Marketing Guides for Small Businesses

Is your website ready for the next era of Google? Search is evolving, and the new Google Web Guide—powered by Gemini AI—is rewriting the rules for getting found online. In this episode, the Marketing Guides for Small Business Podcast panelists explain what Google Web Guide is, why Google is taking a more semantic, concept-driven approach, and what it means for your SEO strategy. You’ll learn why c...

The Top Excuses That Kill Your Marketing (and What to Do Instead) What’s REALLY stopping you from marketing your business—and what’s it costing you? Every business owner has heard (or made!) the excuses: “I don’t have time.” “It’s too expensive.” “It didn’t work for me.” But the truth is, those excuses don’t just stall your growth—they hand your future customers to the competition. Before you hit...

The 12 Hottest Marketing Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2025 (And How to Leverage Them) Are you ready for the future of marketing—or will you get left behind? The world of marketing is changing at a breakneck pace, and 2025 is set to redefine how small businesses connect, convert, and grow. Before you dive in, ask yourself: Am I leveraging AI, personalization, and answer engine optimization—or am I st...

THINK LIKE A MARKETER, HIRE LIKE A PRO Are you treating hiring as strategically as you market your services or products? More importantly— is your business attracting the right talent, or repelling them before they even apply? Before you hit play, ask yourself: Would your dream employee be excited to work for your company based on what’s visible on your website, Google listing, and social media to...

LOCAL SEO – A DEEPER DIVE Are you truly leveraging the power of local SEO, or just scratching the surface? This episode takes you beyond the basics—unpacking the strategies, hidden features, and common pitfalls that determine whether your business shows up (or stays invisible) in your local market. Whether you’re a service-area business, brick-and-mortar retailer, or local professional, the rules...

🎙️ Episode 240 – The Top Reasons Your Marketing Isn’t Working—and What to Do About It Is your marketing falling flat? 🚫📉 You’re not alone—and there are real reasons behind it. In this no-fluff episode, the Marketing Guides break down the most common (and costly) marketing mistakes small businesses make—and what you can do right now to fix them. Whether you’re doing it yourself, managing vendors,...

🎙️ Episode 239: 2025 Video Trends — What Small Businesses Must Do to Stay Relevant Video is no longer optional—it’s essential! In this forward-looking episode of Marketing Guides for Small Business , our expert panel explores the emerging video marketing trends for 2025 and what small businesses must do to stay ahead of the curve. From the rise of short-form content to AI-generated video and new d...

🎙️ Episode 238 – Which Marketing Model Is Right for Your Small Business? With so many marketing options out there, how do you know which model fits your business best? In this essential episode, the Marketing Guides break down the pros and cons of today’s most popular marketing delivery models—from hiring in-house staff to working with agencies, managing multiple vendors, or engaging a Fractional...

🎙️ Episode 237 – Empowering Solopreneurs to Build Fulfilling Businesses and Lives Being a solopreneur can feel lonely—but it doesn’t have to be. In this inspiring highlight episode, the Marketing Guides dive into the unique challenges and incredible opportunities that come with running a business of one. From setting smarter goals to creating systems that free up your time, this episode is packed...

🎙️ Episode 236 – Smarter, Not Harder: How AI & Automation Are Revolutionizing Small Business AI and automation aren’t just buzzwords—they’re rapidly transforming how small businesses operate, market, and grow. The question is: Are you keeping up? In this forward-thinking episode, the Marketing Guides explore how artificial intelligence and automation tools are making small businesses more effi...

🎙️ Episode 235 – Building a Community of Brand Advocates Wouldn’t it be amazing if your customers did your marketing for you? In this powerful episode, the Marketing Guides reveal how small businesses can turn satisfied customers into passionate brand advocates—and even build a thriving community around their business. You’ll discover: 👥 What a brand advocate really is—and why you can’t grow with...

🎙️ Episode 234 – Consumer Search Behavior: Where Are Your Customers? Search behavior is changing—but is your business keeping up? In this eye-opening episode, the Marketing Guides break down key insights from BrightLocal’s latest Local Consumer Review Survey and explore where consumers are really searching in 2025. Spoiler alert: Google still dominates—but there’s more to the story. We dig into:...

Welcome to another value-packed episode of the Marketing Guides For Small Business Podcast! This week, Ian Cantle of Outsourced Marketing Inc. and the panel are joined by Skip Adams, a successful Albuquerque-based realtor who’s made waves with his unique approach to digital marketing, branding, and lead generation. If you've ever wondered how a small business can truly leverage YouTube, podcasts,...

How to Think Bigger, Market Smarter, and Grow Faster — with Guy Kawasaki What does it take to thrive in business today, especially when change is the only constant? In this compelling episode of the Marketing Guides For Small Business Podcast, we welcome none other than Guy Kawasaki—legendary evangelist, author, podcaster, and the chief evangelist at Canva. Join hosts Jeff Stec, Ken Tucker, and Pa...

In this episode, the Marketing Guides team answers the top marketing FAQs we hear from small business owners every week. From lead generation to budget planning, social media to SEO, this episode is your go-to guide for getting clarity on the marketing questions that matter most. 📚 Here’s What You’ll Learn: The best ways to generate more leads for your business How to know if your marketing effor...

In this insightful episode, guest expert Erin Perkins joins the Marketing Guides to explore how small businesses can attract more customers by making their marketing more accessible . From website design to email structure and social media content, Erin walks us through practical strategies that make a difference—and increase customer loyalty and visibility at the same time. 📚 Here’s What You’ll...

🎙️ Episode Description: Why Frequently Asked Questions Are a Goldmine for Your Business This week on the Marketing Guides For Small Business Podcast, Ken Tucker, Jeff Stec, and Paul Barthel dig deep into one of the most overlooked marketing assets for small businesses: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)! Discover why FAQs—and the lesser-known Should-Ask Questions (SAQs)—aren’t just for your website...

The cookie crumbles!  Third-party cookies are on their way out. In this episode of the Marketing Guides for Small Businesses Podcast, learn how to navigate the cookieless future & build a killer first-party data strategy for your business.

Is AI replacing human marketers?  Nope! Our marketing guides experts discuss how AI is enhancing human skills, boosting productivity, & personalizing customer experiences.

🎥 Episode 228: About The YouTube Algorithm – Demystifying YouTube for Small Business Growth Ever wondered how the YouTube algorithm really works—and how YOU can use it to grow your small business? In this episode, the Marketing Guides for Small Business team dives deep behind the curtain of YouTube’s latest algorithm strategies, including AI-driven personalization, metadata, YouTube Shorts, analy...

🎙️ Is the Sales Funnel Dead? Unpacking Today’s Buyer’s Journey Marketing Guides For Small Business – Episode 227 In this episode, the Marketing Guides team tackles a hot topic that every small business owner needs to understand: Is the traditional sales funnel still relevant, or has the digital age—and the “messy middle”—changed everything about the way people buy? With the explosion of buyer choi...

We know that marketing can feel overwhelming—there are so many strategies, tactics, and platforms to choose from. But what if you could sit down with a group of marketing experts and ask them your biggest questions? In this episode, we’re tackling the most common marketing questions we hear from small business owners—everything from ‘How do I know if my marketing is working?’ to ‘What’s the fastes...

🎙️ Unlocking the Power of CRM for Small Businesses 🎙️ CRMs are no longer just contact databases —they’ve evolved into powerful business growth tools that streamline sales, marketing, and customer service . But what exactly does a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system mean to your business? In this episode, our marketing experts break down the myths, benefits, and real-world applications of...

In this episode, we speak with Rand Fishkin, CEO and Co-Founder of SparkToro, former co-founder and CEO of Moz, co-founder of  Inbound.org , and author of the book “Lost and Founder.” We discuss important SEO topics and trends, including his 2024 Zero-Click Search Study

🎙️ Future-Proof Your Small Business Marketing with AI! 🎙️ AI is no longer a tool for big corporations—it’s revolutionizing small business marketing right now . If you’re not already using AI in your marketing strategy, you’re falling behind. In this episode, we dive into the real-world applications of AI for small businesses and show you exactly how to use AI to drive growth, save time, and reduce...