If You’re Under $5M, Marketing Is EASY (Here’s What To Do)

If your business is under $5 million in revenue, marketing is relatively simple; focus on buying leads effectively through channels like LSAs and PPC rather than overcomplicating your strategy.

Consider hiring a marketing manager (not just a coordinator) when your agency fees exceed what you'd pay for an internal hire, usually when monthly marketing spend is substantial ($80k-$90k or more).

The primary reasons to hire an internal marketing manager are to gain more control over your marketing efforts, increase the speed of implementation, and free up the owner's time to focus on other executive functions.

Seek out 'direct response' marketers who understand that every action should lead to a measurable outcome, similar to an affiliate marketer who gets paid based on sales or conversions.

Avoid hiring based on frustration with an agency if your budget is small; instead, treat your agencies like employees, setting clear expectations, targets, and regular communication to maximize their effectiveness.

Don't expect one marketing hire to do everything; specialized marketing roles (SEO, PPC, social media) often require different skill sets, and agencies can fill these gaps in conjunction with an internal manager.

Utilize platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed for hiring, and consider offshore talent from regions like LATAM for more affordable yet skilled marketing managers who can manage campaigns and agency relationships.