Why Your Marketing Needs a Team, Not a Swiss Army Knife

In today’s world, marketing isn’t one job. It’s a universe of specialties, each requiring unique skills, tools, & experience. Yet many companies still post job descriptions looking for “a marketing manager” who can do everything from brand strategy to TikTok campaigns, from retail media buying to CRM automations, from copywriting to data analytics.

The truth? That unicorn doesn’t exist. & expecting one person to be your entire marketing department is a recipe for burnout, wasted spend, & missed opportunity.

Marketing Is an Ecosystem, Not a Single Role

Let’s break it down. Marketing today covers dozens of functions. Some of the major ones include:

• Brand Strategy & Positioning – defining who you are, what you stand for, & how you’re different.

• Creative & Content – storytelling, design, video, photography, & messaging.

• Social Media Management – community engagement, platform expertise, influencer partnerships, & rapid trend adaptation.

• Performance Marketing – running & optimizing paid ads (search, social, display).

• SEO & SEM – ensuring your brand shows up where customers are searching.

• Email & CRM – building automated journeys, personalization, & retention strategies.

• Data & Analytics – measuring what works, identifying patterns, & informing decisions.

• Public Relations & Communications – building reputation & managing narratives.

• Event Marketing & Sponsorships – creating experiences that bring your brand to life.

• Retail Media – one of the fastest-growing segments, requiring its own playbook of on-site ads, shopper data, & partnerships with retailers.

These are different careers in themselves. The skill set needed to be a brilliant retail media strategist is not the same as the skill set to be a brand storyteller or a data scientist.

Why the “One-Person Show” Doesn’t Work

When companies roll all of these roles into one job, several things happen:

1. Mediocre Output Across the Board – Instead of excellence in one or two areas, you get surface-level execution everywhere.

2. Burnout – Marketers leave because the workload is impossible & expectations unrealistic.

3. Missed Growth – Opportunities slip away because no one has the time or depth of expertise to pursue them.

The Smarter Approach

Rather than hiring one person to “do it all,” companies should:

• Define Priorities – Decide which marketing functions are most critical for your stage of growth.

• Build the Right Mix – Hire specialists or partner with agencies/contractors to cover your needs.

• Invest in Retail Media Expertise – If you sell in retail, this channel deserves focus—it’s not a side project.

• Empower Collaboration – Marketing works best when creative, data, media, & strategy inform one another.

Final Word

Your marketing team doesn’t need a superhero who can do it all. It needs a structure that respects the complexity of the discipline. The companies that understand this aren’t just attracting top talent, they’re also the ones winning market share.

-Malorie Ragsdale, MBA.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of any affiliated organizations, employers, or other entities.