If it feels impossible to find time for marketing, you’re not alone. It can be a challenge. You’re just trying to run a business while wearing every hat and still doing marketing efforts? That one gets tossed in the air most days. It’s like Jordan Catalano. Elusive. Mysterious. Shows up when it wants. And somehow always makes you feel like you’re the one not doing enough.
Between client work, invoices, tech issues, family life and remembering actually to eat lunch, “write a blog post” can start to feel like a joke – it isn’t all time management. You’re busy, marketing your business doesn’t have to mean hustling 24/7 or becoming a content machine – burnout strategy isn’t your only option.. It just has to make sense for your schedule and your energy. It’s about doing what works and letting the rest go. Learning how to prioritize marketing while scaling your business requires consistency, particularly in finding time to do it.
Let’s talk about how to make marketing fit your life (not the other way around) without burning out, shrinking your voice or duct-taping together another “I’ll get to it later” plan.
Want more posts like this? Explore the full Website Strategy blog archive for actionable insights that help your site work harder for your business.
Prioritize Like a Pro: Create a Strategy That Saves Time
You can’t find time for marketing without a plan and a real one, not just a Pinterest board or vibes-only list of ideas. The first step in making marketing fit into your business is getting crystal clear on what matters and why. It’s about choosing what works, for your offer, your target audience and your bandwidth. Because, let’s be real, trying to find time for marketing without a strategy is like showing up to Target without a list. You’ll leave with $200 worth of stuff and still forget the one thing you needed.
If you want your marketing to move the needle and not just take up space on your to-do list, you need a plan that tells you:
- What you’re doing
- Why are you doing it
- And when to do it
This doesn’t have to be a complicated funnel diagram. But you do need to be intentional.
Here’s how to make your marketing strategy work for you:
1. Start with your business goals
Are you trying to grow visibility? Generate leads? Sell your newest offer? Do you want more traffic? Awareness? Booked-out calls? Start small (and smart) – choose one. Your strategy should align with your sales goals, not fight them. If your calendar is packed, focus on nurturing. If your pipeline is dry, build visibility.
2. Choose your main marketing channel
You don’t need to be everywhere. Focus on one core place your audience hangs out, like your blog, email or IG and build a rhythm there first. That’s how you stay consistent without burning out. Start with what feels the most doable and natural. Trying to post on every platform is a fast track to burnout.
3. Measure what matters
No more guessing games. Set one or two simple KPIs (site visits, replies, bookings, email clicks) and check them once a month. That’s it. No dashboard deep dives required.
4. Save time with simple systems
Having a strategy, like clear content pillars, means you don’t waste energy every week wondering “what should I post?” It gives you direction, so even if you only have an hour, you’ll know exactly where to focus. Bonus: when you know what you’re tracking (think: traffic, clicks, DMs), you’ll know what’s working and what to tweak.
Pro Tip: SMART goals are great, but don’t overcomplicate them. One goal, one channel and one consistent effort each week is a win.
Creating a digital marketing strategy that works with your schedule and helps you make a real impact when you do find the time.
The Power Hour: Block Time to Market Like a Boss
When making time for marketing, you don’t need a full day or a perfect plan. I’m trying to get you started here, so you just need a dedicated block of time, at least one weekly Power Hour, to focus on marketing your business. Because the truth is, if it’s not on your calendar? It’s probably not happening.
Here’s how to make marketing time actually stick:
Schedule it like a client meeting
Pick a time that works for your energy, not just your availability. Ultimately, find the best time for YOU. Are you sharpest on Monday mornings? Does Friday feel more chill and creative? Block off a consistent hour and treat it like any other non-negotiable. No rescheduling. No skipping.
Think of it as your no-meeting meeting, just you and your marketing, catching up.
Use it for high-leverage work
This isn’t about cranking out 6 Reels. Use your Power Hour to write one solid blog outline, plan next week’s social posts or analyze your traffic and leads. When it comes to marketing, one focused hour > six half-distracted ones.
Make it routine, not random
Marketing gets easier (and faster) when it becomes a rhythm. When you train your brain to expect marketing time, you’ll spend less energy starting from scratch and more time doing what works.
Pro Tip: Use Google Calendar to block your time. Using project management software like Trello, ClickUp or even a good ol’ notebook can help you track what you worked on and what’s next.
How to Find Time for Marketing by Working Smarter: Repurpose and Batch Your Marketing Tasks
If you’re constantly saying, “I don’t have time for marketing,” let’s flip the script. You probably don’t need more time; you need a better way to use the time you’ve got.
Enter batching and repurposing: your secret weapons for creating great content without spending all day in Canva or rewriting captions for the 5th time.
Repurpose like a pro
That blog post? It’s not just a blog post. It’s a newsletter, three Instagram captions, a Reel script and a Twitter thread. Don’t let your best ideas stay locked in one format. Every piece of content can stretch way further than you think.
Think: One idea → multiple touchpoints → maximum visibility with less work.
Batch the boring stuff
Write all your captions for the week in one sitting. Schedule your emails on Friday for the next week. Spend an hour every two weeks planning social posts based on what’s already performing. Batching lets you stay in the zone instead of constantly switching gears and saves you from the “oh no, I forgot to post” spiral when it comes to social media posts.
Use your in-between moments
Have 10 minutes before your next call? Jot down blog ideas. Read a saved article during lunch. Upload content while waiting for your coffee. Those tiny moments add up; use them intentionally.
Pro Tip: Use automation tools like Buffer, Later or Metricool to auto-schedule posts and reclaim your creative energy for the big stuff.
Don’t Go It Alone: When and How to Outsource Your Marketing
Asking for help isn’t a failure; it’s also a strategy. If your to-do list is starting to feel like a CVS receipt, outsourcing might be the best use of your time and money. Whether you’re side-hustling or scaling, there comes a point when doing it all doesn’t make sense anymore.
Start with the small stuff
Take baby steps with any outsourcing, since I know it can be a privilege. Can someone else do any of your small tasks – draft your captions, format your blog post or upload your email campaign? Probably. Hiring a virtual assistant, even for just 5 hours a month, can give you back the time to focus on what only you can do.
Bring in strategic support when you’re ready
Outsourcing isn’t just for tasks. If you’re stuck on direction, consider bringing in a marketer or web strategist to spend the time mapping your overall strategy and marketing tactics, content marketing, SEO or systems. Stop worrying if this is indulgent; it’s smart business.
Reminder: You don’t need a 10-person team. You need clarity on where your energy matters most.
Use tools like extra hands
Not ready to hire? Automate instead. Use Trello or ClickUp to organize your tasks. Use Google Analytics to track what’s working. Set up scheduling tools for your socials so you’re not manually posting every day.
Pro Tip: Even if you outsource, keep your voice front and center. Strategy works best when it still sounds like you.
The 30-Day Slow Burn Plan: Build a Marketing Habit Without Burning Out
You don’t need a content sprint. You need a marketing rhythm that actually fits into your life. About building a habit, something sustainable, repeatable and rooted in what works for your business to work more effectively.
Here’s the next 30-day plan that won’t leave you overwhelmed:
Week 1: Clarify
Goal: Get clear on what you’re promoting and where it’s showing up.
- Pick one offer to promote this month
- Choose your main content channel (blog, IG, email, etc.)
- Block your Power Hour on the calendar
Week 2: Create
Goal: Build one week of content from one solid idea.
- Write or record one core piece of your content strategy – one long-form piece
- Repurpose it into 2–3 formats (carousel, caption, story, newsletter)
- Use a scheduling tool to load it all in
Week 3: Connect
Goal: Use your content to start conversations, not just broadcast.
- Share your content, reply to DMs/comments/emails
- Ask one CTA-style question to spark engagement
- Pay attention to what people respond to
Week 4: Review
Goal: Reflect without judgment and repeat what’s working.
- Check your analytics: what worked? What felt good?
- Reuse what performed best and gave you a return on investment
- Adjust your next month’s focus to what may give you better results
Remember: Consistency doesn’t mean constant. It means repeatable. You can grow your business with one hour a week and the right rhythm.
Need a rhythm that sounds like you? These authentic marketing posts help you find a style that fits without burnout or performative pressure.
Take a Breath, You’ve Got This
Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It doesn’t have to happen all at once. It just needs to happen intentionally on your terms, with your energy and in a way that supports your business goals.
So if you’ve been stuck in the “I’ll get to it later” spiral, here’s your permission to start small, iterate often and find a rhythm that fits. No burnout. No hustle culture. Just progress.
Not sure where to begin? Start here:
- Write one blog post that answers a client’s biggest question
- Schedule a weekly Power Hour for content creation or analytics check-ins
- Update your Google Business Profile with fresh info or offers
- Repurpose your best post into an email or carousel
- Create a simple lead magnet and start building your list
- Reach out for guest blogging or collaborations
- Revisit your SEO basics, your website’s homepage, meta tags and internal links
- Show up where your people already are (online or in real life)
Marketing your business is not about doing everything; it’s about doing what makes sense for you. And you know what? You’re already doing more than you think.
Struggling to Stay Consistent With Your Marketing? Let’s Fix What’s Holding You Back
You’ve got the ideas. You’re doing the work. But if something still feels off, like your strategy’s not clicking or your systems are leaking leads, it might be time for an outside eye (or a little self-awareness).
Pick your next move:
Option 1: I Want to Know What’s Getting in My Way
Take the Quiz: “What’s Your Business’s Toxic Trait?”
Get insight into the real pattern behind your marketing stalls, so you can finally move forward with clarity.
You’ll get:
- A personalized toxic trait profile
- One quick win you can implement today
- A free AI-powered recovery plan made for your brain, your biz and how you work
Option 2: I Want to Fix One Stuck Point, Fast
Book Your OOO Office Hours: A Free 15-Minute Strategy Call. One stuck point. One clear-eyed recommendation.
If something’s quietly leaking leads—whether it’s your homepage, your funnel or your backend setup – this is your space to get perspective without the pressure.
Only four spots per month, grab yours here →
FAQs: Finding Time for Marketing When You’re Already Maxed Out
1. What if I have no time for marketing at all?
You probably don’t have extra time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t market. Start with one Power Hour a week. Use it to plan, repurpose or batch one piece of content. Progress doesn’t have to be big to be real.
2. How do small business owners fit marketing into a packed schedule?
They block time like they would for a client. Marketing is part of your job, so treat it like it matters. Even one consistent weekly block can change everything.
3. What’s the best time of day to work on marketing?
Whenever you have the most energy, for some folks, it’s 9 a.m. For others, it’s 9 p.m. There’s no universal best time, just the best time for you. That’s the one that gets done.
4. Do I need to post on social every day?
Nope. Showing up consistently matters more than showing up constantly. Focus on quality over quantity and repurpose what’s working instead of reinventing the wheel each week.
5. How do I know if my marketing is working?
Look at the data that matters. Are you getting more traffic? Inquiries? Replies? Bookings? Use tools like Google Analytics or even a simple “how did you hear about me?” form to track where momentum is building.
