Why Marketing Feels Impossible When You’re Running a Business

If you run a small business, congrats—you officially do everything.

You’re handling sales, operations, customer service, invoicing, fixing the WiFi when it inevitably stops working, and probably wondering why you even need sleep.

Marketing? That’s just another thing on the list. A thing that gets pushed further and further down until you suddenly realize, oh wow, we have no leads… again.

And that’s fair. Marketing feels big and complicated and time-consuming. And yet, if you don’t market your business, people won’t find you.

And if people don’t find you, you don’t get sales.

And if you don’t get sales— Well, let’s not think about that.

The Good News: You don’t need to spend hours on marketing. You just need a system that works in the time you already have.

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Stop Trying to Do Everything

A huge mistake small business owners make is assuming that “good marketing” = doing everything all at once.

So they try to:

• Post on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter daily.
• Write blog posts.
• Send emails.
• Make video content.
• Run paid ads.
• Learn SEO.
• Attend networking events.

All while running a business and then they burn out and do nothing.

The Fix: Pick ONE Primary Marketing Channel

Instead of spreading yourself thin, choose the one channel that makes the most sense for your business.

• Service-based businesses: LinkedIn or SEO-driven blog content.
• E-commerce brands: Instagram or short-form video (TikTok, YouTube Shorts).
• Local businesses: Google My Business and email marketing.
• High-ticket B2B services: Case studies, blog posts, and LinkedIn.

Example: A construction firm working with Green Light Studio wanted to improve their marketing. But they had no system for showcasing their best work. Instead of trying to post on social media daily, we helped them focus on documenting projects with case studies—which they could then repurpose across multiple platforms.

Want to learn how to make case studies easy? Check out our guide here.

Step 2: Use the “5-Minute Marketing System”

You don’t need hours for marketing. You just need a simple, repeatable system that fits into your day.

The 5-Minute Marketing Plan

• Monday – Jot down one quick marketing idea (customer question, success story, industry insight).
• Tuesday – Draft a short post or email (keep it simple—don’t overthink it).
• Wednesday – Record a 1-minute video answering a common customer question.
• Thursday – Engage with your audience (reply to comments, emails, or messages).
• Friday – Look at what worked, and plan next week’s content.
  

This system removes decision fatigue and ensures that even when you’re busy, your marketing keeps moving.

Step 3: Automate What You Can

If marketing feels like too much work, you’re probably doing too much manually.

Here’s how to set up simple automations that save time:

• Use email auto responders – Set up a welcome sequence for new leads so they get valuable info automatically.

• Schedule social media posts – Tools like Buffer, Later, or Metricool can automate posting weeks in advance.

• Repurpose content – A single blog post can become 3 social media posts, an email, and a video.

• Use templates for repeat tasks – Save your best-performing content as templates you can reuse.
  

Step 4: Focus on Quick Wins First

A huge misconception about marketing? That it only works if it’s big, complicated, and expensive.

Reality: The smallest changes can lead to big results.

Easy Marketing Wins You Can Do This Week

• Fix your Google Business Profile – Many local businesses lose leads because their Google listing isn’t optimized.

• Ask for testimonials – A single 5-star review can be worth more than any ad.

• Improve your website’s homepage – Make it clear who you help, what you do, and why people should choose you.

• Follow up with past customers – A quick check-in email can lead to repeat business.



• Start a simple email list – Even sending one valuable email per month keeps customers engaged.

Step 5: Change Your Mindset About Marketing

A big reason small businesses struggle with marketing?

They see it as a burden, not an investment.

If you treat marketing as a “nice to have” rather than a core part of business growth, it will always get pushed aside.

But businesses that prioritize marketing grow faster, more sustainably, and with less stress.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

You don’t need hours a day for marketing. You just need a system that works within your schedule.

• Choose one primary marketing channel and focus on it.
• Follow a simple weekly marketing system.
• Automate and repurpose content to save time.
• Start with quick wins that make an immediate impact.
• Shift your mindset—marketing isn’t a distraction, it’s how your business grows.