From Garage Band to Big Stage: Organic Marketing vs Paid Marketing 101

Do you have a favorite band?

You know, the kind where you know every song by heart?

Ever wonder how they went from playing tiny gigs to selling out huge arenas?

Picture this: there’s a band no one’s ever heard of.

They decide to rent out Madison Square Garden. Big stage. Tons of seats. Huge dreams.

They spend a ton of money on posters.

They buy Facebook ads.

They even get a massive billboard on the highway. “One night only! Big show! Don’t miss it!”

But when showtime rolls around? Crickets.

Why? Because nobody knows them.

No one’s heard their songs.

They skipped the part where they built real fans first.

This is exactly what happens when businesses jump into paid ads without laying the groundwork with organic marketing first.

People think they can skip the slow part—building trust—and just throw money at ads to get instant results.

But if you don’t have an audience that cares, you’re basically yelling into the void.

Let’s break it down.

Here’s your no-fluff guide to organic marketing vs paid marketing:

How to Build a Crowd Before You Book the Arena

Step 1: Play the Small Shows (Organic Marketing)

Organic marketing is where it all begins.

Think small shows in local cafes or your buddy’s garage.

You’re playing for whoever shows up, sharing your stuff, figuring out what works.

This is your social media posts, your blogs, your YouTube videos.

It’s showing up for free, building trust, and helping people—without asking for anything in return.

Why does organic marketing matter?

• It builds trust.

• It keeps working even when you’re not.

• One good post can bring people in for months, sometimes years.

But heads up—it takes time.

You don’t go viral overnight.

It’s showing up consistently and playing the long game.

Step 2: Find Your Greatest Hits (See What Works)

Before you book the big stage, you need to know what songs people love.

In marketing terms?

Figure out what content gets people excited.

What posts get shared? What blog keeps popping up on Google? What videos get people DMing you?

Organic marketing is where you test things.

You get honest feedback, no ad budget wasted.

It’s how you figure out what clicks.

Step 3: Book the Big Concert (Paid Marketing)

Once you know what your audience loves, it’s time for paid marketing.

Paid ads are like booking the big show. You already have fans who love your songs. Now you’re telling more people and making it easier for them to find you.

Why bother with paid marketing?

• It’s fast. You can show up today.

• It helps you reach way more people.

• You can target exactly who sees your stuff.

But paid ads only work if you’ve got something people care about.

If your message isn’t clear, no amount of money will fix that.

Organic Marketing vs Paid Marketing: The Big Picture

So, when it comes to organic marketing vs paid marketing, it’s not an either-or thing. It’s a one-two punch.

First, use organic marketing to build trust and your community.

Then, turn up the volume with paid marketing and reach more people.

If you’re still finding your sound? Stick with organic for now.

But if people are already vibing with what you’re doing? Paid marketing helps you spread the word faster.

Quick Recap:

• Organic marketing = trust and long-term growth.

• Paid marketing = speed and scale.

• Together? You’re filling the stadium.

So… where are you right now?

Still jamming in your garage?

Or ready to headline the big show?

Whatever stage you’re at, I’m rooting for you. Hope your next big move brings something amazing your way!

Talk soon,

Arvin

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P.S. Yesterday, I asked about your biggest struggle with digital marketing. (If you replied—thank you! You’re awesome.) If you didn’t get a chance, no worries—you still can!

Quick heads up: I’m building a course on how to do digital marketing the right way—what it is, which channels work, and how to use them to grow your business.

If you’ve grabbed my free guide already, this course will go 5x… maybe even 10x deeper. Straightforward. No fluff.

Haven’t grabbed the free guide yet?

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And hit reply if you’ve got thoughts! Every message helps me make this even better.