Episode
Why Small Businesses Need Strategy Before Marketing with Darlene Ziebell
- Podcast
- Looking Forward Our Way
- Published
- May 4, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2093
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://lookingforwardourway.com
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Summary
If you’re leading a business or organization and want to separate marketing myth from practical strategy, this conversation will give you the clarity—and courage—to build real momentum for growth. We sit down with returning guest Darlene Ziebell—an accomplished entrepreneur, business consultant, strategy specialist, and multi-book author—to unpack the real story behind successful marketing for small businesses. As business owners face rising costs, dwindling customer bases, and mounting challenges, the temptation to lean on marketing as a quick fix has never been stronger. But is throwing money at the latest digital tools or platforms really the answer? Darlene Ziebell draws on more than 30 years of experience, from founding her own seven and eight-figure companies to consulting for both startups and Fortune 1000 giants, to reveal why most companies struggle—not from lack of effort, but from missing strategic alignment. In this episode, you’ll hear why marketing works best as an integrated ecosystem, not just a checklist of trending tactics; how vanity metrics can lead you astray; and the critical difference between having a real business strategy and chasing every shiny new marketing object. Darlene Ziebell also shares lessons from her own clients, explains the pitfalls of the “post and hope” approach, and outlines the foundational questions every owner must answer before investing in marketing. If you like this episode, please let us know. We appreciate the feed back, and your support of offset costs of producing the podcast! Key Takeaways: Strategy First: Marketing tools are just tools—not miracles. Without a foundational business strategy, even the best marketing is just expensive noise. (15:19) Measure What Matters: Forget likes and hits—focus on leads, conversion…