If you’re a small business owner, there’s a good chance marketing became your responsibility simply because…someone had to do it.
You didn’t set out to be your own Chief Marketing Officer. But here you are—posting, emailing, trying to stay consistent, and wondering why it still feels harder than it should.
That’s exactly what sparked this conversation between Tayler Cusick-Hollman, founder of Enji, and me, Svenja Lyon of Lyon Creatives, on This Might Get Creative – A Behind the Brand Podcast.
This wasn’t a conversation about marketing theory. It was a real, honest discussion about what small business marketing actually looks like when you’re running the business and doing the marketing yourself.
Two perspectives, one shared reality
Before founding Enji, Tayler spent more than a decade working as a marketing consultant. Over time, she kept seeing the same thing across different industries and business sizes.
People weren’t disengaged.
They weren’t careless.
They weren’t doing things “wrong.”
They were overwhelmed.
From my side, working with business owners on branding and websites, I see the same pattern play out differently. Many businesses are putting in real effort, but without a clear foundation, marketing turns into guesswork. You do the work, but you’re never quite sure if it’s moving you forward.
What made this conversation so natural is that Enji and Lyon Creatives approach the same problem from different (but complementary) angles.
Why marketing feels heavier than it needs to
One of the biggest themes we unpacked was why marketing feels so stressful for so many capable business owners.
It’s rarely about motivation or effort.
More often, it’s about direction.
Without clarity around messaging, priorities, and what success actually looks like, marketing becomes something you’re constantly reacting to instead of intentionally shaping. You try a little of everything, hoping something sticks.
Tayler shared how Enji was built specifically to support small business owners in that moment—offering structure without complexity. And from the branding side, I see how much easier marketing becomes when the foundation is solid and intentional.
Marketing when you’re doing it yourself
This episode isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters.
We talk about:
- Letting go of the pressure to “keep up”
- Creating marketing systems that fit real life
- Making decisions that feel grounded instead of rushed
Most importantly, we talk about what small business owners can change right now, even in the middle of busy days and limited bandwidth.
If marketing has ever felt like a maze you’re stuck navigating alone, this conversation is meant to remind you that you’re not behind—and you’re not the only one feeling this way.
Listen to the episode
Listen to Navigating the Marketing Maze: A Real Conversation About Small Business Marketing with Enji and Lyon Creatives
On this episode of This Might Get Creative – A Behind the Brand Podcast, we explore:
- Why effort doesn’t always lead to clarity
- What makes marketing feel sustainable instead of overwhelming
- How tools and branding foundations work best together
- One shift that can make marketing feel more manageable
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or here!
About the podcast & Lyon Creatives
This Might Get Creative – A Behind the Brand Podcast is hosted by Svenja Lyon, founder of Lyon Creatives.
Lyon Creatives is a branding and web design agency that works with small businesses and professional service providers to build brands and websites that support long-term growth—not just good visuals. The podcast is an extension of that work, featuring honest conversations about what it really takes to build something sustainable.
Learn more:
🌐 https://www.lyoncreatives.com
💼 https://www.linkedin.com/company/lyon-creatives
📸 https://www.instagram.com/lyoncreatives
If you’re a small business owner navigating marketing on your own, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little more grounded—and a little clearer about what deserves your energy next.
- Svenja
Founder, Lyon Creatives
