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Marketing foundations for startups and SMEs

The essentials that help startups and SMEs get moving and keep momentum

Early growth feels messy. Too many ideas, not enough time, and pressure to show results fast. This section brings the basics into focus so you can build steady foundations without a big team.

 

I work as a fractional CMO with founders and lean teams across Europe in both B2B and B2C. If you have little or no marketing resource and want senior leadership without a full time hire, I step in to set direction, create a simple operating rhythm, and keep work moving so you can grow faster locally or in new markets.

You will find a 90 day go to market plan, a simple operating system for your week, and clear steps to define an ideal customer profile. How to fix a website so it converts, design pricing that builds trust, and map a clean buyer journey. We cut through common myths in SEO, email, performance and social, set up a lightweight content engine, and add the pieces that lift conversion, like comparison pages, landing pages, offers, testimonials and proof. There is guidance on customer interviews, sales enablement, attribution without the drama, and onboarding flows that keep new users.

Start with what hurts most today. Apply one piece this week, then come back for the next step.

Looking for hands-on marketing support to accalerate your busines growth?

Let FUSE be your fractional marketing partner

Go-to-market strategy for startups: a 90‑day plan to find fit and win first revenue

Go-to-market strategy for startups: a 90‑day plan to find fit and win first revenue

Early growth comes from clarity, not noise. A practical 90‑day go‑to‑market plan for founder‑led startups to define the ICP, sharpen the message, choose channels that work, and land the first repeatable wins.

Marketing operating system for lean teams: build rhythm, clarity, and results without a big department

Marketing operating system for lean teams: build rhythm, clarity, and results without a big department

A practical, lightweight operating system for startups and SMEs without a marketing function. Clarify roles, create cadence, and connect brand, content, and demand so work ships on time and drives revenue.

Lead generation myths to drop: build a calm, repeatable pipeline without spam

Lead generation myths to drop: build a calm, repeatable pipeline without spam

More forms and more ads do not equal more revenue. A no‑fluff guide for startups and SMEs to ditch common lead gen myths, focus on quality conversations, and create a simple, repeatable pipeline.

SME website that converts: a 30‑day playbook to turn traffic into revenue

SME website that converts: a 30‑day playbook to turn traffic into revenue

Your website should pull its weight. A practical 30‑day playbook for startups and SMEs to build a fast, clear site that tells a sharp story, captures demand, and turns visits into qualified conversations.

Ideal customer profile that converts: define demand you can win as a small team

Ideal customer profile that converts: define demand you can win as a small team

Clarity beats volume. An Insight Explainer for startups and SMEs on how to define an ICP around real buying moments, proof, and economics so your pipeline concentrates on deals you can actually win.

SEO myths for small teams: rank for what matters and turn traffic into revenue

SEO myths for small teams: rank for what matters and turn traffic into revenue

Search rewards clarity, not hacks. A no‑fluff guide for startups and SMEs to drop common SEO myths, focus on intent, and build lean pages that actually convert.

Sales enablement for small teams: a 14‑day playbook to arm sales with stories that close

Sales enablement for small teams: a 14‑day playbook to arm sales with stories that close

A practical 14‑day playbook for startups and SMEs to build a tidy sales enablement kit—deck, one‑pager, proof library, and talk tracks—so every conversation feels clear, credible, and consistent.

Pricing strategy that builds trust: design transparent offers and pages for startups & SMEs

Pricing strategy that builds trust: design transparent offers and pages for startups & SMEs

Pricing is a trust signal. An Insight Explainer for startups and SMEs on how to design transparent offers and pricing pages that reduce friction, improve conversion, and set up healthy revenue.

Email marketing myths to drop: build a list that buys, not just opens

Email marketing myths to drop: build a list that buys, not just opens

Opens and volume do not equal revenue. A no‑fluff guide for startups and SMEs to ditch email myths, design calm cadence, and write messages that move people to the next step.

Content engine for small teams: an 8‑week playbook that feeds sales and search

Content engine for small teams: an 8‑week playbook that feeds sales and search

Build a lightweight content engine in eight weeks. A practical playbook for startups and SMEs to create repeatable assets that power sales conversations, SEO, and partner routes—without hiring a big team.

Comparison pages that convert: help buyers choose you without the hard sell

Comparison pages that convert: help buyers choose you without the hard sell

Buyers compare in tabs, not in theory. An Insight Explainer for startups and SMEs on designing honest, high-performing comparison and alternatives pages that reduce friction and lift conversions.

Performance marketing myths for small teams: stop chasing clicks, start capturing demand

Performance marketing myths for small teams: stop chasing clicks, start capturing demand

Ads work when the message is clear and the moment is right, not when budgets bloat. A no‑fluff guide for startups and SMEs to ditch performance marketing myths and build a calm, profitable demand capture system.

Customer research interviews that convert: a 4‑week playbook for startups & SMEs

Customer research interviews that convert: a 4‑week playbook for startups & SMEs

Talk to customers, then turn what you hear into sharper messaging, better offers, and a calmer roadmap. A practical 4‑week interview playbook for founder‑led teams and SMEs.

Attribution without the drama: a simple measurement system for startups & SMEs

Attribution without the drama: a simple measurement system for startups & SMEs

Build a calm, credible measurement system that founders and small teams can run. Link marketing to revenue with a simple growth scorecard, clean definitions, and decisions you can defend.

Social media myths for small teams: show up with purpose, not noise

Social media myths for small teams: show up with purpose, not noise

Busy feeds do not equal growth. A no‑fluff guide for startups and SMEs to drop social media myths, focus on useful formats, and turn presence into pipeline support without burning the team out.

CRM that teams actually use: a 30‑day playbook for clean pipeline and faster revenue

CRM that teams actually use: a 30‑day playbook for clean pipeline and faster revenue

Messy spreadsheets slow deals. This 30‑day CRM playbook helps startups and SMEs set up clean stages, simple fields, and tidy automation so every lead routes fast and every forecast holds.

Lead generation traps to avoid: build a calm, repeatable pipeline for small teams

Lead generation traps to avoid: build a calm, repeatable pipeline for small teams

High activity does not equal healthy pipeline. A no‑fluff guide for startups and SMEs to avoid common lead‑gen traps, focus on qualified conversations, and create a system that works without spam.

Partner marketing for small teams: a 60‑day playbook that ships, not stalls

Partner marketing for small teams: a 60‑day playbook that ships, not stalls

A practical 60‑day playbook for startups and SMEs to choose the right partners, co-create useful assets, and run joint motions that generate qualified conversations without heavy lifts or endless meetings.

Image by S O C I A L . C U T

Continue your journey

Brand marketing: Shape a brand people remember

01

Flexible CMO support for lean teams: Senior marketing support without the full-time hire

02

Demand generation and growth marketing: Get seen by the right people

03

International expansion & localisation: Expand globally, act locally, build trust

04

Marketing strategy: A clear plan you can actually follow

05

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