Why Marketing Slips Down the List for Small Businesses and Charities – and How to Fix It

Running a small business or charity means juggling a lot at once. Customers, clients, supporters, staff, volunteers, budgets, funding applications, emails…the list is endless. It’s no surprise that marketing often gets squeezed to the bottom.

The problem? Marketing is what helps people actually find you, remember you and take action. Without it, you can end up working harder behind the scenes but not reaching the

people who need to know about you.

So why does marketing so often stall and what can you do about it?

1. You’re not sure if your marketing is working

A common worry I hear is: “We post on social media, send the odd newsletter, but is it actually doing anything?”

The truth is, marketing can feel like guesswork. The fix isn’t doing more, it’s having a simple way to measure results. Think about enquiries, bookings, donations, sign-ups or website visits — clear signs that you’re reaching the right people.

2. You don’t have the time or headspace

When you’re wearing ten hats at once, it’s easy to let marketing slide. A simple, realistic plan can take away the mental load. Instead of staring at a blank page wondering what to post, you know what’s happening this week, what can wait until later, and how it all ties back to your goals.

3. You’re trying to do everything at once

One of the biggest mistakes I see is spreading effort too thin — trying to be on every social media channel or chasing every new tool. It’s far more effective to focus on one or two places where your audience actually spends time and do those well.

4. You’re missing the link between strategy and content

This is where many small organisations get stuck. They either:

• Have a strategy but no time to put it into action, or

• Keep creating content without a clear strategy behind it.

The sweet spot is having both. A strategy sets your direction, and content makes it real. When they work together, marketing feels easier and you start to see results.

Making marketing manageable

This is where I step in. My role is to give you the balance of strategy and content that takes the pressure off and helps you reach your goals. That might be:

• A Clarity Session to quickly show you what to focus on next

• A Marketing MOT for a deeper review and a 90-day plan

• Ongoing support through my Monthly Marketing Partner package

• Or the Charity Growth Package to strengthen your story and funding bids

Each is designed to give you clarity, consistency and practical tools you can actually use straight away.

👉 Explore my services here

Final thought

Marketing doesn’t need to be complicated or perfect. It just needs to be clear, consistent

and connected to your goals. With the right balance of strategy and content, you’ll know exactly where to focus — and you’ll feel more confident about the results.

👉 If marketing keeps slipping down your list, get in touch and let’s make it manageable.