We’ve just got back from a weekend in Paris, cheering on a first-time marathon runner*.

If you’ve ever supported someone taking on a challenge like that, you’ll know the atmosphere is incredible. There’s excitement, anticipation… and, if we’re honest, a fair bit of nerves too.

Watching it all unfold got me thinking, running a marathon isn’t all that different from marketing your business.

At the start, it’s exciting. You’ve got ideas, energy, and good intentions. You’re ready to go.

But it can also feel overwhelming.

There’s a lot of noise. A lot of advice. A lot of “you should be doing this” and “you need to be on that platform.” It’s easy to set off too quickly, try to do everything at once, and before you know it… you’re losing direction or running out of steam.

And that’s often where businesses find themselves with marketing.

They’ve started, maybe a new website, a few social media posts, perhaps even a campaign or two, but somewhere along the way, things stall. Momentum drops. Consistency slips. Results don’t quite match expectations.

So, what makes the difference?

From what I saw in Paris, it comes down to three things:

1. A clear plan - Runners don’t just turn up on the day and hope for the best. They train. They pace themselves. They know what they’re aiming for.  Marketing is no different. Without a clear strategy, it’s very easy to waste time and effort on activity that doesn’t move your business forward.
2. The right support - Whether it’s trainers, running partners, or people cheering from the sidelines, no one really does a marathon alone.  The same applies to marketing. Having someone to guide you, sense-check ideas, and keep you focused can make all the difference.
3. Consistency over time - Marathons aren’t won in the first mile. They’re completed by keeping going — even when it gets tough.  Marketing works exactly the same way. It’s the consistent, ongoing activity that builds visibility, trust, and ultimately leads to results.

That’s where I come in.

At Marketing Doris, I work with SMEs who know they should be doing more with their marketing, but aren’t quite sure where to start, or simply don’t have the time to do it consistently.

I help bring structure, clarity, and momentum. Together, we build a strategy that fits the business, and then keep things moving in the right direction.

Because marketing isn’t about quick wins or one-off bursts of activity, it’s about getting you over the finish line.

I’m looking to connect with business owners who feel like their marketing has started… but stalled.

If that sounds familiar, let’s have a conversation.

And if you know someone who’s currently running their own “marketing marathon,” I’d love an introduction.

*She did incredibly well, completed it in a great time and raised a lot of money for a blood cancer Charity - we are all so proud!