In this week’s episode of The Solo Coach Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Austin, founder of Big One Marketing, for a practical and refreshingly honest conversation about what marketing really means in 2026.

We explore why marketing is not about shouting the loudest, but about standing out for the right reasons. Ryan shares his insights on consistency, social media strategy, choosing the right platforms, and why “post and hope” is never a sustainable plan.

We also dive into:

• The difference between marketing and sales, and why both matter
• Why consistency beats intensity on social media
• How to measure marketing success beyond revenue alone
• The most common mistakes small businesses make
• Why saying no to the wrong client is just as important as saying yes to the right one
• What business owners should clarify before outsourcing their marketing

Ryan speaks openly about the challenges of running a marketing agency, the difficulty of selling something people cannot physically see, and how coaching helped him gain clarity, confidence and direction as a founder.

If you are a small business owner, solo entrepreneur or founder wondering how to market your business without burning out or wasting money, this episode will give you grounded, practical insight you can apply straight away.

Connect with Ryan:

https://bigonemarketing.co.uk/

Connect with David:

https://www.thesolocoach.co.uk/