Gather Communications

05/25/2026

Google just made a massive change to search last week… and it’s going to completely reshape how small businesses get found online.

The businesses that win won’t necessarily have the biggest budgets.

They’ll be the ones building trust, creating helpful content, showing expertise, and feeling human.

05/20/2026

A lot of people think the Instagram algorithm is random or confusing… it’s not.

One of the biggest things Instagram looks at is watch time. If people stay on your video longer, Instagram sees that as valuable content — and starts pushing it to more viewers.

In this video, I break down why retention matters, how the algorithm actually works, and what businesses should focus on if they want more reach organically 👀

05/19/2026

One of the things we value most at Gather is becoming a true extension of the organizations we work with — not just another vendor.

We’re incredibly grateful for the trust from the team at Marin Montessori School and proud to help tell the story of such a special community.

05/18/2026

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to marketing.

For some businesses, hiring in-house makes perfect sense. For others, partnering with an agency gives them access to a full creative and strategic team without the overhead of multiple hires.

The most important thing? Finding people who truly understand your business, your goals, and your community. Marketing works best when it feels like a partnership — not just a service.

05/15/2026

Should you hire a marketing agency… or keep your marketing in-house?

Honestly? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

For some businesses, DIY marketing makes perfect sense. For others, outsourcing creates the consistency, strategy, and freedom needed to grow. Most businesses land somewhere in the middle.

We broke down the real pros and cons of both approaches in our newest blog post — without the sales pitch.

Read it here: https://bit.ly/4tEbx9c

For many small businesses, marketing starts as a DIY effort — and honestly, that makes sense. In the early stages, nobody knows your business better than you do. But as your business grows, marketing often becomes one more thing sitting on an already overloaded plate.

05/14/2026

Want to rank higher on Google Maps without spending money? 📍

Ask employees, friends, family, and loyal customers to search your business on Google Maps and plug in directions to your location.

The more activity Google sees around your business, the more it can help your local visibility.

Simple marketing. Big impact.

05/13/2026

Too many businesses are wasting money on Google Ads without even realizing it.

One of the biggest culprits? Broad match keywords.

More impressions doesn’t always mean better results... especially if the wrong audience is seeing your ads. If your goal is actual conversions, phrase match and exact match can make a huge difference in getting your ads in front of the right people.

Smarter targeting = better clicks, better leads, and better ROI.

04/30/2026

Most small businesses don’t struggle with content… They struggle with what to post next.

That’s where a content calendar changes everything. It turns:

Random ideas → real strategy
Last-minute posts → consistent presence
Guesswork → intentional growth

Because when you have a plan, your marketing stops feeling overwhelming—and starts actually working.

If content has been a stress point for your business, this is for you. We broke it all down in our latest blog 👇

A lot of small business owners assume content planning means hours of brainstorming, complicated spreadsheets, and constant stress trying to keep up. But here’s the truth: when done right, content planning should actually save you time, not take more of it.

04/27/2026

Before ads… before algorithms…

There was word of mouth.

And honestly?
That’s still the goal.

Social media just lets you scale it.

If your content doesn’t feel like something worth sharing… it won’t be.

04/22/2026

If your content feels random… it probably is.

Every strong brand consistently hits 3 types of content:

Trust (reviews, testimonials)
Value (tips, insights)
Personality (behind the scenes, humor)

Miss one, and your marketing feels off.

Nail all three?
That’s when things start clicking.