When Should You Start Paid Marketing Efforts as a Small Business Owner?

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There are two types of small business owners: self-funded and those with financial backing (loans, investors, Very Nice In Laws etc.). Both face different challenges when it comes to scaling their businesses, and a key part of that is asking Should You Start Paid Marketing ? As well as deciding when to invest in paid marketing efforts.

But first, let’s define marketing.

Marketing, generally speaking, includes any effort to promote the buying or selling of your products/services. However, when most people talk about marketing, they’re usually referring to paid marketing – think SEO, paid ads, paid content creation, and so on. If you’ve been in business for any amount of time, you’ve already been marketing in some form, but when the conversation turns to paid marketing, it’s often about outsourcing these efforts.

So, when is the right time to outsource your marketing efforts?

👉 Self-Funded Business Owners: If you’re funding the business yourself, you may be more cautious with your spend. Paid marketing can be a big investment and requires solid business foundations. Before considering paid ads or large-scale marketing efforts, assess whether your product, service, and operations are fully dialed in. If your business is still in the growth stage and you’re testing different offers, marketing spend should be approached strategically to ensure you’re getting a return on investment.

👉 Business Owners with Financial Backing: If you’ve secured loans or investment, you may have more room to scale faster. However, this doesn’t mean you should jump into paid marketing blindly. You need clear alignment between your marketing strategy and business goals. Your marketing needs to help your business grow, not just make noise.

How do you know when you're ready to make that leap to start paid marketing?

1. You have a clear, validated product or service: Your business model and customer base are established, and you know exactly what you're offering and to whom.

2. Your operations are running smoothly: Before adding the complexity of paid marketing, your business systems should be in place to handle the influx of leads.

3. You have a marketing plan aligned with your goals: Don’t just spend money on ads because everyone else is doing it. Your marketing strategy should support your specific business objectives, whether that’s increasing brand awareness or driving sales.

While I’m not a marketing expert, I can help you assess where you are in your business and identify the next steps to move forward. Understanding if and when to invest in paid marketing is crucial for sustainable growth, and making those decisions with clarity will make all the difference.

If you’re not sure whether you’re ready for paid marketing, or what your next steps should be, let’s have a conversation. I’ll help you navigate this stage with a plan that aligns with your business goals.

Drop a comment below or message me directly to discuss where you are and how we can move your business forward. Let's get you on the right track for success.