What’s The Best Online Marketing Strategies for a Small Business Right Now?

Patrick McFadden

It’s the best and worst time to be a small business owner.

It’s the best, because business owners are empowered with infinite resources — data, robust tools, and high-yield customer acquisition channels.

But it’s also the worst, because the marketing landscape is more cutthroat than ever — never before has the competition for audience attention been so fierce.

If you want to be good at marketing your business online, then you need to invest the time and resources to do it right. You also need to choose the right channels.

What tactics work best right now?

  • Did you know that for B2B small business owners, case studies are more effective than white papers?
  • Or that LinkedIn is better than Facebook  and  Twitter?
  • Or that SlideShare is second to only one other platform in terms of how its effectiveness is rated by those who use it?

Here’s a study that breaks down how all of the different channels rank in effectiveness. It’s mission-critical information when you’re charting your own online marketing course.

Get the report (no registration required)

You can download Content Marketing Institute’s free report by clicking here:  2014 Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends-North America. And if you’re a small business owner in need of a viable online marketing strategy, download our special report “Marketing Online: The Six Essential Elements to Focus On”  right now   or contact us.

By Patrick McFadden March 31, 2025
1. The Challenge: VMI was like many service providers — positioning their value around what they thought clients wanted : “Office furniture installation and assembly — let us handle creating your perfect workspace.” But the actual buyers — facility managers, project managers, furniture reps — weren’t looking for “perfect workspaces.” They were trying to avoid installation nightmares . Their real priority? ✅ Great installation days. ✅ No chaos. ✅ No missed deadlines. ✅ No angry phone calls from clients. 2. The Insight: After conducting stakeholder interviews under our marketing strategy consulting engagement , the Indispensable Marketing team uncovered critical feedback: “We need installers who maintain a professional site and follow instructions.” “We lose relationships when installations go badly.” “I need quotes back quickly or I can’t sell the job.” This wasn’t just about services , it was about trust, problem-solving , and professional reliability . So we reframed their differentiators not by what they did, but how they showed up : Same-day project quotes Problem-solving on-site Update protocol with clients Professionalism guarantee Lasting Impression Insurance 3. The Shift: We shifted the positioning from vague benefits to real-world, emotional triggers : Instead of: “Let us create your perfect workspace.” Now: “Get the perfect installation day, every time.” That subtle shift aligns with who’s actually buying (and who feels the pain when things go wrong). The end-user may care about the workspace. But the buyer cares about the install . 4. The Lesson for Others: If you’re selling a service, don’t describe what you do. Describe what the client wants to avoid or achieve — and who the real buyer is. Then, systematize what you’re already doing well and give it a name. Just like our team did with: “Same Day Quotes” “Lasting Impression Insurance” “Reliable Presence Protocol” 5. The Outcome Within weeks of updating their messaging and positioning: The company reported more qualified leads asking the right questions Furniture reps began referring them because they were “easy to work with and made them look good” They were shortlisted for larger, multi-phase projects due to increased confidence in their process But most importantly, they stopped competing on price — because they weren’t selling perfect workspaces anymore. They were selling peace of mind on installation day.
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