If you run a small business, chances are your marketing started out as "Do-it-Yourself Marketing" (DIY). Not because you dreamed of learning Google Ads at 11 p.m. or designing your own website on a Sunday, but because you had to. With limited cash and an endless to-do list, most owners start by handling it themselves. It's a rite of passage, and sometimes the only way to get off the ground without too much overhead.

The challenge is that while DIY Marketing is common, it's rarely sustainable. Most small businesses operate with little to no dedicated marketing support, leaving their owners to balance sales, operations, and marketing all at once. It's no surprise marketing often feels like one more ball to juggle.

Some owners consider hiring part-time help or a full-time marketer. That can work, but it usually eats most of the budget before spending a single dollar on ads or tools. And if that person leaves, you're back at square one. For most small teams, the cost of hiring in-house is tough to justify. That's why many owners turn to outsourcing or return to DIY.

So what's the right answer? Most businesses evolve through three stages: doing it yourself (DIY), hiring an agency to do everything (Done-For-You), or finding a partner to work alongside you (Done-With-You).

DIY Marketing: Necessary Evil

Doing it yourself often feels like the only option when money is tight. You control every move, and you don't have to rely on anyone else. But as your business grows, DIY Marketing can quickly burn you out.

Here's what most owners run into:

Not enough time. Lack of time is one of the most significant barriers to effective marketing, according to Constant Contact's 2025 Small Business Now Report. When trying to cram marketing between service calls and payroll, it ends up being reactive and inconsistent.
No way to track what works. Nearly one in four owners (23%) mentioned their top frustration is not knowing what's driving results (Constant Contact, Sept 2025). With DIY, you're too busy executing to measure results. You might have analytics tools installed, but you never check them or don't know what to look for.
Low confidence. Only 18% of SMBs feel very confident that their marketing is working, down from 27% the previous year (Constant Contact, 2025). The guessing game is even more apparent when you're running everything alone.
Budget ceilings. Many small businesses spend less than $10,000 per year on marketing, leaving little room for ads, tools, or creative resources (Constant Contact, 2025).

When the marketing grind becomes too much and overwhelming, many owners turn to the opposite end and hire an agency to handle everything.

Done-For-You Marketing: Completely Hands-Off

On the surface, hiring an agency seems like the perfect fix. You get your time back, the work gets done, and you don't have to worry about any of the details.

However, many of the same frustrations remain. They just look different when you're paying someone else.

Reports without clarity. Agencies often deliver dashboards full of numbers, but if you can't tell which activities are driving growth or whether you're getting value for your investment. You have more data, but not necessarily more confidence or clear answers.
Low trust. Surveys show many small businesses lose confidence in agencies within the first year when communication breaks down or results fall short. That often means starting over with someone new.
Loss of control. The agency dictates the pace and approach. If they don't truly understand your business, you risk paying for activity that doesn't connect with your customers.

Done-for-you Marketing can be effective if you have the budget and a trusted partner. But for many small businesses, it creates a new kind of frustration: you're investing more dollars, yet still not confident in what's actually moving the needle.

Done-With-You Marketing: The Middle Ground

Between doing it all yourself and handing everything off, there's a third option: Done-With-You Marketing. Instead of being in the dark or overwhelmed, you work alongside a partner who brings strategy, tools, and execution where you need it, while keeping you in the driver's seat.

Guidance and education. You won't receive reports blind. You'll receive guidance to understand what's happening, why it matters, and what results to look for.
Flexible support. You handle some tasks internally, while your marketing partner manages the others. The mix adjusts as your business grows, so you're never overpaying for what you don't need.
Transparent investment. Every dollar and every hour has a purpose tied to your goals. Instead of activity for the sake of activity, you see the connection between the work and the results.
Your POV. Campaigns are built with you. That means your brand and customer knowledge guide the work, so the marketing feels authentic and connected.

Done-With-You Marketing gives small businesses the best of both worlds. You get expert help without losing control, and you build the knowledge to take more ownership over time.

Which Model Fits Your Business?

There isn't a single correct answer for every business. The right model depends on where you are, what you can realistically manage, and what you're trying to build.

DIY makes sense if:

You're in your first few months and still finding your footing
You have the time and genuine interest to learn marketing yourself
You're okay with experimenting as you go

Consider Done-For-You if:

You have no time or interest in marketing involvement
You want to hand off execution to a trusted agency
You're comfortable making a larger monthly investment in exchange for bandwidth

Pick Done-With-You if:

You've outgrown DIY, but are still not ready to make a larger investment with an agency
You want to understand your marketing
You prefer expert guidance and want to stay closely involved

DIY has its place in the early stages of your business. Done-For-You can work if you have the budget and the right partner. However, for many service-based businesses, the Done-With-You model strikes a balance between expertise and involvement, providing clarity, confidence, and flexibility without burning out or breaking the bank.

Ready to see if Done-With-You Marketing is the right fit for you? Book a Free Discovery Call.

About Rebel Dog Marketing

Rebel Dog Marketing is your loyal partner in growth, helping small business owners cut through the chaos with custom-built marketing systems. From getting found online to putting smarter tools in place, we make sure your marketing works for you and not against you.

Sources

Constant Contact, Small Business Now Report 2025

Constant Contact, The State of Small Business Marketing: Effort Is Up While Confidence Has Declined, Sept 2025

U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business FAQ 2024

LocaliQ, 2025 Small Business Marketing Trends Report

vcita, SMB Agency Expectations Survey 2025

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