Balancing marketing and running a business is a challenge, but it comes down to leveraging time, systems, and expertise effectively. Here’s how business owners can stay on top of marketing without it consuming their entire week:
1️⃣ Prioritise High-Impact Activities
Not all marketing efforts deliver the same results. Focus on the 20% of activities that drive 80% of growth. Usually, this means:
• Clear messaging (your website, ads, and emails should instantly communicate value).
• Consistent lead generation (ads, SEO, partnerships).
• Strong customer relationships (email marketing, community building).
2️⃣ Systemise & Automate
If you’re manually posting on social media every day, writing email sequences from scratch, or managing every ad campaign yourself—you’re wasting valuable time.
- Use scheduling tools (Buffer, Later, HubSpot) to plan content in advance.
- Automate email sequences and follow-ups.
- Create templates for recurring tasks (ad copy, proposals, social posts).
3️⃣ Delegate & Outsource Wisely
You don’t have to do everything. But blindly hiring an agency won’t solve your problems either.
- Hire for strategy or execution—but not both at once if you’re tight on budget.
- Ensure any outsourced work aligns with clear, measurable goals.
- Build internal processes first, so anyone you hire can plug in efficiently.
4️⃣ Set Marketing “Power Hours”
Marketing shouldn’t be an afterthought, but it also shouldn’t hijack your day.
- Block one or two power hours per week to review performance, tweak strategy, and approve content.
- Stay out of the weeds—don’t micromanage ad targeting or post formatting.
- Focus on the big picture: Is marketing driving revenue? If not, something’s off.
5️⃣ Measure What Matters
Likes and followers won’t pay your bills. Track:
✅ Leads & conversion rates
✅ Cost per acquisition (CPA)
✅ Customer lifetime value (CLV)
✅ ROI on ad spend
If a marketing effort isn’t moving these core metrics, it’s a distraction.
Final thought: Marketing isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things consistently.
