10 Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Small Business

What this video covers

This webinar presents 10 marketing methods that do not rely on standard social media posting, which speaker Haley Hoover argues has declining organic reach and rapid post decay. It covers search engine optimization (SEO), long-shelf-life content (blogging, Pinterest, updating old content), local discovery tools (Google My Business), relational networking (coffee dates, strategic partnerships, workshops), and direct retention channels (email marketing and direct mail). Most strategies transfer directly to local brick-and-mortar and service-based small businesses seeking consistent client acquisition.

Best for: Small business owners experiencing social media burnout or low reach; Brick-and-mortar retail and local service providers seeking local foot traffic; B2B and professional services building referral networks; Not intended for brands seeking overnight viral social media visibility

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction & Small Business Program Updates
2. 02:56 Disaster Relief and Financing Resources
3. 06:04 FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirement
4. 12:28 Guest Haley Hoover: Alternative Marketing Introduction
5. 14:00 The Problem with Relying on Instagram & Post Lifespans
6. 21:30 Marketing Mindset & Homework Assignment
7. 30:55 Strategy 1: Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
8. 33:06 Strategy 2: Blogging (Own Site and Guest Posts)
9. 34:11 Strategy 3: Pinterest for Long-Term Traffic
10. 35:49 Strategy 4: Updating Old Content
11. 36:47 Strategy 5: Google My Business Optimization
12. 39:19 Strategy 6: In-Person Coffee Dates
13. 40:03 Strategy 7: Strategic Partnerships
14. 40:43 Strategy 8: Workshops and Events
15. 42:04 Strategy 9: Email Marketing Metrics & Practice
16. 43:28 Strategy 10: Snail Mail and Print Materials
17. 45:10 Audience Q&A and Closing Remarks

Key points

• 17:50 Standard Instagram feed posts reach their engagement peak within 48 hours
• 18:26 Instagram Reels typically cease gaining new organic views after 14 days
• 18:34 Instagram Stories expire and disappear after 24 hours
• 19:16 The average half-life of a Facebook post is under 1.5 hours
• 20:08 The average half-life of a LinkedIn post is roughly 24 hours
• 20:24 The average half-life of a YouTube video is about 8.8 days
• 20:34 The average half-life of a Pinterest pin is just under 4 months
• 20:47 The average half-life of a published blog post is just under two years
• 22:18 Email marketing yields an average return of $36 for every $1 spent
• 22:37 Typical open rates for email marketing campaigns range between 20% and 36%
• 22:53 55% of consumers prefer email as their primary channel for business communication
• 23:01 89% of professional marketers use email as their primary lead-generation channel
• 32:11 Google is the top search engine globally, followed by YouTube in second place

Turn it into a project: Build a Diversified Marketing System Beyond Social Media

Establish marketing channels with longer half-lives than social media posts, focusing on search discovery, local presence, collaborative networking, and direct customer communication.

Phase 1: Define Customer and Solution

1. 25:38 Write down the exact problem your business solves
2. 25:38 Define your ideal customer persona and where they consume information

Phase 2: Build Long-Shelf-Life Digital Assets

1. 31:08 Integrate customer search keywords into website headings and copy
2. 33:11 Draft evergreen blog posts or pitch guest articles to larger publications
3. 35:49 Audit and update existing website content with refreshed keywords
4. 42:25 Pin website and blog links to Pinterest

Phase 3: Maximize Local Search and Partnerships

1. 37:00 Set up a complete Google My Business listing with service keywords and photos
2. 39:19 Schedule coffee meetings with owners of complementary businesses
3. 40:19 Develop collaborative workshops or cross-promotions with partners
4. 46:44 Maintain weekly posting and review monitoring on Google My Business

Phase 4: Deploy Direct Customer Channels

1. 42:04 Set up an email newsletter campaign providing valuable content to subscribers
2. 43:28 Mail handwritten thank-you cards or print brochures to clients

Sign in to Bizer to add this plan to your projects, each task linked to its moment in the video.