If you’re in charge of marketing, you’re expected to deliver results. But apparently, you also need to master brand strategy, know your way around SEO, be fluent in AI, lead campaigns, manage platforms, and think big - all while keeping the website in check.
That's a lot for anyone...
But when you don’t have the access or tools to make changes quickly, even simple updates become a blocker. The pressure builds - and explaining those bottlenecks to stakeholders can be harder than fixing them.
We speak to marketers every week who are facing the same thing: dev queues, clunky CMS setups, or vague requests like “Can’t we just move that button there?”
Here’s what they’re telling us (from our Voices of Business Survey):
“It takes too long to make even simple updates.”
“We’re held back by a CMS that isn’t intuitive.”
“Our dev resource is limited - and prioritised elsewhere.”
“We know the site needs work, but we’re stuck in the day-to-day.”
In almost every case, the real issue is website autonomy. Not the lack of ideas, or even resource - but a setup that wasn’t designed to let marketers move at speed.
Here are five ways to start changing that.
Five Ways to Lighten the Load (That You Can Start Today)
1. Surface the Tools You Already Have
Many websites are more capable than they appear - they just haven’t been configured to support the marketing team.
In WordPress, custom blocks and structured fields can give you full control of landing pages, CTAs, and messaging. In Shopify, sections and metafields allow you to edit content visually without needing code. But if those features are buried in a confusing interface or locked behind a dev login, they’re not helping.
What to do now:
Ask your agency or dev team for a walkthrough of what you can edit safely. Request a simple CMS cheat sheet showing which areas are editable - and which aren’t. That alone can save hours of trial and error. If you spot any gaps, flag them for your next sprint or dev phase. Most are quick fixes that make a lasting difference.
2. Identify the Blockers That Actually Matter
Not all dependencies are bad - but the ones that interrupt your flow every week need attention.
Think about the last few changes you’ve delayed, handed off, or skipped altogether. What stopped them?
What to do now:
Make a quick list of 5–10 updates you’ve needed recently. Are they layout tweaks? Form edits? Swapping copy or links? These patterns reveal where autonomy is missing. A good developer or support partner can help you solve those issues without overhauling the whole site.
3. Make the Browser Your Workspace
Old-school site workflows often keep marketers at arm’s length - waiting for a dev to upload content or push live updates. That’s not sustainable when you’re running multiple campaigns or responding to fast-changing priorities.
Modern CMS setups should let you test, preview, and publish safely - ideally in a staging or live preview environment. That means less waiting, fewer tickets, and more momentum.
What to do now:
Check if your site already supports live preview or staging. If not, ask what it would take to implement. Often, it’s just a matter of switching on functionality that already exists. Real-time editing gives you the confidence to move quickly - and the freedom to trial ideas before launch.
4. Rethink Access — Not Ownership
You don’t need full admin rights to have autonomy. You just need the right level of access.
Too often, teams default to a “don’t touch that” setup - either from habit or fear of breaking things. But autonomy isn’t about replacing developers. What we're talking about here is creating a clearly defined space where marketing can operate without unnecessary barriers.
What to do now:
Review your CMS permissions. Could you be granted editing access to specific sections, templates or modules? Can routine updates be made safer through version control or restricted editing areas? Often, it’s not a technical limitation - it’s a process that needs rethinking.
5. Make Autonomy Part of the Brief
The teams that benefit most from autonomy are the ones who design for it deliberately - not as an afterthought.
If you’re planning a rebuild or a new sprint of improvements, define what autonomy means for your team. What changes do you want to make without relying on a developer? Swapping CTAs? Creating landing pages? Updating site copy?
What to do now:
Write down what you wish you could do today without asking someone else. Use that as the starting point for your next project brief. When autonomy is a stated goal, it gets factored into the way your CMS is designed - not just the way it looks.
When marketing teams have to rely on developer input for every small change, progress slows. Campaigns stall. And the website becomes something you work around, rather than something you work with.
Autonomy doesn’t mean cutting out developers, it means having the access, tools, and structure to move at the pace your team needs.
At Bozboz, we work with marketers to define what website autonomy should actually look like for them, then build the systems to support it. That might mean modular content blocks, drag-and-drop layouts, simplified admin areas, or live preview environments. Sometimes, it’s as simple as good documentation and a clear handover process.
However it’s delivered, the result is the same: your team spends less time waiting, and more time driving results.
If you’re still working around bottlenecks - limited CMS access, no dev time, or just too much on your plate, AI can help bridge the gap.
We’ve created a free AI prompt sheet for marketers handling multiple roles. It’s full of practical prompts to support content creation, SEO, campaign planning, and quick wins - even if you’re still waiting on wider access or platform updates.
If your site feels harder to work with than it should be, we’re happy to take a look. Whether you're planning a rebuild or just trying to improve your current setup, we can help you figure out the right next step - without trying to sell you something you don’t need.
No jargon. No pressure. Just practical advice.
If you want to showcase your offering, convert more leads, provide resources, or all of the above, we can build a website that separates you from the competition.
