This is the second episode in my three-part marketing foundations mini series, and I'm diving into one of the biggest questions I get from small business owners: should you DIY your marketing or hire someone else to do it?

I've heard it all - people who love doing their own marketing, people desperately trying to get away from it, and everyone in between. Whether you want to keep marketing on your plate or offload it completely, this episode is going to give you realistic expectations about budget, time, capacity, and what's actually going to be expected of you with each option.

Key Takeaways:

• You have three main options - DIY (do it yourself), DWY (done with you), or DFY (done for you), and each serves different business stages and budgets
• Time vs. money trade-off - when you spend more time, it costs less money; when you spend more money, it takes less of your time
• Strategy is non-negotiable - whether you're DIYing or hiring, you absolutely need a marketing strategy first, or you're just throwing everything against the wall hoping it sticks
• Consistency is everything - you need to commit to at least 90 days of whatever approach you choose to see tangible results, and ideally plan for 6-12 months
• Done with you is the sweet spot - consulting and mentorship bridge the gap between budget constraints and strategic marketing, especially in today's economy where marketing budgets are getting cut

Timestamps:

00:40 - Introduction to part two of the marketing foundations series

03:10 - Quick recap: everyone needs marketing and strategy

04:00 - The three options: DIY, Done With You (DWY), Done For You (DFY)

05:00 - Benefits of DIY marketing: cost-effective, full control, you're the subject matter expert

06:20 - Downsides of DIY: time-intensive, large learning curve across multiple specialties

07:10 - When DIY is best: small budgets, early-stage businesses, tight startup budgets

08:20 - Done For You options: hiring agencies vs. building your own team

09:00 - Agency pros: convenience, no hiring process, access to specialists for one-off projects

10:40 - Building your own team: more control, lower cost, but requires management

12:20 - Who Done For You is best for: larger budgets, established businesses, complex marketing needs

13:20 - Done With You: the middle ground for strategy support while maintaining implementation control

14:30 - Why consulting is a sweet spot: fresh perspective, feedback, and strategic guidance

16:30 - The time vs. money scale and sustainability considerations

17:30 - 90-day minimum commitment and why you need long-term vision

Referenced Links:

• Free Strategy Plan Workbook - High-level marketing strategy creation guide that's perfect for DIYing!
• Marketing for Success- The Course - (PROMO CODE: PODCAST) $357 self-paced marketing course with ongoing Slack community support (best for service-based businesses, adaptable for e-commerce)

• Work With Me - One-off strategy calls and ongoing consulting options

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Have questions or topics you'd love to hear about? I want to hear from you! This isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. There are millions of ways to grow a business, and I'm here to help you find what works best for you.

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