Too Busy to Market Your Business? Here’s What to Do Instead

If you’re running a small business or perhaps a small charity, chances are your to-do list is never-ending. Between juggling operations, managing people, serving customers or beneficiaries, and making sure the lights stay on, marketing can easily fall to the bottom of the list.

You're not alone — I work with many businesses who know marketing matters but simply don’t have the time or resources to give it the attention it deserves.

The good news? You don’t need to do everything. A few consistent, simple steps can help you stay visible and connected, even when you’re short on time.

The hidden cost of doing nothing

It’s tempting to pause marketing when you’re busy or understaffed — but going quiet comes at a price. Your audience forgets you. Your competitors get louder. Your sales pipeline starts to dry up.

Marketing doesn’t have to mean big campaigns or constant social media updates. But doing something, even small, helps you stay top of mind — and that’s half the battle.

5 marketing actions you can take in 30 minutes or less

Here are some quick wins that require minimal time but can keep your brand active and relevant:

1. Repost a testimonial

   Got a kind review, email or message? Share it with a thank you on your social media or website.

   
   

2. Send a short email update

   One helpful tip, offer, or reminder to your email list is better than radio silence. Use plain language and keep it friendly.

   
   

3. Share a ‘behind the scenes’ story

   People love seeing what goes on inside your business — a quick photo of you out and about or seeing clients, or snippet of your day builds trust and interest.

   
   

4. Schedule one post a week

   Use a free scheduling tool to line up just one post each week. Reuse past content or keep it simple — a helpful tip, service spotlight, or success story. I am an Agorapulse lover, but there are many options you could use from Buffer, Hootsuite, Metricool or even through your CANVA account.

   
   

5. Review your website homepage

   Is it up to date? Are your key messages still clear? Take five minutes to tweak your wording or update a photo.

   
   

Simplify what you already do

You don’t need a full campaign plan or content calendar if you’re struggling for time. Instead:

• Batch content when you can: set aside one hour a month to schedule 4–5 posts.

• Reuse and repurpose: turn a client question into a blog post or a testimonial into a social media quote.

• Focus on fewer channels: you don’t need to be everywhere. Pick 1–2 that reach your audience best and do those well. My take would be to focus on Instagram and LinkedIn if you run a service business and maybe Instagram and TikTok if you run an ecommerce business, but you know where your customers are so make sure you focus on this channel most.

  
  

You don’t have to do it all yourself

Many businesses and charities I work with feel the pressure to handle everything in-house — but marketing doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing.

If you need help keeping things ticking over while you focus on the bigger picture, flexible, part-time marketing support can make all the difference.

At Blue Lizard Marketing, I provide strategic thinking and hands-on delivery — from one day a week to a few hours a month. Whether it’s getting a plan in place, managing campaigns, or keeping your messaging consistent, I work around you and your goals.

Start small — and stay consistent

You don’t need to do everything all at once. Start where you are, keep it simple, and stay consistent.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin let’s have a quick chat to see how you can make marketing work for you — not add to your stress.

Get in touch today and take the pressure off. Email me at info@bluelizardmarketing.com