Before You Hire Marketing Help, Answer These 3 Questions

When marketing feels messy or inconsistent, the instinct is often to bring in outside help. A freelancer. A social media manager. Maybe even an agency.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

But here’s the truth: hiring help before you’ve clarified your strategy can waste time, money, and energy.

Before you outsource another project, ask yourself these three questions.

1. Do We Know Exactly Who We’re Talking To?

Not just “small business owners” or “members.”

Do you know their pain points, decision-making process, what motivates them to act?

If you’re not crystal clear on who you’re trying to reach, it’s hard for any marketer — no matter how talented — to create messaging or content that works.

2. Are We Clear on What Success Looks Like?

Too often, businesses hire help because they feel behind. But what does forward actually look like?

Is the goal to grow your email list? Increase demo requests? Get more event registrations?

If you can’t define the goal, you won’t be able to measure progress — or know whether your investment is working.

3. Is Our Messaging Solid?

Can your team explain what you do, who it’s for, and why it matters — in a sentence or two?

If the answer is “sort of,” “sometimes,” or “depends who’s asking,” then hiring someone to execute marketing before you tighten your message is a risky move.

Get your brand voice and message clear first. That way, whoever you bring in can hit the ground running — instead of floundering through edits and rewrites.

What to Do If You’re Not Sure

If these questions made you pause — that’s a good thing. It means you’re thinking strategically instead of rushing into execution.

And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

At esvee marketing, I help small businesses and associations clarify their audience, sharpen their message, and build a strategy that supports smart hiring and smart marketing. Let me know how I can help you!