Most SMEs are paying for marketing twice. Once in ad spend, content tools and subscriptions. And again in lost time, stalled momentum, and missed revenue because there’s no strategic leadership behind the activity. In this episode of the Digital Success for Business Podcast, Leanne Cohens explains why AI tools increase volume but not alignment, why most businesses are stuck in reactive marketing cycles, and what a Fractional CMO actually does to create clarity, direction and predictable growth. If your marketing feels busy but not effective, this episode will hit close to home. What You’ll Learn / Key Takeaways:

• Why doing marketing alone quietly drains revenue and momentum
• The difference between activity and aligned strategy
• How AI tools amplify noise when leadership is missing
• Why over 60% of SMEs feel marketing is busy but not working
• What a Fractional CMO actually does beyond “advice”
• How 3-month strategy cycles create compounding growth

Key Quotes:

• “AI can increase output, but it cannot replace alignment.”
• “Motion without leadership is just expensive busyness.”
• “Clarity is the competitive advantage in 2026.”

Timestamps:

• • 00:00 You’re Paying for Marketing Twice (The Hidden Cost of DIY)
  • 00:59 Why Effort Isn’t the Problem — It’s Strategic Leadership
  • 01:42 AI Tools Create More Noise, Not More Alignment
  • 03:46 The Reactive Marketing Trap: Busy, Tweaking, and Still Stuck
  • 05:22 The Data Problem: Failed Initiatives, Bot Traffic and Dirty Analytics
  • 07:46 The Reframe: What a Fractional CMO Actually Does
  • 09:09 Real-World Example: From Constant Activity to Predictable Results
  • 10:13 How Marketing Leap Runs 3-Month Strategy Cycles That Compound
  • 10:58 2026 Winners: Clarity Over Busyness
  • 12:03 Next Steps + Episode Teaser

If your marketing feels fragmented, reactive or harder than it should be, the issue probably isn’t effort. It’s structure. At Marketing Leap, we work with established businesses through Fractional CMO leadership, strategy intensives and aligned marketing systems that connect activity to revenue. Book a strategy session below

Direction beats busyness. Every time.

About The Host: Leanne Cohens is the Digital Success Coach and owner of the agency Marketing LEAP. With over 25 years of experience as a marketer and over 30 years as a business owner, Leanne helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses through proven marketing strategies.

Want to learn more? https://marketingleap.net/marketing-resources/ https://marketingleap.net/contact-marketing-leap/

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