If you’re a manufacturer in the packaging or processing world, you’re not alone in feeling like your marketing team is stretched thin. According to PMMI Media Group’s Q3 2025 Supplier Survey, over half (55%) of marketing teams in our industry have just one or two people, and another 30% have between three and five. That means 85% of teams are operating lean—balancing trade shows, content creation, digital strategy, and lead nurturing with just a handful of hands.
Even with limited bandwidth, marketing remains the voice of your brand in a highly competitive and technical market. So how are your peers making the most with limited resources—and how can you do the same? Let’s look at a few key takeaways from our latest survey of your peers and explore ideas to help you do more with less.
Partnering for impact
More than half of respondents—56%—said they use outside contractors or agencies. When your team is small, it’s impossible to be an expert in everything. Outsourcing isn’t a weakness—it’s a strategy that will ultimately set you up for success.
For example, PMMI Media Group is really a one-stop shop helping suppliers get multi-channel campaigns deployed to engaged buyers of packaging and processing solutions. In addition to sending your own in-house emails and organic/paid social campaigns, PMMI Media Group partners with you to enhance your in-house marketing efforts, reaching known, verified end-users and targeting those with buying intent.
Think about where your time creates the most value. Maybe your team excels at product storytelling but struggles with SEO or video editing. That’s where an external partner can plug in seamlessly. The key is to treat marketing contractors as part of your team, not just a vendor. Share your goals, your challenges, your “why”, and your metrics. When your partners understand the business context—like how your products help line efficiency or reduce waste—they can tell better stories on your behalf.
Pro Tip: If you only have the budget to outsource one thing, invest where you’ll get the most lift. Our survey found that suppliers use agencies for web design (72%), print and digital design (both 53%), and SEO (51%). Those are all highly technical skills that can free you up to focus on strategy and messaging.
Repurpose to extend reach
Speaking of content, here’s some good news: most manufacturers are already creating a lot of strong foundational content. 74% create video demos and 61% create high-value content like webinars, white papers, and e-books. That’s a goldmine for repurposing.
A single product video can become a short social clip, a blog post, and an email teaser. A white paper can turn into a podcast topic, and that webinar can become multiple LinkedIn posts. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel every month—you just need to keep the wheel spinning.
Idea to Try: Create a “content remix” plan. Each time you publish something new, decide in advance how you’ll reuse it in at least three ways. This not only multiplies your visibility but also keeps your content calendar full without burning out your team.
Tailoring content without adding workload
Staying on the content track, the survey showed most marketers agree that the buyer audience isn’t one-size-fits-all—79% of respondents create customized content by industry. That’s encouraging, but it’s also a reminder of how much work that can be for a small team.
To make it manageable, focus on core messaging that can easily be adapted for each sector you serve. And you guessed it, utilize ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or your preferred generative AI tool to be your assistant. For example, if your product improves efficiency, highlight energy savings for food manufacturers and downtime reduction for pharma packagers. You’re saying the same thing, but with relevance that resonates.
Tip: Keep an “industry translation” sheet for your team and partners—simple language swaps or focus points that help tailor content quickly without rewriting from scratch. In addition, be sure your entire team is using the same brand, product, and persona prompts when using generative AI. This can save you time and ensure consistency.
It’s easy to compare your smaller team to larger marketing departments that have dedicated creative staff and digital strategists. But remember: small teams often move faster, stay closer to their customers, and make smarter use of every dollar.
That’s proof that resourcefulness is the real competitive advantage in this industry.
As packaging and processing suppliers, it seems there’s pressure to do more with less—less time, less staff, less budget. But small doesn’t mean limited. With a focused strategy, the right partners, and a smart approach to content and automation, your marketing team can make a powerful impact.
If your team is two people wearing 10 hats, know that you’re not behind—you’re right where most of your industry peers are. The difference maker isn’t size—it’s creativity, focus, and a willingness to adapt.
