The Difference Between a Business Coach and a Marketing Coach
When business owners start thinking about getting support, there is usually only one option that comes to mind.
A business coach. I see it all the time.
It is the type of coaching most entrepreneurs are familiar with. The one that feels like the natural next step when you want help thinking bigger, making better decisions or feeling less alone in your business.
A marketing coach often does not even enter the conversation. Not because it is not needed. But because many people do not realize it exists as a distinct type of support.
So they hire a business coach. And sometimes, that is exactly the right choice. But sometimes it isn’t and the business owner would have been better off hiring someone with expertise in marketing and sales.
Enter the marketing coach.
Today I want to share more from my perspective the difference between a business coach and a marketing coach.
Why Marketing Coaching Often Gets Overlooked
Marketing is often treated as something you can figure out as you go.
Post a little more on social media. Try what worked for someone else. Stay visible.
Because of this, marketing advice frequently gets folded into business coaching conversations. And while business coaches bring tremendous value, marketing is its own discipline. One that is shaped by experience and an understanding of how people actually make buying decisions.
When marketing is treated as a side topic instead of a system, the guidance can miss important context. Especially when it pushes people to focus on one platform without looking at the bigger picture.
What a Business Coach Focuses On
A business coach typically looks at the business as a whole.
Their work often lives at the decision-making level. They help you think through direction, priorities, growth, and how you are running the business day to day.
A business coach might help you with:
Clarifying your vision and long-term goals
Navigating growth, change or uncertainty
Building confidence in your decisions
Managing time, energy and boundaries
Thinking through offers, pricing or structure
This kind of support is incredibly valuable. Especially when things feel messy or when you are questioning where the business is going. Or what your offers are.
Marketing may come up in these conversations. But it is rarely the main focus.
Where Marketing Advice Can Start to Go Sideways
This is something I see often.
Business coaches give marketing advice because marketing impacts growth. That makes sense. But marketing is not one-size-fits-all, and it is not just about being visible.
Many clients come to me after being told to:
Focus almost entirely on social media
Post more without a clear strategy
Follow generic tactics that do not fit their business
Copy what works for someone in a completely different industry
None of this comes from bad intentions. It comes from treating marketing as a tactic instead of a full strategic system.
Social media can be part of a marketing strategy. But it is not the strategy.
What a Marketing Coach Actually Does
A marketing coach brings depth and intention to marketing decisions.
Their role is not just to help you show up. It is to help you understand why you are showing up, where to focus and how everything connects back to your business goals.
A marketing coach might help you with:
Clarifying your messaging so people actually understand what you do
Building a full marketing strategy, not just content ideas
Choosing the right mix of channels for your business
Understanding how people find, trust and choose you
Creating marketing that feels calm, sustainable, and aligned
This work is grounded in experience. In seeing what works, what does not, and what quietly supports growth over time.
Sometimes that includes social media. Sometimes it does not. Because thoughtful marketing looks at the whole picture.
The Difference, Simply Put
Here is the clearest way I can explain it.
A business coach helps you decide what you are building and how you are running it.
A marketing coach helps you build a strategy that supports that business in the real world.
Both roles matter. But they are not interchangeable.
When marketing decisions are made without marketing expertise, they often default to what is loud or trendy instead of what is effective.
Three Questions to Help You Decide What You Need
If you are considering bringing on support in your business, ask yourself these questions.
Am I unclear about my business direction or just my marketing?
Do I feel confident in what I offer, but unsure how to communicate it?
Has my marketing become overly focused on one platform without anyone looking at the full strategy?
Your answers usually point you in the right direction.
One Action to Take This Week
List out every way people currently find your business.
Referrals. Website. Email. Social media. Word of mouth. Partnerships.
If your entire strategy relies on one channel, that is not a strategy. It is a risk.
Awareness is often the first step toward calmer marketing.
A Final Thought
Business coaching and marketing coaching both have an important place.
I work with business owners who want a clear, thoughtful marketing strategy that fits their business, not someone else’s. And if that sounds like the support you have been looking for, I would love to work with you as your marketing coach.