Overwhelmed by Marketing? This Simple Exercise Will Get You Organized

Marketing can feel like an endless to-do list—social media, websites, ads, emails, print, and on and on. As a business owner, you already wear too many hats, and the pressure to “do it all” can be overwhelming. Between well-meaning colleagues, commission-driven vendors, and ever-changing trends, how do you decide what really matters for your business?

That’s where the Needs & Wants Exercise comes in.

This simple but powerful process helps you clear the mental clutter, prioritize what actually moves the needle, and create a 12-month marketing strategy that you can stick to. If you’re ready to take control of your marketing instead of letting it control you, watch the full breakdown in this video:

So, where is your business or organization headed next? The journey to sustainable growth starts with a plan—and the best time to start is now. Watch the full video here

Or keep reading for the step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Release the Pressure – Brain Dump Your Ideas

Before you decide what’s important, you need to get everything out of your head. Grab some Post-Its and a Sharpie and set a 15-minute timer to write down every marketing and advertising idea you have—one idea per Post-It.

This isn’t about what’s realistic or affordable. Just brain dump every possibility, whether it’s a new website, paid ads, an event sponsorship, or a social media strategy. The goal is to clear the pressure in your mind and give yourself the freedom to think big.

Why This Works: Physically writing things down helps relieve cognitive overload, giving your brain space to process and prioritize more effectively.

Step 2: Sort Your Ideas – Needs vs. Wants

Now that you have all your ideas on the table, it’s time to filter them into two categories:

• NEED: Critical to growing your business and reaching your goals
• WANT: Nice to have, but not essential right now

Think of it like a home organization show—you’re deciding what stays and what can wait.

Guiding Questions to Help You Decide:

• Budget: How much do you have to invest in marketing this year?
• Time & Resources: Do you have the staff or capacity to execute this?
• Reality Check: If you don’t have time, you need the money to outsource it. If you don’t have money, you need to dedicate time to get it done yourself.

Set another 15-minute timer and sort through your Post-Its. Be honest about what truly moves the needle and what’s just a distraction.

Step 3: Plan It Out – Build Your 12-Month Marketing Calendar

With your NEEDS clearly identified, it’s time to map them onto a timeline. Take a board or sheet of paper and lay out the 12 months of the year.

For each NEED, ask yourself:

• When does this need to be completed? Is it tied to a specific event or season?
• How long will it take? Does it require prep work?
• What’s the cost? Does your cash flow support doing it now, or should it be scheduled later in the year?

Once your NEEDS are scheduled, go back to your WANTS and see if you have any time, money, or resources left to include them in the plan.

Step 4: Commit & Execute

Now, you have a clear, organized marketing plan instead of a chaotic list of ideas. Treat it like a real strategy:

• Block out time on your calendar to work on these tasks.
• Use your budget wisely—now you have negotiating power with vendors.
• Hold your team accountable if you have staff helping with execution.

Marketing isn’t just another hat to wear—it’s what drives your business forward. You owe it to yourself and your business to take it seriously.

Your Next Step

Try this exercise and see what shifts for you. What surprised you? What’s your biggest marketing priority this year?

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