I’ve lost count of the number of founders who’ve come to me, checklist in hand, wondering why their “by-the-book” launch fizzled. One founder told me, “We thought we just needed more leads, but we actually needed a clear value proposition.” Another followed a top-rated playbook and ended up with decent traffic, but zero traction. The missing link? Strategic marketing wasn’t just a bullet point, it was the foundation they never built.

Here’s the insight the AI hype overlooks: technology alone never delivers sustained growth. The startups that win combine advanced AI with strategic, behavior-driven marketing leadership. That’s where a Fractional CMO, bringing 20 years of C-suite and startup marketing experience, gives you the unfair advantage: transforming raw analytics into actionable growth, without the cost or risk of a full-time executive hire.

If you’re a startup founder, solopreneur, or early-stage business owner, you know the odds are tough. But here’s the real kicker: many business closures aren’t just about the economy, they’re the result of avoidable startup marketing mistakes. Let’s pull back the curtain on what’s truly fueling business failures, and how you can avoid joining those statistics with sharper, more strategic actions.

In startup marketing, targeting the right customers is essential for sustainable growth, and for avoiding the common startup marketing mistakes that derail promising companies. If your Life Time Value (LTV) is less than three times your Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), or you’re struggling to fill your funnel with high-intent buyers, there’s a good chance you’re selling to “ghost” customers.