Building a business from scratch is one of the most rewarding yet challenging things you can do. As a founder, you wear many hats, and marketing often feels like a maze—filled with shiny tools, buzzwords, and endless advice.
Having walked this path myself, I know how overwhelming it can be to make sense of it all while staying true to your vision. Over the years, I’ve helped build businesses from the ground up and learned what works (and what doesn’t). One thing is clear: marketing isn’t about quick fixes or chasing trends—it’s about creating a strong foundation that can support your business today and grow with you through pivots and changes.
In this post, I’m breaking down five common marketing challenges I’ve seen founders struggle with and sharing practical tips to help you navigate them.
#1 Struggling to Build a Cohesive Marketing Strategy
Many founders dive into marketing without a clear strategy, posting sporadically on social media or running ads without knowing who they’re targeting or what their key messages are. Without a roadmap, it’s easy to feel like you’re spinning your wheels.
The Fix:
Start with your brand foundations:
Who are you?
What are you solving, and for whom?
Then flip the perspective—what are your clients looking for? Bridge that gap with messaging that resonates. Next, clarify your goals. Are you aiming for more leads, greater brand awareness, or better customer retention? Every marketing effort should tie back to these objectives.
Partnering with a marketing expert who not only sets up your strategy but also explains why certain approaches work can be transformative. This not only yields results but also empowers you to make informed decisions.
#2 Finding the Time to Manage Marketing
Running a business is time-consuming, and while sales often take priority, marketing can fall by the wayside. This isn’t intentional—it’s simply the reality of juggling too much. Without time to strategise, execute, and evaluate, marketing becomes reactive instead of proactive, leading to inconsistent results.
The Fix:
Consider what you might be missing by not investing in consistent marketing. Can you carve out time or streamline your efforts? If not, it might be time to bring in fractional marketing support.
This gives you access to senior marketing expertise on a part-time or project basis. It saves time, ensures alignment with your goals, and builds processes that lighten your load while keeping you in the driver’s seat.
#3 Knowing Where to Invest
Should you invest in SEO, paid ads, or a rebrand? Without a clear understanding of your priorities, it’s easy to pour resources into the wrong places or tools that don’t move the needle.
The Fix:
Focus on foundational investments that grow with your business. A well-designed website, CRM, customer insights, and a consistent communication schedule are long-term assets, even if your business pivots.
Once these are in place, experiment with other options like paid ads or partnerships. The key is to approach these decisions strategically, not impulsively.
#4 Creating Consistent, High-Quality Content
Content connects you with your audience, but creating it consistently can feel daunting. Without a plan, it’s easy to lose momentum, which can hurt your brand’s credibility.
The Fix:
Plan ahead with a content calendar and start small. A single, impactful blog post or social media series can make a big difference. Repurpose your content to maximise its value, and don’t hesitate to outsource parts of the process. A trusted marketing partner can ensure quality while saving you time.
#5 Investing Heavily in Sales but Neglecting Marketing
It’s tempting to focus on building a sales team for quick wins, but without strong marketing support, this can backfire. I’ve seen founders churn through salespeople because their product wasn’t positioned to resonate with customers or stand out from competitors.
The Fix:
Marketing and sales are two sides of the same coin. Marketing articulates your value, differentiates your offering, and positions your product to address your customers’ pain points. Think of sales as the proposal and marketing as the courtship. Without the latter, don’t expect a “yes.”
Invest in marketing to lay the groundwork for your sales team. When marketing and sales work hand in hand, the results are far more impactful.
A Final Word of Encouragement
Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The key is setting up a foundation that supports your current needs while allowing for growth and change. I’ve seen too many businesses waste time and resources chasing the wrong things—don’t let that be you.
If you’re ready to take the next step, I’m here to help. At Think Boldly!, I work with founders to simplify marketing, create strategies that work, and ensure you feel confident every step of the way.
Whether you need a fractional CMO, project support, or guidance to build on your own, let’s chat.
Take the First Step
Explore my services or get in touch. Let’s build something amazing—together.
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