7 Common Small Businesses Marketing Mistakes

Running a small business is hard enough without having to worry about marketing. But let’s be real—marketing is the engine that keeps your business moving forward. No customers = no business.

We’ve worked with over 250+ small businesses and found that many struggle with the same common mistakes. The good news? They’re all fixable! 

Let’s dive into the top 7 marketing mistakes that could be costing you time, money, and customers—and how to fix them.

1. No Clear Plan = Wasting Money

The Mistake:

You’re spending on ads, content, and social media without a clear strategy. You’re basically throwing money at marketing and hoping something sticks.

The Fix:

Take a step back and ask yourself:

✅ Who are my ideal customers?

✅ What problems do I solve for them?

✅ Where do they spend their time online?

A simple marketing plan will help you spend less time guessing and more time growing

2. Treating Marketing Like a ‘Nice to Have’ Instead of a ‘Must-Have’

The Mistake:

Marketing often gets pushed aside for “more urgent” tasks. But let’s be real—if you don’t market, you won’t get customers. No customers = no business.

The Fix:

Think of marketing like rent, payroll, or inventory—it’s essential, not optional. Even 30 minutes a day spent on content, social media, or emails can make a huge difference over time.

3. Unclear Brand Identity – Confusing Customers 

The Mistake:

If you’re unclear about what you offer, who it’s for, and why people should buy from you, chances are—your potential customers are confused too. And confused people don’t buy.

The Fix:

✅ Define your Unique Value Proposition (UVP)—What makes your business different?

✅ Make sure your messaging is consistent across your website, social media, and ads.

✅ Use customer-friendly language—ditch the jargon!

4. No Goals, No Metrics = Wasted Time & Money

The Mistake:

If you’re not tracking what’s working, how will you know what to improve?

The Fix:

Set simple, trackable marketing goals:

🎯 “Increase website traffic by 20% in 3 months”

📩 “Get 100 email subscribers this quarter”

📊 “Generate 10 leads per month from social media”

Then use Google Analytics, social media insights, or email metrics to measure your progress.

5. Not Keeping in Touch with Customers

The Mistake:

Your past customers are your easiest source of future sales—but if you’re not engaging with them, they might forget about you.

The Fix:

✅ Send a monthly newsletter with helpful tips and offers

✅ Engage on social media—comment, like, and share their posts

✅ Use customer feedback & testimonials to build trust

Stay top-of-mind, and they’ll come back when they need you again!

6. Not Setting a Marketing Budget (AKA Guessing)

The Mistake:

Without a marketing budget, you risk either overspending or not spending enough.

The Fix:

✅ Set a realistic budget (even £100/month can go a long way)

✅ Track where your money goes—ads, content, social media, email marketing, etc.

✅ Adjust based on what’s working!

Businesses that set and track marketing budgets tend to see better results than those who don’t.

7. No Website – or Not Keeping It Fresh

The Mistake:

Think of your website as your online storefront. If it looks outdated, slow, or empty—people won’t stick around.

The Fix:

✅ Make sure your website is clear, fast, and mobile-friendly

✅ Keep it updated with fresh content, testimonials, and new offers

✅ Make it easy for visitors to contact or buy from you

If you haven’t updated your website in a year, it’s time for a refresh! 

The Bottom Line: Marketing Doesn’t Have to Be Hard!

Running a business is a lot to juggle, and marketing often gets pushed aside. But small changes can lead to big results!

Not sure where to start? We’re offering free 1-hour marketing consultations to help you fix these mistakes and create a plan that works for YOUR business.

Click here to book yours 👉 www.growthboxunboxed.com

Let’s get your marketing working for you—instead of feeling like a constant struggle.