Aug 19, 2025
How to Approach Marketing as a Startup Founder (Without Losing Your Mind)
Look, I get it. You built something amazing, and now you're staring at the marketing piece thinking "where do I even start?" Been there. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was figuring this out.
First Things First: Get Your Story Straight
Before you spend a single dollar on ads, nail down these three things:
Who exactly are you helping?
Not "everyone" - that's not an answer. Get specific.
What makes you different?
And "we're better" doesn't count. What's your unique angle?
Where do these people hang out?
LinkedIn? TikTok? Industry forums? Pick ONE place to start.
The "Don't Go Broke" Marketing Strategy
Here's the reality check: you can't outspend the big guys, but you can out-hustle them.
Start Small, Think Big
• Pick 1-2 marketing channels max (seriously, just 1-2)
• Focus on where your customers actually spend time
• Test everything on a small budget first
• Double down on what works, kill what doesn't
If there is one thing to spend on at this time, it's getting strategic marketing advice on what to do and what not to do - to ensure every effort goes the mile!
The Budget Talk Nobody Wants to Have
Pre-revenue? Think time, not money. Your currency is hustle and creativity.
Making money? Aim for 15-25% of revenue on marketing (once you know what's working).
But here's the real metric that matters: Customer Lifetime Value should be 3x your Customer Acquisition Cost. If it's not, you're burning money.
Real Talk
Marketing isn't a hack - it's a relationship.
You're not trying to trick people into buying. You're trying to help the right people discover that you have exactly what they need.
Start where you are, with what you have. The perfect marketing strategy is the one you can actually execute consistently.
And remember - every successful company you admire started exactly where you are right now. The difference? They started.
Bottom line: Pick one channel, create helpful content, build real relationships, and measure what matters. Everything else is just noise.
Ready to stop overthinking and start marketing? The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is right now.
