We see it all the time: a company knows they need marketing, but they’re not sure what kind, when, or how much.
This is the first article in my Zero to Marketing Hero Series, where we’ll walk through how to build (or grow) your marketing team the right way — starting with the question most people skip: Is now actually the right time?
A quick gut-check #
If you can say “yes” to a few of these, you’re probably ready:
- You’ve got paying customers and a clear value prop.
- You or your team still spend part of your week on marketing tasks.
- You’ve proven one or two channels (ads, SEO, webinars) work but you can’t scale them.
- Sales is asking for more leads or better collateral.
- You’re trying to create predictable growth, not random spikes.
If that doesn’t sound like you just yet, it’s okay. Sometimes it’s smarter (and cheaper) to start with freelance support or an agency while you nail down what’s working.
Internal hire, agency, or contractor? #
The right marketing setup depends on how far along you are in your growth journey — not just budget or ambition. This quick map shows what usually makes sense at each stage:
Common pitfalls to avoid #
Even when you know what type of marketing support you need, it’s easy to make missteps that cost time and momentum. Here are a few of the most common ones we see:
- Hiring too senior too early — they end up managing no one, and they’re not hands-on enough.
- Hiring too junior — they need guidance you don’t have time to give.
- Waiting until leads and customers dry up — the best hires are made before you desperately need them.
