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Raise your hand if marketing your business feels like a never-ending, constantly shifting to-do list. You’re trying to keep up—posting, emailing, creating content—but with everything else on your plate, it feels impossible to know what’s actually moving the needle.
Here’s the thing: on average, entrepreneurs spend 20 hours a week on marketing. But let’s be real—not everyone has that kind of time.
Maybe you’re growing your business on the side, juggling a full-time job, parenting, or just trying to squeeze in a little breathing room. Or maybe you do have the time, but you want to make sure you’re spending it in ways that actually work.
That’s exactly what I’m breaking down in today’s episode!
I’m pulling back the curtain on where I spend my marketing time, what’s truly worth the effort, and how to structure your strategy so it works for you—whether you have 2 hours a week or 20.
If you want smarter, results-driven marketing without feeling like you’re stuck on a content hamster wheel, this one’s for you!
How I Spend My Marketing Hours
Before I had my first daughter, I thought nothing of spending an hour crafting the perfect Instagram post. It felt like part of the job, creating, editing, tweaking every caption. But once my time shrank to naptime windows and I realized my best friend wasn’t even seeing half the posts I spent hours on, something in me shifted.
That’s when I started asking myself: if I only have a few precious hours to work each week, where should my time actually go? What kind of marketing work would still be working for me days, weeks, or months after I hit publish?
That’s the heart behind this post, a real, no-fluff breakdown of how I currently spend my marketing time and what actually moves the needle in my business. Whether you have 2 hours a week or 20, this is your permission slip to focus on what works, not just what everyone says you should do.
1. Content Creation & Strategy (6 Hours/Week)
Content is the heart of my business and always has been. If you have followed my journey, you know I started as a blogger, posting five days a week religiously even when no one was reading. Today, content is still my favorite part of the job. Whether I’m outlining a podcast episode, writing an email, or brainstorming captions, this is the place where my creativity comes alive.
Even though my team helps with the final execution, I stay closely connected to the process because my voice is my brand. After all these years, I know one truth. You can’t outsource your voice and you shouldn’t want to.
2. Social Media (5 Hours/Week)
Social and I have history. These days, I use it as a handshake, a way to say “Hey, I’m here!” but it’s not where I want our whole relationship to live. I still write my own captions, edit my own Reels, and pop into DMs myself because the connection matters.
That said, social media isn’t my end game. I want to get you off the platforms and into deeper spaces like my email list or podcast. Why? Because that’s where we can actually have a conversation, not just a quick scroll-by interaction.
3. Email Marketing (2 Hours/Week)
Email marketing might not be shiny or trendy, but it is hands down the most profitable two hours of my week. Research backs this up too. Email is 40 times more effective than Facebook and Twitter combined at converting customers.
Writing emails feels like coming home to me. I can pour my heart out, share behind-the-scenes stories, and even include the random Amazon find I’m loving, all without an algorithm deciding who gets to see it. That direct connection is gold and it is why my email list will always be my most valuable marketing asset.
4. Pinterest (1 Hour/Week, Outsourced)
If Instagram is a 24-hour story, Pinterest is more like a time capsule. Some of my highest-performing pins were created years ago and they are still driving traffic to my website today.
Because Pinterest is such a slow burn, I don’t handle it myself anymore. I have a team member who manages our account, but I stay involved in the strategy, making sure we are pinning content that supports launches, freebies, and podcast episodes that deserve a longer shelf life.
5. Paid Ads (1 Hour/Week)
Even though I’m not personally inside the ads manager tweaking every campaign, I’m always looking at the big picture. Are the ads working? Is the creative still aligned? Do the numbers match our goals?
Ads are like a spotlight. They shine brighter when the message underneath them is strong. That’s why you can’t ad-spend your way out of a weak offer. You have to know your audience, your message, and your goals first.
6. Blog & SEO (1-2 Hours/Week)
Blogging is where it all started for me and it is still a key player in my strategy. While social posts disappear, blogs keep working for you long after you publish them.
Each week, I either outline a new post or update an older one to keep it relevant and optimized for search. This post right here? Proof that blogging is alive and well.
7. Podcast Growth and Promotion (1 Hour/Week)
The Goal Digger Podcast doesn’t just magically grow. There is intention behind it. Every week, I look at what episodes are performing best, brainstorm how to repurpose them into other content, and think about ways to reach new listeners.
The podcast isn’t just a platform to talk at you. It is a place where we can dive deeper together. That is why I make sure it is not just published, but promoted and nurtured too.
8. Affiliate Marketing & Brand Partnerships (1 Hour/Week)
This is one part of my strategy that has evolved the most. I’m not interested in spammy promotions or random sponsorships. Instead, affiliate marketing and partnerships flow naturally from the content I’m already creating.
Each week, I check in on performance and plan upcoming content that includes the products and tools I’m already using and loving. It’s about sharing what works for me, not selling for the sake of it.
To learn more about this, check out Episode 722: Hearing About Affiliate Marketing? Here’s Everything You Need to Know!
9. Community Engagement (1-2 Hours/Week, Scattered)
This is the part that doesn’t show up on a spreadsheet, but it matters just as much as everything else. Whether I’m answering DMs, replying to comments, or sending a quick voice memo, those touchpoints matter.
It’s easy to forget there are real humans behind every metric, but those conversations remind me why I do this work. If I could give one piece of advice to anyone building a brand, it’s this. Don’t outsource the connection part.
Why I Focus on Getting You OFF Social Media
If I could stand on a soapbox for a minute, this would be my rant. Social media is not the goal, it’s the gateway. The goal is to build relationships somewhere you actually own, like your email list, your website, or your podcast audience.
Algorithms change, platforms glitch, but if you have direct access to your people, you’re in control. That is why my marketing hours focus on spaces that last longer than a 24-hour story.
Here’s What I Wish I Had Known
If I could go back and talk to 23-year-old me, tapping away on my first blog post in my small-town apartment, I would say this. Consistency matters more than creativity. Start simple. Pick one or two platforms. Build a system you can stick to. Then, once you’ve mastered that, add something new.
You don’t have to do it all and you definitely don’t have to do it all at once. The slow, steady stuff is the stuff that actually works.
The Final Breakdown
At the end of the week, my marketing time usually totals 18-20 hours and every hour is spent intentionally. I’m not chasing trends or trying to do it all. I’m focusing on what works for me, and I hope this inspires you to do the same for your business.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in a marketing rut, I hope this behind-the-scenes peek gave you permission to ditch what’s not working and double down on what does. You don’t need to do it all, you just need a strategy that works for you.
Want More Behind-the-Scenes?
If this post gave you a peek behind the curtain you didn’t know you needed, you will love these episodes too:
- Episode 766: 12 Ingenious Batchwork Strategies You Need to Try
- Episode 796: Try These 5 Strategies If You Want Your Email List to Grow FAST
- Episode 752: 120X Your Content’s Lifespan in Just an Hour per Week
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