Hiring the right marketer can transform your brand, fuel growth, and unlock real commercial impact.
But the wrong hire? That can quietly drain time, budget, and momentum and in today’s fast-moving market, that’s a risk most businesses can’t afford to take.
At Marketing Moves, we work exclusively in marketing recruitment for the B2B and tech sectors – and we’ve seen first-hand the difference a great hire (or a mis-hire) can make.
The real cost of a marketing mis-hire
The obvious cost is salary. But when you factor in the bigger picture, a mis-hire can cost 3-4x that amount. Here’s why:
💰Campaigns underperforming or stalling altogether
💰Budget wasted on tools, agencies, or ads without ROI
💰Time lost onboarding, correcting, or replacing
💰Poor team morale and cultural disruption
💰Lost opportunities – especially during growth, funding rounds, or launches
In fast-paced B2B and tech environments, this can put entire go-to-market plans at risk.
Why does it happen?
Marketing is one of the most mis-hired functions in business.
Job titles vary widely, and expectations are often misaligned. A “Marketing Manager” at a start-up may need to be a hands-on content machine, while at a scale-up, the same title might call for strategic oversight, agency management, or demand gen expertise.
Mis-hires tend to happen when:
🔹Role expectations aren’t clearly defined
🔹 Internal alignment is missing across teams
🔹 The wrong experience level is targeted
🔹 Generic recruitment methods are used
How to hire smarter (and avoid costly mistakes)
At Marketing Moves, we don’t just send CVs. We act as true recruitment partners, helping you define the role, benchmark against the market, and introduce marketing talent that fits both your brief and your culture.
Here’s what we recommend to get it right, first time:
1. Define what success looks like. Get clear on deliverables for the first 6-12 months. Are you looking for a brand builder? A performance marketer? A content expert?
2. Align stakeholders. Marketing doesn’t operate in a silo – make sure sales, leadership, and product are aligned on what this hire needs to achieve.
3. Prioritise outcomes over logos. Big brand names are impressive, but impact is what counts. We deep dive into candidates achievements, working style, and long-term potential.
4. Use a specialist partner. We live and breathe marketing hiring. Our market knowledge, network, and laser focus on B2B/tech means we find the right fit faster – saving you time, cost, and stress.
Final Thought…
Hiring the right marketer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make this year. Don’t leave it to chance.
If you’re thinking about growing your team or just want insight into salaries, candidate availability, or what “great” looks like in your space, Marketing Moves is here to help.
