Most small business owners get used to wearing a lot of hats. In the early days, that often means juggling everything from bookkeeping and hiring to posting on social and printing off promo flyers. Marketing is usually in the mix somewhere, even if it's just one more task squeezed into a full plate. But when January rolls in, with new goals and plans waiting to take shape, a lot of people start asking the same question: should I keep doing this part myself, or bring in help?
It's not always a simple choice. A few things can be done in-house without too much trouble. Other things sit on the to-do list week after week, stealing time and headspace. And somewhere in the middle, there's the option of working with a marketing agency for small business, taking a few things off your plate while keeping hold of the pieces you enjoy. It's less about picking a side and more about figuring out what makes the most sense right now. So if the new year has you thinking about how to adjust your workflow, you're definitely not alone.
What You Can Handle On Your Own
Plenty of business owners handle the basics themselves, especially at the start or when budgets are tight.
• Posting on X, Facebook, or Instagram once or twice a week
• Updating photos or hours on your Google Business Profile
• Making simple flyers in Canva for a seasonal offer
• Editing a few words on your home page when hours change
Tasks like these are common and often manageable. If you already know the message and what needs to go where, it might only take an hour or two to check these things off the list. When time is flexible and your setup is small, doing it yourself works for a while.
But time isn't the only cost to think about. If you're spending entire afternoons trying to size an image for a post or rewrite a project description for your site, it starts to cut into work that brings in money. The toughest part is knowing when the smaller tasks stop helping the bigger picture.
Where a Marketing Agency Brings Relief
Once things grow beyond day-to-day maintenance, it often helps to get outside support. The kind of work that takes more time, thinking, or planning can be hard to fit into an already packed schedule.
• Branding or rebranding that sets the tone across every platform
• Long-term content planning that connects back to sales goals
• Paid ads that need testing, fine-tuning, and stronger design
These aren't things you can knock out between meetings. They need more structure, a clear strategy, and someone watching how it all fits together. That's one place where a marketing agency for small businesses can be a relief.
There's less guesswork and less second-guessing. A good outside perspective often notices where things feel messy or unclear, even when you've been too close to it for too long. When someone else handles the big pieces, you get the space to focus on running and growing the business.
Signs It Might Be Time to Get Help
You don't need to wait for a complete breakdown before reading the signs. Usually, there are a few patterns that show up first.
• You're overwhelmed and spinning your wheels every week
• You're not sure what's working or why one thing did better than another
• You've launched something, but the message didn't land the way you hoped
• You've hit a wall trying to update your website, but keep putting it off
• You're constantly behind on updates or missing posts altogether
None of these means you're doing something wrong. It just means your current setup isn't giving you what you need anymore. And that makes sense. The bigger things grow, the more support systems they need to change. Sometimes a few tweaks help. Sometimes it's about sharing the load with people who handle the strategy part every day.
Finding a Good Balance
The good news is, no one's asking you to hand everything off. In most cases, the best place to start is with one or two areas that aren't working anymore. You might want to let someone outside handle social planning, while still writing short posts yourself. Or you could keep making short updates to your website, but have someone else manage the redesign when it's time for something bigger.
Letting go of the right parts at the right time gives you more attention to give where it matters. It means you can spend time with clients, refine your service, or plan your next launch, without always being the one resizing photos or double-checking every caption. Balance isn't about perfection. It's about easing some of the pressure so you don't burn out doing it all.
Why a Clear Plan Feels Better
Once your approach to marketing has a clear shape, everything else starts to feel lighter. You're not just doing things because they're on a checklist; you're doing things because they make sense and fit where you're going.
That's why this time of year is such a good moment to check in. Before things get busy again, you have the chance to notice what's dragging and what's flowing. Whether you decide to keep a few things yourself or start the year with outside help, taking those first few steps often brings momentum. A clear plan builds calm. And that calm makes room for more of the work you actually enjoy.
Making small adjustments to your marketing now can address last year’s challenges and set you up for smoother operations ahead. Partnering with a marketing agency for small businesses delivers the strategic planning and visual expertise you need to lighten your workload and boost results. At Dingus & Zazzy, we’re here to help identify what’s working, what needs improvement, and where a reset could make all the difference. Reach out when you’re ready to start the conversation.
