Ditch the Busywork: Smarter Marketing for More Sales

Running a small business means wearing a hundred hats, so marketing is often the last thing SMBs and entrepreneurs are thinking of and the first to get pushed aside. 

But without a marketing plan, you’re either throwing random tactics at the wall or doing nothing. And if you’re not investing in advertising…well, we’d hate to imagine how long you’ll survive if folks don’t know you exist.

But here’s the thing: Not all marketing is worth your time. 

Some efforts drive leads and revenue, while others are unnecessary busywork. This guide will help you cut through the clutter and focus on what really works in the early stages of your business or marketing plan.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify executable marketing efforts that get you leads, and sales, or increase your brand visibility.

• Prioritize high-impact, low-effort strategies that maximize your results early on.

• Understand how automation, delegation, and batching can streamline your marketing workflow and what you’ll need to implement them.

1. Focus on What Brings Immediate and Long-Term ROI

Seriously, not all marketing tactics are created equal. Some will bring in sales and brand awareness, while others will drain your time with little return. So, when you’re small or just starting out, prioritize activities that bring measurable results.

High-Impact vs. Low-Impact Marketing

• High-impact marketing efforts: SEO, email marketing, Google My Business optimization, and referral programs.

• Low-impact marketing efforts: Posting random social media updates without a strategy, chasing vanity metrics, or spending hours on content no one sees.

Low-Lift, High-Reward Strategies

Over time, these strategies deliver the most bang for your buck:

• Email marketing: One well-crafted email can drive more conversions than dozens of social media posts. So, use your social media to build your email list instead of hoping for immediate sales.

• SEO & Google My Business: These channels provide steady, organic traffic without constant maintenance once set up correctly.

• Referral marketing: Word-of-mouth and customer testimonials are free and powerful tools for growth.

Notice the difference in the tactics for each category. Also, note that high-impact marketing efforts tend to be less “sexy” and require more patience. But, you can’t measure or rely on low-impact marketing efforts. You can’t tell whether a random social media post actually drives sales. 

It’s the same when you’re chasing vanity metrics such as “likes” and “shares.” Sure, they boost your ego and your hopes. But if 1000 likes or followers don’t translate into dollars in your pocket, what good are they?

2. Streamline, Automate, and Delegate

Don’t spend hours manually posting content or following up with leads. Use tools to handle repetitive tasks:

Automate What You Can

• Social media scheduling tools (Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, or the app’s scheduling tools) to plan posts in advance.

• Email automation to send follow-ups and promotions without manual work.

• Chatbots and AI tools to answer basic customer inquiries.

Something to note about automation tools and tactics: Even these automated tools require someone who understands how to use them and has the time to set them up and schedule content. In our experience, this can sometimes take hours.

Additionally, remember that you should only automate tasks, like scheduling and sending. But you should always write initial outreach emails, social media posts, and replies when possible. You don’t want potential customers to be put off by a robotic voice or tone.

Delegate or Outsource Low-Value Tasks

If marketing consumes too much of your time, consider outsourcing certain tasks. Hiring a freelancer or agency for content strategy, creation, ads management, or social media can free you up to focus on running your business. 

If hiring isn’t an option, look into affordable virtual assistants who can help manage the workload.

3. Stick to a Simple, Sustainable Plan

Trying to work on your entire marketing ecosystem every day leads to inconsistency. Instead, set aside dedicated blocks of time for each marketing channel:

Batch Work & Themed Days

• Example: Monday is for social media, Wednesday is for email marketing, and Friday is for website updates.

• Batching prevents marketing from becoming an overwhelming daily task and helps you stay consistent.

Use the 80/20 Rule

80% of your results will come from 20% of your efforts. Find what works, focus on it, and eliminate what doesn’t. If Instagram isn’t generating leads, stop wasting time on it. If email marketing is converting, double down.

A few things about the 80/20 rule:

• First, it’s not an ongoing plan; it's just something to get you up and running. You can always create a new strategy when you're ready to scale up.

• For a one time fee, you can work with a consultant to help you determine which marketing channels best suit our brand and how to reach your audience better.

Focus on BETTER Marketing

Most small business owners don’t need to do more marketing; they need better marketing. You can grow your business without drowning in marketing tasks by focusing on high-ROI strategies, automating where possible, and sticking to a simple, effective plan. When we say “ROI,” we mainly refer to time, not just resources or budget.

Marketing is essential to business success, but it takes time and can lose its “fun aspect” quickly if you’re stuck between putting dollars in the bank and creating another TikTok.

Need a no-fluff marketing strategy that actually works? Let’s talk.