform your decisions. (this is important info!)

Being Inconsistent: A sporadic marketing effort confuses customers and weakens your brand. (don’t give up!)

Still not convinced? Let me share a few of my clients business stories:

Case Study 1: The Local Painter

A small-town painting business was struggling to compete with all the other painting businesses.

They created a strategy focused on Instagram and Facebook showcasing their before & after pictures and videos of completed jobs and highlighted their “woman owned” unique selling proposition

The result? They doubled their business in a year and grew their Facebook and Instagram 150% in just 6 months.

Case Study 2: The Freelance Web Developer

A freelance web developer wanted to attract more high-paying clients. She developed a content strategy centered around LinkedIn, sharing development tips and success stories. In a year, her income doubled.

So there ya have it, I’m a firm believer of “no effort is ever wasted” - you never know who’s going to see your content!


Making Marketing Fun (Yes, It’s Possible!)

I know, when you’re already running a small business, marketing can feel like too much, especially if you’re a solopreneur or running a small team.

But it can actually be FUN! Here are some tips to make it enjoyable:

Get Creative: Jump on trends. Experiment with memes, reels, or live videos. If you like singing & dancing do that!

Celebrate Small Wins: Every new follower, sale, or website click is worth celebrating.

So there you have it, I hope this inspires you to make a kick-ass plan and grow your business in fun and creative ways - if you’re looking for help to grow your awesome biz this year and you already have a website take advantage of my FREE WEBSITE AUDIT and see where you can improve


Talk soon!