08/04/2026
Small businesses don't need every marketing tool in the toolbox, but there are some things they should be doing to capture their audience's attention, build trust, and grow their business successfully.
Here are 25 one-sentence marketing tips for small businesses:
1. Your marketing budget is not an expense, it's an investment.
2. Your brand is more than "just a logo" so invest in the brand foundations and identity.
3. Yes, you need a website even if your brand is primarily contacted through social media.
4. Yes, you need social media even if you brand is primarily contacted through your website.
5. Be good and active in 2-3 marketing channels; more is not "more" if it's done poorly.
6. Claim your social media handles on every platform - even inactive profiles build trust when customers search for you.
7. If your Google Business Profile isn't fully setup with photos and reviews, you're losing customers.
8. Stop wasting money on brand awareness if you don't have an easy and fast way to convert people into paying customers.
9. Video is king on nearly every platform - it drives shares and communicates better than anything else.
10. Set up Google Analytics now to start capturing data - you'll want it later even if you can't interpret it yet.
11. You need to know and measure your LTV (Customer Lifetime Value) and CAC (Customer Acquisition Costs) to ensure your marketing dollars are spent wisely.
12. You don't need every marketing tool but you do need to pay for the right ones (find out more on my website).
13. Small businesses should utilize influencer marketing more.
14. You won't see the results of SEO work overnight; it's an ongoing effort to put you at the top and keep you at the top of search results.
15. The Google Ads algorithm really does take a minimum of 14 days to learn and optimize your campaigns - be patient and don't freak out.
16. If your website doesn't have an AI-friendly FAQ section, your competitors will capture customers using AI search engines instead of you.
17. LinkedIn articles beat posts for SEO because Google can find them while posts stay invisible.
18. Networking is a form of marketing.
19. Consumers are looking for brands that build relationships and connect people with each other.
20. Don't get sentimental about marketing tactics that once worked but don't anymore - cut them and move on.
21. Great customer service turns buyers into repeat customers and free marketing advocates.
22. Manual processes and disconnected tools slow you down and limit your ability to grow.
23. When platforms like Google Ads and Yelp Ads offer you free advertising or BOGO deals, take advantage of it.
24. Your best first hire may be a Marketing Strategist/Marketing Generalist who can see the whole picture vs a marketing specialist who focuses on one piece of the puzzle.
25. Hire a fractional marketing expert.
