Class is Now in Session: What “I Need Marketing” Really Means for Your Business or Personal Brand
- Shamia Davis
- May 5
- 5 min read
Updated: May 6
Do you own a business, rep a personal brand, or tinker in the entrepreneurial pool?
Well, like it or not, you’re a marketer.
But here’s where most get the game messed up ➡️ Marketing isn’t one thing. It’s not just running ads, posting content, or testing your design skills in Canva.
Marketing is an ecosystem, and I’ve learned that most service-based businesses and personal brands are only scratching the surface of what they actually need.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your IG hates your content, why your offers are missing the mark, or why your marketing strategy feels more like, “Is this mic on? Testing, testing 1, 2, 3…,” this post will give you the “Aha” moment you never knew you needed.
I’m breaking down the real structure of marketing from branding to copywriting to sales, and showing you how each piece supports the bigger picture of building (and sustaining) a powerful, profitable business.
As a brand copywriter who works with bold coaches, consultants, and creative service providers, I’ve seen this confusion play out over and over again. So, we’re clearing it up with the facts you really need to know.
It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the business scene, an official OG, or knee-deep in a rebrand; this post will help you understand:
What marketing actually includes (and what it doesn’t),
How all the components work together to give you the desired results
And how investing in the right kind of marketing support can change the entire trajectory of your business.
Now, for the goods.
Untangling the Marketing Mess
There’s been some confusion floating around the digital streets, and honestly, it’s been driving me a little crazy.
Let me explain.
A few weeks ago, I had a call with a potential client. She was super sweet, passionate about her new business, and ready to grow. Somewhere in the convo, she said, “I really just need marketing support.”
Cool, I thought. I do that.
So I start mapping out a plan, diving into brand messaging, foundational copy, market research, you know, the good stuff. But then she said, “But I only need help marketing my business.”
Hmmm.
Then it hit me. She didn’t fully understand what marketing actually is. And to be fair, she’s not alone. These days, people toss around the word like a garden salad, so the confusion makes sense.
What better time than now for a quick and much-needed reFRESHer on what marketing entails? This is especially for my coaches, consultants, and service providers trying to build a brand that lasts.
🎓 Class Is Now in Session!
I’m always down for a good analogy, so imagine marketing as the University of Build a FRESH Brand™.
The campus is breathtaking, with lush trees, diverse faces, and a mission to “create long-term wealth, one dope brand at a time.” And like any reputable university, it has departments (i.e., specialties), each with its own focus, but all contributing to the same goal of visibility, growth, and dollar signs.
Let’s take a little campus tour, shall we?
🏛 Building 1: Advertising
Core Classes: Online Ads, Print Ads, Billboards, Commercials
This is what people often think of first when they hear “marketing.” Ads are loud, flashy, and meant to grab attention quickly. But the kicker is that ads are just the megaphone. If the message isn’t targeted or makes people scrunch their faces in confusion, it won’t convert.
That’s where other departments come in.
🏛 Building 2: Branding
Core Classes: Visual Identity, Messaging, Brand Voice
Think of branding as the soul of your business. It’s what people whisper when you’re not around. Marketing becomes an uphill battle if your brand doesn’t communicate clearly and consistently (even through its imagery). Branding is your GPS because it keeps everything else on course.
🏛 Building 3: Content Marketing
Core Classes: Blogs, Newsletters, Social Media
Content is the heartbeat. This is how you build trust, educate, and create a connection before anyone ever clicks “download,” “book a call,” or “buy.” Your content should be strategic and go beyond pretty quotes on Instagram or random tips in your newsletter.
It needs structure, tone, and intention, and that’s where Building 4 comes in hot.
🏛 Building 4: Digital Marketing
Core Classes: Copywriting, Email Marketing, SEO, Market Research, Web Design
Hello, I’m Professor Davis, and I teach Copywriting 411. This is my home base. If branding is the soul, consider the copy the voice. I’ll take it a step further; it’s the conscience before you even speak. Copywriting infused with SEO tactics and market research is how you translate your ideas into words that shift perspectives and move people toward a favorable action.
Websites, sales pages, landing pages, and email sequences live here. You up the ante with dynamic imagery. This building is where strategy meets psychology meets style…and prospects turn into viable clients or customers.
🏛 Building 5: Public Relations (PR)
Core Classes: Media Outreach, Influencer Collabs, Brand Management
This building puts a bright spotlight on your brand. It helps the public see and talk about you in the way you want to be remembered. It’s all about creating the right narratives and relationships, from podcast interviews to media placements, with a strong focus on influence and reputation management. Sometimes, it’s even putting out fires when things go awry.
🏛 Building 6: Sales
Core Classes: Prospecting, Presentation, Follow-up, Closing
Building 6 is where you want to be because what business or brand doesn’t need sales? Every other department builds and nurtures the relationship, so your sales strategy officially closes the deal. Copywriting and sales go hand in hand. In fact, compelling copy makes selling feel less like pressure and more like a natural next step in the process.
The Big Lesson (from a copywriter's POV)
Screaming that you “need marketing help” without being clear on what kind is like walking into a hospital and saying, “I need medical attention.”
OK, but do you need surgery? A prescription? A diagnosis?
Marketing is not one approach or action.
It’s a collection of interconnected pieces that, when aligned, help your business thrive.
Every successful business matriculates at the University of Build a FRESH Brand™. It’s not up for debate. Take a look around. Do business brands like Ben & Jerry’s or personal brands like Oprah skimp on any of these core classes?
Nope.
At this point, generic hacks and cheatsheets won’t cut it. You need clarity, strategy, and specificity.
That’s where a boutique agency like mine comes in. My copywriting and design experts help you communicate your value in a way that connects, converts, and creates consistency across your brand.
Because visibility without direction is straight-up noise, baby.
📌Final Note
Next Up: Your Homework Assignment
Let’s put your newfound knowledge into action. If you’re a coach, consultant, or service provider who’s been:
Launching offer after offer with little to no ROI
Feeling unsure about your messaging or how to express it
Avoiding the inevitable task of building an email list of quality leads
Wishing and hoping for a website that serves as a beautiful home base for your brand
Relying on ChatGPT or other AI tools to be the official compass for your brand’s communication
…then this is your sign to start building the marketing ecosystem you actually need.
Let’s talk. My boutique agency offers service-based business owners and personal brands the branding, copywriting, and design support you need to grow with confidence.
Comentarios