July 1, 2026 · Founder-led marketing

How to Apply for the Free Marketing Package (So Your Application Actually Stands Out)

Applications are open for three free 3-hour marketing packages, and the form itself takes about ten minutes. But there's a difference between filling it out and filling it out well.

If you're a founder or small business owner who wants a real shot at one of the three spots, here's how to use those ten minutes wisely.

Be specific about the challenge, not the category

"Marketing" isn't a challenge. It's a department. "I don't know why people leave my website without booking a call" is a challenge. "My Instagram gets likes but never turns into customers" is a challenge. "I've rewritten my homepage four times and it still doesn't sound like me" is a challenge.

The application asks what marketing challenge you'd most like help with. Skip the general answer and name the actual moment where things break down. Specificity is what makes a strategy conversation useful instead of generic, and it's what makes your application memorable instead of interchangeable.

Say what would make three hours valuable, out loud

One of the application questions asks what would make these three hours especially valuable right now. Don't skip past it or answer it in five words. This is where you get to say: "I'm about to launch a new service and I don't know how to talk about it yet," or "I have a website but I've never had anyone tell me honestly whether it's working."

The clearer you are about what you need, the easier it is to give you something useful.

That sentence works both ways: for the person reviewing applications, and for you, once you sit down for the actual session.

Bring the real version of your business, not the polished one

You don't need a perfect website or a confident answer to "what do you do?" to apply. Some of the most useful sessions start from the most honest starting points: a business owner who admits their message is scattered, a founder who knows their content isn't landing but doesn't know why. If your marketing feels behind, unfinished, or inconsistent, say so. That's exactly the situation this package is designed for.

Include a real link

The application asks for your website or social link. Use whichever one actually represents your business today, even if it's a work in progress. A quick, honest look at what's actually live is more useful going into the session than a polished pitch deck would be.

Don't overthink the "why me" question

There's no essay requirement here, and there's no need to make a competitive case for why you deserve one of the three spots more than another business owner. Selection is based on fit and where a short introductory package can create real momentum, not who writes the most persuasive paragraph. Answer honestly, answer specifically, and let the rest go.

Apply before you talk yourself out of it

Ten minutes now is the only real cost. Winners are selected and notified on August 1, and there's no obligation to buy anything afterward; the goal is simply to hand you a clear roadmap you can use, with or without further support.

If your marketing has felt like a moving target for months, this is a low-pressure way to get a senior, outside opinion on what to fix first.

Cadi Kadlecek, Marketing Strategy & Communications Consultant — Experience across integrated marketing strategy, demand generation, content programs, CRM, campaign analytics, and stakeholder communication.

Last updated: July 1, 2026