Why “Doing More” Isn’t Working
If you’re like many ambitious founders, you’ve likely had this thought recently:
“I just need to post more, email more, launch more, show up more.”
It feels productive. Logical, even. More marketing = more sales, right?
But here’s the truth I’ve learnt from working with small business owners across industries:
More marketing isn’t always better.
In fact, most businesses don’t need more marketing.
They need better marketing.
More aligned. More consistent. More connected to what your audience actually cares about.
Because if your message isn’t clear, your strategy isn’t structured, and your audience doesn’t feel seen… no amount of extra effort will move the needle.
Why This Happens (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)
There’s a reason this pattern is so common — especially among small businesses, particularly those run by solo founders or lean teams.
The marketing industry itself pushes the “just do more” narrative. More content. More platforms. More funnels. More visibility.
So when growth slows down or engagement dips, your instinct is to try harder.
But this often leads to:
- Burnout
- Inconsistent messaging
- Fragmented branding
- Random content with no real purpose
All while your audience feels overwhelmed, confused, or just… indifferent.
What Actually Works
Here’s what I’ve seen make the biggest difference for my clients (and what we practice ourselves):
- Clarity over clutter Before you post another reel or write another caption, ask yourself: what do I want someone to know, feel, or do?
- Consistent visibility beats viral spikes Show up in a way that’s sustainable for you. That might mean 2 solid posts a week instead of 5 rushed ones.
- One clear offer Are you actually selling one thing really well? Or are you constantly jumping between ideas, services, launches and products?
- Build marketing around your lifestyle You started your business for flexibility, freedom, or family — your marketing should work for that, not against it.
Review what’s already working Often, the gold is already in your business — customer language, top-performing content, repeat buyers. Are you building from that?
A Recent Client Example
One of my recent clients, a home fragrance brand, came to me convinced she needed to launch TikTok ads, revamp her website, and start doing daily email blasts.
Instead, we:
- Refined her messaging to focus on her customer’s emotional transformation (not just scent notes)
- Paused ads entirely
- Rewrote her welcome and abandoned cart emails
Result? Revenue doubled in 30 days.
And we didn’t add a single new platform to her workload.
What This Means for You
If your instinct right now is to add more, pause first.
Ask:
- Is my message clear?
- Are my efforts aligned with how I actually want to run this business?
- Am I tracking what’s really driving results?
Because more isn’t always the answer.
Better is.
And if you’re not sure what “better” looks like in your business — that’s exactly the kind of thing I help with. Book a free call and let’s untangle what’s working, what’s not, and what to focus on next.
