How to tackle marketing overwhelm
Sharing a gentle + empowering strategy
Since I launched my marketing hurdles quiz earlier this year, nearly 100 people have taken it (and received one of three free e-books, tailored to their business). The biggest struggle for most of them? Marketing overwhelm.
And this has been the case for many of the clients I’ve worked with over the years, and for many of the participants in my gentle marketing programme Grow.
Marketing overwhelm
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by marketing your small business. With the exception of marketeers, very few of us start our businesses because we’re thinking “Oh, I’d love to spend time marketing!”.
We start our businesses because we love creating and selling products. Because we love supporting others. We start our businesses because we want and need more autonomy, more time, more space.
We are experts at what we do—and then have to do something we have little to no experience with, marketing. Even more so, we’re told that we need to do the marketing well if we want to be able to sell our products or services.
At the same time, we are very used to being marketed at. That makes us feel:
Like marketing is about tricking or even almost forcing people to buy something;
Like marketing is gross and that we need to change who we are in order to do it;
Like we need to market everywhere, on all the channels—because that’s what we see the (big) brands and companies around us do.
If you feel anything like this, you’re not alone. I’ve definitely felt this way, and hear this story over and over again. But I can promise you that there are slower and gentler ways of marketing. Ways that are more you, that are in line with your values—and that are effective too.
Dare to make choices
My absolutely favourite part in working with people on their marketing—like I do in Grow—is mapping out changes with them. Making choices is part of that.
And as empowering as making choices is, it can be hard.
By making choices, you’re going against all the advice out there that tells you to be on all the channels. That tells you to market aggressively, or consistently (whatever that means), or all the time.
By making choices, we’re also choosing ourselves.
You might think that because you’ve never marketed before, you can’t trust your own instincts here. Sure, you might need to learn about how certain platforms work, you might need to learn video or audio skills if that appeals to you, you might need to find your voice when writing newsletters.
But you get to choose. You can trust yourself.
Not a video-person? You get to choose to not be on TikTok or YouTube.
Love writing? You get to choose to focus on your newsletter and blog.
Stressed out by social media? You get to leave.
Making choices in your business and your marketing is the most empowering thing you can do. And in Grow, I’m by your side every step of the way as you explore options, make a plan and follow through.
Get a taster of the magic of Grow by taking the marketing hurdles quiz, and you’ll receive your free e-book with my favourite easeful marketing strategies, tailored to your business.
You’ll also be signed up for the waitlist, and get some lovely bonuses plus a 10% discount when the doors to Grow open just for the waitlist on October 14th.
Practicalities
what | a 4-month hybrid group programme, combining self-paced modules with my eyes on your business through recorded office hours, bi-weekly check-ins and monthly live (and recorded) planning calls.
who | small business owners, freelancers and creatives just like you, who want to grow a slow, gentle and profitable business through marketing that is sustainable, allows them to take time off and fits in with their life and business.
when | Grow runs from 1 November 2025 to 1 April 2026 with a break for December and lifetime access to the materials.
how | Grow launches in mid-October—sign up to the waitlist to get early access, a discount and perks along the way.
how much | €990, paid in full or 4, 6 or 8 monthly instalments at no additional cost.
🎧 The Female Owned podcast is back
In honour of launching Grow again, I’m recording a podcast series on marketing. The trailer is out now, and the first full episode, in which I share my marketing journey, drops tomorrow. Listen to the trailer below, and subscribe through your favourite podcast app. I’d love to hear what you think!
Listen on Apple podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Substack
books | even though the first sentence of this novel seems to tell all, The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex drew me in deeply, and had me curious until the end. Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire was so beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking, a novel for our times (affiliate links).
autumn | I’ve been collecting acorns and chestnuts to display at home, layering up with jumpers and lighting candles. Autumn is probably my favourite season (though it seems my mood always takes a hit).
yes, more hedgehogs | because of feeding and spying on our hedgehogs I’ve been spending more moments outside just watching and being, and it’s been a balm. The hoglets remain the cutest thing I’ve ever seen (if you’re curious, do check out my special Substack newsletter).
Have a lovely end to your month! Do share what helps you to make marketing less overwhelming, I’d love to know! Speak to you soon! x
