The Marketing Jobs Small Business Owners Keep Putting Off (And Why They Matter)
If you’re running a small business, chances are your to-do list is never-ending. There are customers to look after, invoices to send, stock to order, staff to manage and approximately a hundred other things demanding your attention every day.
So it’s no surprise that marketing often becomes the thing you’ll “get to next week.”
Except next week becomes next month. Then suddenly it’s been two years since your website was updated, your social media has gone quiet and the professional photos you meant to organise are still sitting on a list somewhere.
The good news? You’re not alone. In fact, almost every client we work with comes to us saying exactly the same thing:
“We’ve just been too busy.”
And honestly, that’s understandable.
Marketing isn’t just another task on the list, it’s often the first thing that gets pushed aside because it doesn’t feel urgent. The irony is that the marketing jobs we avoid are often the very things that help bring in the next customer.
Here are the biggest marketing jobs we see businesses putting off, and why they’re worth making time for.
1. Updating your website
Your website is often the first impression people have of your business. If it’s slow, difficult to navigate or full of outdated information, potential customers may leave before they even get in touch.
That doesn’t always mean you need a brand-new website. In many cases, a refresh is all that’s required. Updating your images, improving your copy, improving your search-ability, making your contact details easier to find or simplifying the navigation can make a significant difference.
Ask yourself:
- Is all the information still accurate?
- Does it look good on mobile?
- Is it easy for someone to contact you?
- Does it clearly explain what you do?
- Is the load time fast enough or would I give up waiting?
If you answered “no” to any of those questions, it’s probably time to move your website a little higher up the to-do list.
How we can help with your website.
2. Taking new photos
We see it all the time. Businesses using photos that are five years old, heavily filtered, or simply don’t represent who they are today.
People want to see the real people behind a business.
Professional photography doesn’t have to mean stiff corporate headshots. It might be your team at work, your products being made, your workspace or the little details that make your business unique.
Fresh photography gives you content for your website, social media, newsletters and marketing materials, all while helping build trust with potential customers.
If you’re selling a product, this is even more important. Start by asking yourself – “Does this look like something someone would want to spend that money on?”
3. Writing blogs and improving your SEO
Many business owners think blogs are only for large companies.
In reality, they’re one of the best ways to help people discover your business online, particularly in this new era of AI search.
Every time you answer a question your customers are already asking, you’re creating another opportunity for Google to find your website.
Think about the questions you answer every week. Chances are, they’re exactly what someone is searching for.
You don’t need to publish every week. Even adding one helpful article each month can make a noticeable difference over time.
4. Refreshing your branding
Your logo might still be perfectly fine.
But does the rest of your brand feel consistent?
Branding is much more than a logo. It’s your colours, photography, typography, tone of voice and the overall experience people have when they interact with your business.
Often, a simple refresh can make your business feel more modern and professional without starting from scratch.
5. Collecting reviews and testimonials
This is probably one of the easiest marketing jobs on the list and one of the most overlooked.
If someone has had a great experience with your business, don’t be afraid to ask them to leave a review.
Google Reviews help improve your visibility in search results, while testimonials on your website give future customers confidence that they’re making the right choice.
People trust people. A few genuine reviews can often be more persuasive than the most beautifully written marketing copy.
6. Building an email list
Social media platforms change all the time. Algorithms shift. Reach drops. Accounts disappear.
Your email list is one thing you own.
Whether you send a monthly update, seasonal offers or helpful advice, email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to stay connected with your customers.
If you haven’t started collecting email addresses yet, today is a great day to begin.
7. Creating a marketing plan
Marketing often feels overwhelming because there’s no clear plan. Instead of trying to do everything, decide on a few simple priorities.
For example:
- Update your website this month.
- Book a photography session next month.
- Publish one blog every month.
- Share two social media posts each week.
- Ask one happy customer for a review every Friday.
Small, consistent actions almost always outperform big bursts of activity followed by months of silence.
The goal isn’t to do everything at once. It’s simply to keep moving forward.
8. Consistency beats intensity.
One good blog every month.
Two useful emails.
Three thoughtful social posts each week.
Done for twelve months.
That beats posting daily for three weeks and disappearing.
You don’t have to do it all yourself
If you’ve made it this far, you might have realised your marketing to-do list is a little longer than you thought.
The good news? It doesn’t all have to happen this week. Marketing isn’t about ticking off every job at once. It’s about consistently improving the parts of your business that help people find you, trust you and ultimately choose you.
Sometimes that means refreshing your website. Sometimes it’s organising a new brand photoshoot. Sometimes it’s simply asking a happy customer to leave a review.
The important thing is to keep moving forward. If your list has become overwhelming, that’s where we come in.
We work alongside small businesses to take care of the marketing jobs that keep getting pushed aside. Whether you need a new website, help with your branding, fresh photography or simply someone to bounce ideas off, we’ll tailor our support to suit your business.
Think of us as an extension of your team, there when you need us, without the overhead of employing a full-time marketing person.
Get in touch.