Do You Really Have Time for That? A Quick Reality Check for Your Marketing Plans

An unexpected task for me as a marketing consultant is to sometimes be the wet blanket.

In 95% of the conversations I have with clients, I am super jazzed about new ideas. But every once in a while a client comes to me with an idea for an event series or podcast or Instagram campaign or something and I have to ask...

"Do you realistically have time for that?"

Believe me, I've done this to myself a couple of times. You get fired up. You just listened to a podcast and now you’re thinking: I should start a podcast for my business! Or maybe you just saw a competitor's Instagram Reel go viral and you’re inspired to double your social content output this month.

But then the reality of running a business makes spending a lot of time on marketing harder and harder and you get burned out, frustrated, and you quit.

Like many marketing companies out there, we're here to help make things as seamless and efficient for you as possible. However, as I mentioned at the beginning, there are things that cannot be outsourced like...

• Instagram reels

• Podcasts

• Webinars

• In-person events

Let's take two of these examples and break them down into quizzes to help you determine if you should pursue them:

🎙️ Podcast Readiness Quiz

Answer each question with Yes (2 points), Somewhat (1 point), or No (0 points).

1. I can block off 4–6 hours a week specifically for podcast tasks.

2. I enjoy speaking and feel confident articulating ideas verbally.

3. I already have a list of 10+ episode ideas or potential guests.

4. I’m comfortable with (or willing to outsource) audio recording/editing.

5. I can stay consistent with weekly or biweekly publishing.

6. I have a way to promote each episode (email, social media, etc.).

Results:

• 10–12 points: You're podcast-ready! Go for it—just be sure to outsource what you don’t want to do yourself.

• 5–9 points: You have potential, but consider starting with a mini-series or outsourcing production.

• 0–4 points: Maybe not the right time. Start with blog posts or interviews on other people’s podcasts first.

📱 Instagram Reels Campaign Quiz

Answer each with Yes (2 points), Somewhat (1 point), or No (0 points).

1. I feel comfortable (or excited!) about being on camera.

2. I can batch-create Reels (3–5 at a time) to save time.

3. I know what my audience wants to learn, laugh about, or be inspired by.

4. I can commit 2–3 hours per week to plan, film, caption, and post.

5. I understand basic video editing or have help with it.

6. I’m prepared to post consistently—at least once or twice a week.

Results:

• 10–12 points: You’re ready to make Reels part of your marketing strategy. Start batching and go!

• 5–9 points: You have the right mindset—consider outsourcing editing or using templates to stay consistent.

• 0–4 points: Reels may feel like a time-suck right now. Focus on static content or stories, and revisit them later.

Pro Tip: Start Small, Grow Strategically

Your marketing should feel sustainable, not overwhelming. Start with one or two channels you know you can commit to, and build from there. The key is consistency and clarity—know what you can handle and let experts help with the rest.

Here’s where many of our clients see the most ROI from outsourcing:

• Editing and producing podcasts

• Blog writing or ghostwriting

• Social media content creation

• SEO optimization and website updates

• Email design and scheduling

Even if you still want to be the face of your content—on video, in blogs, or on social media—you can hand off much of the behind-the-scenes work to a marketing team that’s built for it and free up your time.