14/07/2025
Why most professional services firms struggle with marketing—and how to fix it
Here’s a stat that should concern any financial planner, accountant, or advisory firm:
67% of small businesses report having no marketing strategy at all.
Not just a weak plan. None.
(Source: Survey of 2,000+ SME decision-makers)
And frankly, we’re not surprised.
We see it all the time:
A few LinkedIn posts here and there
Maybe a newsletter every quarter
A website that hasn’t been updated since 2019
All well-intentioned… but lacking one thing: strategy.
That’s the difference between doing some marketing vs building a marketing engine.
So why do smart, capable firms still struggle?
Confusing strategy with activity – Tactics aren’t strategy.
No clear positioning – If your brand isn’t distinct, it’s forgettable.
Shiny object syndrome – Tools and trends without purpose waste time.
Overwhelmed – You’re too busy doing the work to work on the business.
No system – Without structure, consistency always loses to chaos.
What’s the fix?
At Bold, our strategic work sits on 3 foundations:
1. Brand Strategy – Identity, messaging, and trust-building
2. Growth Strategy – Ideal client clarity, funnel design, and performance metrics
3. Client Journey Strategy – From stranger to loyal referrer, mapped and optimised
Tactics without strategy = noise.
Strategy without ex*****on = wasted time.
Strategy with ex*****on = growth that compounds.