Your Marketing Isn’t Broken, Your Systems Are
Why Your Holistic Systems Are the Secret Weapon Behind the Scenes
As a business owner, we've all been there. Something in your business isn’t working and you're tempted to blame your Instagram strategy. Or those pesky email subject lines. Or the new project management platform which your team hasn’t fully adopted yet.
But what if the problem isn’t the flashy front-end stuff at all?
We sat down with Erin Taylor of Lunimae, the “systems whisperer” you didn’t know your business needed. Erin helps small businesses stop solving surface-level problems and start thinking holistically about how everything works together behind the scenes. Everything from client communication to delegation to automation (and the really messy parts in between).
If your marketing feels like it’s not delivering or your business feels stuck, it might be time for a systems reality check.
What Are “Holistic Business Systems” Anyway?
Spoiler: it’s not just about what tool you’re using. According to Erin, systems are essentially how you run your business. The steps you take, the tools that support those steps, and how it all connects.
You already have a system. It might be messy, manual, or frustrating, but it’s still a system.
The goal isn’t to slap on a new piece of software that you heard about on a podcast or networking event. It’s to step back and ask how your marketing, sales, delivery, and operations actually work together.
When things are disconnected, your business starts to feel heavy. Like everything just takes longer than it should. Like you’re doing too much yourself, and nothing’s running as smoothly as you hoped.
The Real Reason Your Marketing Isn’t Converting
It’s probably not the algorithm.
It’s easy to think you need to post more often or try a new email tool. But when you zoom out, a lot of “marketing problems” are actually systems problems in disguise.
For example:
Leads ghost you because your follow-up process is inconsistent
You stop sending emails because your list lives in a forgotten platform you don’t check
You get overwhelmed by content because your approval process is nonexistent
You delay launching because onboarding feels like a mess
Marketing doesn’t live in a vacuum. It depends on operations, team clarity, and backend systems to support the shiny stuff on the front.
Signs You’re Treating the Symptoms, Not the Root Cause
According to Erin, here are some red flags that your systems need a deeper look:
You’ve “tried everything” and nothing works
You say you don’t trust the tools
Your team is constantly asking the same questions
You’ve jumped platforms more than once this year
You avoid delegating because you’re scared it won’t be done right
These aren’t tool issues. They’re process issues. And if your business is feeling chaotic, the fix isn’t another shiny software subscription. It’s your strategy.
There's One System Change That Can Create a Huge Ripple Effect
Map your processes!
Erin swears by process mapping. Literally drawing out every step, every tool, and every person involved in a system, from lead to sale or from client onboarding to offboarding.
Because here’s the deal. When everything lives in your head, you can’t see the inefficiencies. You’re working harder, not smarter. Once it’s mapped out, you’ll start to see where to streamline, where to automate, and where you’re holding on to control a little too tightly.
Your Overcomplicated Systems Could Be Killing Your Growth
Veteran business owners, this one’s for you. Just because your system worked before doesn’t mean it still serves you.
Erin says one of the biggest mistakes seasoned entrepreneurs make is layering too many tools, automations, and approvals over time without stepping back to ask, “Do we still need this?”
The result? A Frankenstein setup that no one fully understands, slows everything down, and makes onboarding team members a nightmare.
Keep it simple. Use fewer steps. Have clearer ownership. And make it easier to scale.
But We’re Too Small for “Systems Work,” Right?
Wrong. Erin’s advice for small businesses is to stop thinking systems are only for big companies. Holistic systems matter whether you’re a team of one or managing five contractors.
And no, you don’t need expensive software to start. Erin recommends:
Listing out all the tools you’re currently paying for and identifying what they actually do
Simplifying by turning off unused features or canceling any overlap
Starting with one manual process and asking how you can improve it
Even a basic checklist or email template is a system. Don’t underestimate the power of small changes.
When Should You Think About Systems?
Always! Wrong. Erin’s advice for small businesses is to stop thinking systems are only for big companies. Holistic systems matter whether you’re a team of one or managing five contractors.
And no, you don’t need expensive software to start. Erin recommends:
Listing out all the tools you’re currently paying for and identifying what they actually do
Simplifying by turning off unused features or canceling any overlap
Starting with one manual process and asking how you can improve it
Even a basic checklist or email template is a system. Don’t underestimate the power of small changes.
Stop Jumping Ship at the First Glitch
One trend Erin sees all the time is business owners abandoning tools after one tech hiccup.
“All platforms have downtime,” she says. “That doesn’t mean it’s time to move to a shiny new one.”
Instead of blaming the tool, ask:
How did my company handle this issue?
Do we communicate openly?
Is all of our data safe?
Was the problem actually user error?
For a small business owner, having strong systems means knowing when to stay, switch, and when the problem isn’t the platform at all.
Build Your Systems Like They Matter (Because They Do)
To Erin, "system-ing like it’s hot" means checking in regularly. Asking what feels hard. Where your team is getting stuck. What’s not documented that needs to be.
If you feel like you're struggling with the marketing, delivery, or not scaling, it might be time to stop chasing new trends and start untangling the backend.
Your Next Action Step
List out your current tools. What are you using, paying for, and overlapping? Identify what each one does and where the gaps are. Then pick one process to map out.
Connect with Erin Taylor of Lunimae
On her website https://www.lunimae.com and @lunamaestrategy on Instagram and all the platforms.
