The Marketing Decisions That Changed Our Business Forever

In Episode 9 of Built By Doing, we break down one of the most misunderstood and most important parts of building a successful business: marketing, branding, advertising, and how to actually attract customers. From startup mistakes and early marketing experiments to digital advertising, brand identity, customer psychology, and long-term growth strategy, this episode gives an honest look at what business owners need to understand before spending money on marketing. We discuss: • How to market a business when you’re just starting out • The difference between branding vs marketing • Why many businesses waste money on advertising • How to identify your target audience and ideal customer • The importance of content, messaging, and visual identity • When to spend money on Google Ads, Meta Ads, Facebook, Instagram, and digital marketing • Why data analytics matter in advertising decisions • Marketing ROI, customer acquisition cost, and lifetime customer value • The truth about startup marketing budgets and ad spend • How strong branding builds trust and long-term business growth We also share behind-the-scenes stories from the early days of David Alan Clothing—including a mobile showroom Sprinter van concept, creative marketing ideas that almost changed the brand entirely, and lessons learned from trial and error. If you're an entrepreneur, startup founder, small business owner, marketer, or someone trying to grow a brand, this episode gives practical insight into how marketing actually works—and how to avoid common mistakes that slow business growth.