The Too Honest Guide to Marketing for People Who Hate Marketing

If the word “marketing” makes you wince, you’re not alone. 

Maybe you’ve tried dancing on Reels, sent one too many newsletters into the void, or posted on LinkedIn and heard nothing back. Maybe you’ve avoided it altogether because it feels fake, overwhelming, or just plain not you. 

But, luckily, there’s another way. 

This guide won’t tell you to “just be consistent,” start a podcast, or pretend you enjoy messing around Canva for hours, it’s for the business owners, who’d rather do almost anything else.  

Why You Hate Marketing  

Let’s start with a little validation. 

There are plenty of reasons you might hate marketing, and none of them mean you’re bad at business. 

Platforms, tools, trends, algorithms, every day brings a new “must-do” tip and that can be overwhelming. Or maybe it just feels inauthentic. If you’re not a natural self-promoter, all that “personal brand” talk can feel like a bad fit. 

You might also feel burnt out by the lack of results. You put time and effort in and… nothing. Or worse, you’ve been burned by an expensive agency or a one-size-fits-all course promising six figures by Tuesday. 

You’re not wrong for thinking these things. Marketing culture can be exhausting. 

Redefining Marketing: It’s Not All Hashtags and Hype 

Let’s reframe this. Marketing isn’t about being loud. It’s about being clear. 

At its core, marketing is just communicating and telling people what you do, why it matters and how it helps. You’re already doing it every time you talk to a client, reply to an email, or offer a tip in a WhatsApp group. 

When you strip away the fluff, it becomes a lot more doable. No jargon. No gimmicks. Just useful, honest communication. 

If you’ve got a business, you’ve already got something to say. 

5 Ways to Market Without Selling Your Soul 

1. Choose one platform and ignore the rest. You don’t need to be on every app under the sun. Pick the one you feel most comfortable with, whether it’s LinkedIn, Instagram or even your email list, and focus your efforts there. 

2. Talk like a human, not a brochure. Scrap the corporate buzzwords. Say things how you’d actually say them. “We help overwhelmed business owners get sh*t done” is way more compelling than “providing scalable strategic support solutions.” 

3. Reuse what you’ve already got. Old emails, FAQs, client reviews, WhatsApp voice notes is content gold. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time you post. 

4. Outsource the bits you hate. Hate writing? Hire a copywriter. Not into design? Bring in a freelancer. Sometimes the smartest move is getting help instead of slogging through it all solo. 

5. Set a 30-minute marketing timer once a week. Just one small block of time. Write a post, reply to comments, send one email. Done is better than perfect, and small steps add up. 

What Not to Do (Even If Instagram Gurus Say So) 

Let’s bust a few myths while we’re here. 

Don’t copy trends that feel off-brand or make you cringe. Don’t obsess over followers, likes, or reach (vanity metrics aren’t strategy). Don’t post every day just because someone on TikTok said you should. And definitely don’t buy followers, join engagement pods, or run shouty Facebook ads with zero strategy. 

The Quiet, Effective Marketing Strategy That Works Every Time 

Here’s what actually works, especially for people who hate marketing: 

Start with your existing customers. Word of mouth, reviews and referrals are marketing magic, and they don’t require daily posting. 

Next, pick one consistent channel that suits your style. This can be a weekly email, a short blog post, or updating your Google Business profile. 

Add in helpful content when you can. This doesn’t mean perfectly curated carousels, it can be as simple as answering a question you’ve heard three times this week. 

Then? Keep showing up in small, manageable ways. No burnout. No guilt. 

Conclusion: Find Your Version of Marketing 

You don’t have to love marketing. You just have to find your version of it and something that aligns with your voice, your strengths and your values. 

When you do, it becomes less of a chore and more of a quiet part of running your business. 

And if you’re still stuck? That’s where KopyKat comes in. We help people like you find honest, effective ways to show up online without the pressure, the posturing, or the overthinking. 

If you want to make marketing feel less painful, book a call with us. You bring your business and we’ll bring the ideas.