Effective marketing doesn’t always require a big budget or a full in-house team. A few smart, simple strategies can help you build your brand, attract new customers, and lay the groundwork for results until you’re ready to scale with a larger team or professional support.
Here are 7 Tips to Help Kickstart Your Marketing
While working with a marketing agency can give you a big advantage, there are plenty of things you can manage on your own, even if you have a small (or one-person) team. These quick, strategies will help you stay visible and give you opportunities to grow your brand. Let’s dive in.
Tip #1: Get Found Online with SEO and AEO
If your customers can’t find you online, they can’t buy from you. That’s why search visibility is critical, across traditional search, Google’s AI Overviews, and with AI assistants like ChatGPT.
Learn the Basics
Use the Right Tools
If your website is on WordPress, install the Yoast SEO plugin. It helps with meta descriptions, titles, readability, and automatically generates structured data to help your site rank.
Tip #2: Invest in a Blog
Blogging is still one of the most powerful ways to boost online visibility and build trust with customers. If you don’t have a blog, start one. If you do, aim to publish new content consistently. Even one or two a month add up over time.
Not sure what to write about? Here are some tips:
- Start with your customers’ most common questions and turn each one into a blog post.
- If you need more ideas, check out Quora or People Also Ask to spark endless topics.
- Write clear, helpful answers to the questions, and you’ll naturally improve both your SEO and AEO.
Tip #3: Start (or Grow) Your Email List
Your email list is one of the most valuable marketing tools your company has. Are you using it?
Start simple: add a signup form to your website. You can offer a discount to encourage signups. Once people join your list, you can stay in touch by:
- Sending a monthly newsletter with offers and updates.
- Sharing your latest blog posts.
- Providing tips about using your products or services.
Tip #4: Use Facebook Ads
Facebook ads can be highly effective, even with smaller budgets. You can target by location, interests, and demographics.
Small first steps you can take:
- Upload your customer email list and create a Lookalike Audience to find similar customers.
- Set a small daily budget so you can test ads without overspending.
Tip #5: Make Videos
Customers love videos. In fact, 89% of people report that watching a video has convinced them to buy a product or service. That’s reason enough to add it to your marketing mix.
Start simple with video content like:
- Product demonstrations
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Customer testimonials
Need some inspiration? Here are eight types of videos that you can use to engage your audience.
Tip #6: Ask for Reviews and Testimonials
Online reviews are a must-have. More than 90% of consumers regularly read at least one review before purchasing a product, and many read several.
Not getting enough? Just ask. Here are some best practices:
- Request a review immediately after a positive experience.
- Share a simple landing page with one clear CTA for a review.
- Provide in-store options for on-the-spot reviews.
Tip #7: Use Local Listings
How does your Google Business Profile stack up? It’s become an essential element of your online presence, but requires some attention to do it right. And it’s worth putting in the work because 80% of local searches lead to conversions.
To get the most from your listing:
- Keep your address, hours, and contact information accurate.
- Add authentic photos to your listing to stand out.
- Share updates and respond to reviews.
A little upkeep here can drive steady, qualified traffic to your company.
Do What You Can, Partner Smart on the Rest
Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. From SEO basics and blogging to reviews, videos, and local listings, these seven strategies can help you grow your brand on your own terms.
But know you don’t have to go it alone. If the technical side feels too daunting or you’re ready to take your marketing to the next level, the inConcert Web Solutions team is here to help. Let’s talk about how we can support your marketing efforts.
