The 5-Step Marketing Starter Kit for Busy Entrepreneurs

Steve Kozak
Apr 30
4 min read

Go From Zero to Leads

A sneak peek into the Small Business Marketing Jumpstart Plan

If you’re a small business owner struggling to get traction online—or just tired of trying random marketing tips that don’t work—this simple 5-step starter kit is for you.

It’s built from the exact system I use with my 1:1 clients to help them go from confusion to consistent leads—without spending a dime on ads or hiring a full team.

Use this as a quickstart. Then, when you’re ready, I’ll show you how to implement the full Jumpstart Plan customized to your business.

But I want to be clear about something here. This is a start. Not the whole things, not a quick fix, and certainly not a guarantee. Is anything a guarantee these days. Marketing isn’t hard. But it is kind of a blend of art, skill, determination, consistency, and grit. It’s not sales, and it’s not advertising. It’s marketing. And specifically, it’s digital marketing.

And most of us don’t really understand it. And that’s OK. You don’t have to get a degree, spend countless hours working on it, or spend thousands of dollars on a “professional” agency that’s going to give you a twenty-something marketing who knows a little about social media and nothing about your business.

I agree. It’s annoying. Unproductive. And unnecessary.

So let’s talk about what it necessary. We are going to focus on five things. That’s it. Five. It’s not a quick fix, but I can tell you that if you don’t do these five things, nothing—and I mean nothing, is going to work.

Step 1: Clarify Your Customer

You can’t market to everyone. You need to focus on one clear audience.

Who is your ideal customer?

What’s their biggest pain point?
What result are they looking for?
Where do they currently spend time online?

🎯 Quick Action: Fill in this sentence:

“I help [specific person] go from [pain point] to [desired result] by [your method].”

Want to spend a little more time in this area? You should. I tell my clients to literally give their customer avatar a name, a job, a salary, a family, a car, a house, and even a favorite breakfast food.

Here’s a simple worksheet that will help.

Step 2: Nail Your Message

Your marketing needs one powerful message—one that speaks directly to your audience’s struggle and grabs their attention.

Try this formula:

“You know how [pain]? I help [target audience] get [result] without [thing they hate].”

🎯 Quick Action: Write your version and test it in your Instagram bio, email signature, or LinkedIn headline.

This one is one of the hardest to get right. But here is what I tell people. Don’t try and be fancy, just be clear. Tell people what you do and how you’ll help them solve their problem. Imagine you’re in a bar, the checkout line at Target, or a hotel elevator. Someone asks you what you do, what can you tell them in about 10 seconds that will make them go, “ahhhhh, cool.” And even perhaps ask a follow up question. Bam! There’s your message and tagline.

Step 3: Map Your Offer

Make your offer crystal clear—what are they getting, and how will it change their life?

Answer these:

What problem does this solve?
What result do they walk away with?
Why is now the right time?

🎯 Quick Action: Write one sentence for each. This becomes your sales page or pitch outline.

This is where I get the most pushback. Most people seem to believe (myself included, at one point) that clarity of audience and messaging should be enough to draw people in to your business. That might have been true at one time, but it’s certainly not the case today. You need an offer that makes people smile because there about to have their problem solved. Yes, it can feel salesy. But that’s OK. Sales is fine. Just don’t be sleezy.

Step 4: Simplify Your Funnel

No need for 20 steps. You just need 3:

Lead Magnet (free value upfront)
Email Nurture (3–5 simple emails to build trust)
Offer (clear invitation to buy or book)

🎯 Quick Action:What freebie could you offer that solves one specific pain?Examples: Checklist, cheatsheet, template, mini-course

This is where most people fall off the radar. Because it’s where the real work begins. The stuff before, that’s fun. It’s visionary, planning, process, and filled with hope. Let me be clear once again. This not a magic formula. This takes time, patience, and persistence. Keep at it.

Step 5: Create Simple Content

You don’t need to go viral—you need to be clear and consistent.

Use these 3 prompt types to build trust:

Value: Teach one thing they care about
Story: Share how you overcame what they’re facing
Offer: Invite them to take the next step

🎯 Quick Action: Plan 1 post for each type this week.

If anyone tells you that you need to go viral, ignore them. Maybe even punch them. Not only are they wrong, they are damaging the profession of marketing. No one who has ever gone viral has built a long-lasting business.

🚀 Ready to Build the Full Jumpstart Plan?

This guide gives you the bones. If you want the full system built for your business—with content templates, email sequences, funnel layout, and support to launch it…