How To Scale Your Small Team

Small marketing teams have one thing in common: they’re expected to operate like an entire department—on half the budget, half the time, and often, half the people. The reality? Without the right systems in place, small teams burn out fast, drowning in endless tasks instead of driving real impact.

At Mise En Place, we believe efficiency isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. And just like a chef preps their kitchen before the dinner rush, marketing teams need structured workflows to keep things moving with precision.

Here’s how to build smart, scalable systems that let small teams punch above their weight.

1. Automate Anything That Doesn’t Need a Human Touch

Let’s be clear: not everything in marketing requires a personal touch. The more time your team spends on manual, repetitive work, the less time they have for strategy and creativity. The solution? Automate ruthlessly.

• Email Marketing: Set up automated nurture sequences, follow-ups, and abandoned cart emails so leads don’t fall through the cracks. (Tools: HubSpot, Klaviyo, Mailchimp)

• Social Media: Schedule posts in bulk and let AI-powered tools handle best-time publishing. (Tools: Later, Sprout Social, Buffer)

• Reporting & Analytics: Automate data pulls and dashboard updates so your team isn’t manually building reports every week. (Tools: Google Looker Studio, Databox, Supermetrics)

The goal is simple: eliminate the busywork so your team can focus on what actually moves the needle.

2. Templates Are Your Best Friend—Use Them for Everything

If your team is reinventing the wheel every time they create a social post, write an email, or launch a campaign—you have a problem. The fix? Templates.

• Content & Design Templates: Standardized Canva, Figma, or Adobe templates keep branding consistent and execution fast.

• Email & Landing Page Templates: Pre-built layouts ensure high-quality assets are produced in minutes, not hours.

• Internal Docs & Checklists: Need a campaign brief? Client proposal? Project kickoff doc? A well-built template keeps everything streamlined and ensures no key steps get missed.

Pro tip: Store everything in a shared, easy-to-access drive (Google Drive, Notion, ClickUp) so no one’s wasting time searching for files.

3. Prioritize Like a CEO (Because You Don’t Have Time for Everything)

Small teams can’t afford to chase every idea. The secret to impact? Brutal prioritization.

• Use the 80/20 Rule: Focus on the 20% of activities that drive 80% of your results. Cut or delegate the rest.

• Adopt a “Now, Next, Later” Roadmap: Categorize tasks by immediate priority (Now), upcoming initiatives (Next), and long-term goals (Later)—so your team stays laser-focused.

• Say No (or At Least, Not Now): If a project doesn’t align with your goals, drop it. Time is your most valuable resource—protect it.

4. Centralize Communication & Kill the Email Overload

If your inbox is where projects live and die, you’ve already lost. Stop running marketing through endless email threads and Slack pings.

• Use a Project Management Tool: Asana or Notion — pick one and make it your team’s command center.

• Create a Single Source of Truth: Keep assets, campaign details, and strategy docs in one place so no one wastes time asking, “Where’s that file?”

Set Communication Boundaries: Not every discussion needs a meeting. Use Loom for quick updates, Slack for daily check-ins, and project boards for real-time collaboration.

5. Systematize the Creative Process—Without Killing Creativity

Marketing is a blend of art and science. The key is building repeatable frameworks that enhance creativity, not stifle it.

• Content Production Workflow: Set a clear process for brainstorming, drafting, editing, approval, and publishing—so content flows smoothly.

• Campaign Playbooks: Outline best practices for launching ads, email sequences, or social campaigns so your team isn’t starting from scratch every time.

• Creative Sprints: Set designated blocks of time for deep creative work—without interruptions. (Pro tip: Timebox brainstorming sessions to spark focus and prevent overthinking.)

Final Thought: Scale Smarter, Not Harder

Small marketing teams can absolutely compete at a high level—but only if they operate with precision. By automating, templating, prioritizing, streamlining communication, and systematizing creative workflows, your team can scale without burning out.

Want help turning your marketing chaos into a well-oiled machine? Let’s get everything in its place.