Kelly Fox, founder of Strategic Storybook, has spent her career helping small businesses understand the purpose behind their marketing, and she believes the biggest challenge most owners face is not a lack of effort but a lack of clarity. According to Fox, many know they need marketing but struggle to understand why they need it or how to use it effectively. This gap between awareness and strategy often leads to scattered decisions and investments that do not generate meaningful results.
For small businesses, the stakes can be existential. According to statistics, around a quarter of small businesses fail in the first year, and around 50% fail in the first five years. "People want the results of good marketing, but they don't always understand the purpose behind it," Fox says. "Without that clarity, you end up trying to do everything without knowing what actually matters."
