digital

Digital Marketing for Small Businesses: A Strategy So Simple, Even Your Dog Could Do It (But Maybe Let’s Stick to You)

by with No Comment Digital MarketingSmall Business

You’ve got a small business. You’ve got passion. You’ve got great products or services. What you don’t have? A digital marketing strategy that doesn’t make you want to throw your laptop out the window. Don’t worry—digital marketing doesn’t have to be some mystical art practiced by basement-dwelling SEO wizards and ad-buying gurus. In fact, I’m here to give you a step-by-step plan so easy, you’ll wonder why you ever thought of hiring that “marketing expert” who kept using the word “synergy” way too much.

1. Know Your Audience (Hint: It’s Not “Everyone”)

First things first: Who’s your audience? If your answer is “everyone,” stop right there. Because unless you’re selling oxygen, you’re not marketing to everyone. Narrow it down. Who actually wants what you’re offering? If you’re selling artisanal gluten-free dog biscuits, you’re not targeting hardcore carnivores with no pets. Think about age, interests, location, and why people would need your product. Be specific. “Moms who love yoga” is better than “people who breathe air.”

Pro tip: Avoid saying your target audience is “people who need money.” That’s called the entire population.

2. Get Social (But Please, Not All at Once)

Social media is great and all, but here’s the thing: you do not need to be on every single platform. Unless you have the time and energy of a 19-year-old TikTok star hopped up on Red Bull, focus on one or two channels that make sense for your business. If you’re a wedding photographer, Instagram is your friend. Selling accounting software? LinkedIn might be more your vibe. Trying to sell handmade soaps? Probably not Twitter.

Pick your platforms wisely. Otherwise, you’ll end up posting half-baked content on five different platforms and wondering why no one’s buying your stuff. (Spoiler: It’s because you’re spreading yourself thinner than butter on toast at a 1920s Great Depression-themed dinner.)

3. Content is King (But Don’t Let It Be Boring)

Now, let’s talk content. You’ve heard the phrase “Content is king,” and while that’s true, it’s only king if your content doesn’t make people fall asleep faster than a PowerPoint presentation on corporate tax law.

Create content that your audience actually cares about. Post tips, tutorials, behind-the-scenes looks at your business, funny memes (if appropriate), and even the occasional selfie of you stress-eating your fifth coffee of the day. People like stories. They like personality. They don’t like constant sales pitches.

Mix it up. If all you’re doing is screaming “BUY MY STUFF” in all caps, people are going to unfollow you faster than they clicked “like” in the first place.

4. Email is Not Dead (But It Can Be If You Do It Wrong)

Remember when everyone said email was dead? Yeah, they lied. Email marketing is very much alive and kicking. But here’s the deal: If you’re just spamming people with weekly updates on your “exciting new deals,” your emails will end up in the junk folder next to that Nigerian prince offering $10 million.

Instead, send emails that matter. Share helpful content, exclusive deals, and sneak peeks that make your subscribers feel special. Make them feel like they’re in a cool club, not stuck on some spam list that never lets them go. Oh, and throw in a catchy subject line. “Our October Newsletter” won’t cut it.

5. SEO: Not as Scary as It Sounds (But Yes, You Should Care)

SEO, aka Search Engine Optimization, sounds like something only nerds in glasses with five monitors understand. But relax, it’s not that deep (unless you want it to be). At its core, SEO is just making sure your website is set up so Google doesn’t forget you exist.

Start with the basics. Use keywords that actually reflect what your business does. If you’re a baker in Brooklyn, “Brooklyn bakery” should probably appear on your website (shocking, I know). Write good, clear product descriptions, make sure your site loads faster than a snail, and for the love of all that’s holy, be mobile-friendly. People search on their phones. A lot.

You don’t need to hire a $5,000-a-month SEO guru to rank on Google. You just need to make sure your website isn’t a hot mess.

6. Ads Are Your Friend (But Don’t Blow the Whole Budget)

Running ads doesn’t have to mean burning through your entire savings account. Facebook and Google Ads can be surprisingly affordable, but only if you know how to play the game. Start small. Set a daily budget that won’t have you crying when you check your credit card bill.

Test different ads and see what works. Are people clicking more on that ad with the picture of your product, or the one where you’re awkwardly trying to smile in a headshot? Once you figure out what works, double down on it.

And remember: You’re a small business, not Nike. No need to spend like you’re trying to advertise in the Super Bowl.

7. Analyze, Adjust, Repeat (Because Guesswork Isn’t a Strategy)

The best part about digital marketing? You can actually see what’s working and what isn’t. Tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, and email open rates give you real-time feedback. If no one’s clicking on your ads, it’s not because people hate you (hopefully). It’s because something isn’t clicking (pun intended).

Don’t be afraid to adjust. Your first ad campaign probably won’t go viral. Your first Instagram post won’t get a million likes (unless you’ve got a dog or a baby doing something adorable, in which case, post that immediately). Marketing is trial and error. The key is to keep tweaking and testing until you hit your stride.

In Conclusion: Keep It Simple, Genius

Digital marketing doesn’t have to be a soul-sucking black hole of confusion. It’s really just about knowing who you’re talking to, putting yourself out there in a way that feels real, and using the tools at your disposal. Don’t overthink it. Don’t try to be everywhere and everything.

Stick to the basics: find your audience, create content they actually want to see, and measure your success. Oh, and don’t forget to have a little fun along the way. Because if digital marketing makes you want to scream into the void, you’re doing it wrong.

 

 

Welcome to Nest-Egg Digital – where we’re not just building businesses, we’re building sustainable growth through proven marketing strategies.

Have questions? Want to learn more about what we can do SPECIFICALLY for your business? Book a 30-minute Discovery Call with Angela, our Founder & CEO.

 

 

broken

The Funniest Marketing Fails (and What You Should Do Instead)

by with No Comment Digital MarketingSmall Business

Marketing is tricky business. One minute, you’re thinking you’ve got the next big idea, and the next, you’ve accidentally gone viral—for all the wrong reasons. Every small business owner has made mistakes (if you haven’t, are you even trying?), but some marketing blunders are so bad, they’re actually hilarious. The best part? There’s always a lesson to learn.

So, let’s take a walk through the Hall of Marketing Shame and laugh at some epic fails—then talk about what you should actually be doing.

1. The “Accidental” Insult

Some businesses think they’re being edgy or clever with their marketing. But instead, they end up insulting their audience. Take the infamous slogan from a diet candy company in the 1970s called Ayds (yes, really). Their slogan? “Lose weight with Ayds.” You can imagine how well that aged after the 1980s.

What to do instead: Humor is great, but know your audience, and make sure your clever slogan doesn’t become tone-deaf, offensive, or unintentionally hilarious for the wrong reasons. Before committing to anything, show it to a few different people (and maybe Google it) to make sure there’s no weird double meaning waiting to bite you.

2. The Forgotten Proofread

Typos happen. We get it. But sometimes, a typo can turn an innocent ad into a cringeworthy disaster. Take the UK tourism ad that proudly announced, “See England’s best bitch!” They meant “beach.” Or the restaurant that accidentally offered a “free crab in your soup,” which sounds more like a health hazard than a good deal.

What to do instead: For the love of all things marketing, proofread. Then proofread again. Then have your neighbor, your spouse, and maybe even your dog give it one last look before you hit “publish.” Trust me, a quick once-over can save you from looking like a middle schooler who never learned the difference between “their,” “they’re,” and “there.”

3. The “Just Steal a Stock Photo” Approach

We’ve all seen the businesses that just grab a stock photo without looking too closely. The result? You’ve got companies advertising their “authentic family restaurant” with photos of paid models who look like they’ve never seen a kitchen before. Even worse is when companies accidentally use the same stock photo as their competition. Nothing says “we care” like slapping the same generic family picture on two different websites.

What to do instead: Take your own photos. Or, if you’re using stock, make sure it actually fits your brand. And please, PLEASE make sure no one else is using the same image for their bakery down the street. Authenticity is king in small business marketing—if customers smell stock-photo laziness, they’re going to wonder what else you’re cutting corners on.

4. Hashtag Horrors

Ah, hashtags. Such innocent little things that can blow up in your face if you’re not careful. Case in point: In 2012, #McDStories was meant to be a fun way for people to share positive McDonald’s memories. Instead, Twitter exploded with horror stories of food poisoning, bad service, and general McDisasters. It was the social media version of lighting a dumpster on fire.

What to do instead: Before you launch a hashtag, think it through. Could this be hijacked by trolls? Could people misunderstand the point? If there’s even a slight chance that people will use it against you, rethink your approach. Choose hashtags that can’t be easily twisted into a meme of regret.

5. “The Google Translate Special”

We’ve all seen those international marketing disasters where a slogan just doesn’t translate well. Like when Coors tried to bring their “Turn it Loose” campaign to Spain and accidentally translated it to mean, “Suffer from Diarrhea.” Not exactly the thirst-quencher they were going for.

What to do instead: If you’re expanding your small business internationally (good for you!), hire a professional translator. Google Translate may be free, but it’s also the fastest way to turn your product into a joke. Cultural context matters, and your witty English tagline might be a literal disaster in another language.

6. The Logo That’s… Uh… What?

Bad logos are a goldmine for marketing fails. Remember the 2012 London Olympics logo? It looked more like an awkward puzzle of random shapes than an international sporting event. Worse, some people thought it looked suspiciously like a certain adult-themed image. Then there are logos that look fine until you see them embroidered on uniforms or signs. One unfortunate Brazilian Institute of Oriental Studies logo still haunts the internet because it unintentionally looks like… well, Google it if you dare.

What to do instead: Logos are important, but don’t rush it. Test it. Look at it from different angles, on different products, and in different contexts. And, you know, maybe ask a few people, “Does this look like anything weird to you?” The last thing you want is for your logo to become a meme on Reddit.

7. The Sale No One Can Understand

Sometimes, businesses go wild with their marketing promotions—so wild, that no one understands what the heck the deal even is. We’ve all seen those “Buy Two, Get One 50% Off If You Buy On Tuesdays and Spin Around Twice” promotions. Or the classic “Everything Must Go!” signs that somehow stick around for two years.

What to do instead: Keep it simple. If your sale requires a PhD to understand, you’ve lost your audience. Clear, easy-to-understand promotions work best. “Buy One, Get One Free” or “20% Off Everything” are your friends. If your customers need a calculator or an Excel spreadsheet to figure out what they’re saving, you’re doing it wrong.

8. Over-Promising, Under-Delivering

We’ve all been lured in by marketing promises that sound too good to be true. And when they are? Cue the disappointed customers. One classic fail was a UK grocer’s Christmas ad promising the best festive meal ever. The reality? The meal looked like something that had been defrosted after a decade in the freezer. Cue outrage, disappointment, and some very bad reviews.

What to do instead: Under-promise and over-deliver. It’s the golden rule of marketing. If you’re going to promise something, make sure you can actually deliver on it. Otherwise, you’ll end up with more bad reviews than a one-star hotel with “complimentary bedbugs.”

Marketing is a Comedy of Errors (But It Doesn’t Have to Be Yours)

Marketing mistakes happen to the best of us. But the key is to learn from them—and more importantly, to laugh at them before they destroy your reputation. Proofread, plan, and for the love of your business, think before you launch.

 

Welcome to Nest-Egg Digital – where we’re not just building businesses, we’re building sustainable growth through proven marketing strategies.

Have questions? Want to learn more about what we can do SPECIFICALLY for your business? Book a 30-minute Discovery Call with Angela, our Founder & CEO.

 

 

strstegy

Is It Time to Hire a Marketing Agency? (Or Are You Just Out of Coffee Again?)

by with No Comment 'YDKWYDK' SeriesDigital MarketingSmall Business

You’ve built your small business from the ground up. You’ve done everything from accounting to customer service to accidentally breaking the copy machine that one time (it’s still making that weird noise, by the way). You even dabble in marketing, because hey, how hard could it be? And for a while, it works. But then, the cracks start to show. Maybe your social media posts are getting fewer likes than your cousin’s cat memes. Maybe your website traffic has all the excitement of a tumbleweed rolling through the desert. Or maybe you’re just so deep in marketing jargon that you’re not sure if “SEO” is a thing or the name of your new Wi-Fi router.

So, how do you know when it’s time to hire a marketing agency? Here are some very scientific signs that you might want to bring in the pros before you spontaneously combust (again, it might just be a caffeine issue, but let’s check).

1. You’ve Been “Working on Your Website” Since 2016

Ah, the “under construction” website. It’s a rite of passage for any small business. You started strong—maybe you even bought a domain name with something catchy like greatbiz.com instead of the dreaded greatbiz123.net. But now, it’s been six years, and your website still looks like a Geocities fan page from 1999. It has one product page, no working links, and your logo is pixelated beyond recognition.

You’ve promised yourself you’ll finish it… next month. But deep down, you know it’s never going to happen. You’ve even considered bribing your 15-year-old niece to fix it (she seems to know everything about the internet anyway).

Time to hire an agency if: You’ve changed your website’s launch date more times than a Hollywood movie with bad test screenings. Agencies can take that half-baked WordPress disaster and turn it into something you won’t be ashamed to show your customers.

2. Your Social Media Strategy Is Just… Posting Things

Let’s talk social media. You had big plans. Instagram was going to be your visual masterpiece, Facebook was where you’d build a community, and Twitter, X, whatever —well, you’d figure that one out later. But somewhere along the way, your strategy turned into, “Post when I remember,” and “Maybe use hashtags, but who really knows?”

Your posts have no theme, no schedule, and no life. That one time you accidentally posted a picture of your lunch to your business account? Yeah, it got more likes than anything else you’ve done in six months. You’re pretty sure you don’t even know what a “social media strategy” is anymore. At this point, your followers are just your mom, your best friend, and some random bots trying to sell you sunglasses.

Time to hire an agency if: Your social media looks like it was curated by someone who just discovered the internet. Agencies can give you a real strategy, complete with engaging posts, actual growth, and—wait for it—a reason for people to follow you.

3. You Think “SEO” Stands for “Somebody Else’s Obligation”

Search Engine Optimization: the mystical art of making Google like you. You’ve heard it’s important. You’ve even tried to understand it. But every time you read an SEO guide, it’s like falling into a black hole of keywords, backlinks, and algorithms. You’ve convinced yourself that SEO is just a conspiracy theory invented by marketing nerds to make you feel inferior.

Now, your business shows up on page 15 of Google’s search results, right next to conspiracy blogs about Bigfoot and “How to survive the robot apocalypse.” You’re starting to think that maybe your website should show up before your cousin’s hobby blog about homemade jam.

Time to hire an agency if: You’ve given up trying to understand SEO and are just praying that Google will take pity on you. Agencies know how to speak the language of search engines and can get your business on the first page, where the actual humans are.

4. You Spend More Time Designing Flyers Than Running Your Business

Flyers are a marketing staple. You thought it’d be easy—just throw together a little design on your laptop and print out a few hundred copies at the local print shop, right? Wrong. Six hours later, you’re arguing with the font options in Microsoft Word and crying over stock photo options of people looking way too happy about salad.

You finally finish it and hand out your masterpieces, only to realize you misspelled your own business name. Twice.

Time to hire an agency if: Your graphic design skills peaked in 8th grade when you made that “lost dog” poster. Agencies have real designers who can create beautiful, error-free flyers that won’t make you want to punch your laptop.

5. You’re Running Ads, But Have No Idea What You’re Actually Paying For

So, you dipped your toes into the world of online ads. Good for you! But now you’re looking at your credit card statement and wondering if Google is charging you by the hour like some kind of shady motel. You’ve set up an ad campaign, but when you check your results, it looks like you’ve paid for exactly zero clicks. You’re starting to think your ads are just floating around in cyberspace, aimlessly waiting for someone—anyone—to click.

Time to hire an agency if: Your ad budget has mysteriously evaporated, but your phone is still silent. A good marketing agency can create ad campaigns that actually target your audience and give you real results (and won’t leave you crying into your coffee).

6. Your Marketing Plan Is Basically Just Hope and Prayers

Do you have a marketing plan? Or do you just throw things at the wall and hope something sticks? (Spoiler alert: that’s not a strategy.) If your entire plan consists of vague ideas like “post on social media” or “run a sale when things get slow,” then you might be in trouble.

Sure, hope is a great thing, but as a small business owner, you need more than hope to get by. You need an actual, actionable marketing plan that helps you grow, attract new customers, and keep the ones you’ve got.

Time to hire an agency if: You’re still treating marketing like a game of darts in the dark. Agencies will give you structure, a clear plan, and the ability to actually measure whether your marketing is working or just making you feel productive.

7. You’re Spending More Time Googling Marketing Terms Than Actually Marketing

“Wait, what’s a CTA again?” “What’s the difference between organic and paid traffic?” “Is a funnel something I can use in my kitchen?” If these are the kinds of things you find yourself Googling at 2 a.m., you might be out of your depth.

Instead of spending half your life trying to decode marketing terms that sound like they came from a sci-fi movie, maybe it’s time to call in the professionals. They already speak the language, and they’ll translate it into something that actually works for your business.

Time to hire an agency if: You’ve spent more time reading marketing blogs than actually doing any marketing.

The Conclusion? Call the Pros (Before You Lose It)

Look, running a small business is hard enough without trying to become a full-time marketing expert on top of it. At some point, the best thing you can do is admit that maybe, just maybe, you’re not a marketing wizard—and that’s okay! That’s what marketing agencies are for.

So, if any of the above signs sound painfully familiar, it’s time to bring in the big guns. Let the pros handle your marketing so you can focus on what you do best—running your business, keeping customers happy, and maybe even getting a full night’s sleep for once.

Because if you’re still Googling “how to SEO my Facebook,” it’s time for some outside help. Seriously.

 

 

Welcome to Nest-Egg Digital – where we’re not just building businesses, we’re building sustainable growth through proven marketing strategies.

Have questions? Want to learn more about what we can do SPECIFICALLY for your business? Book a 30-minute Discovery Call with Angela, our Founder & CEO.

 

 

marketing

The Best Free Online Marketing Resources for Small Business Owners (AKA: How to Market Like a Pro Without Selling a Kidney)

by with No Comment Digital MarketingSmall Business

As a small business owner, you know that marketing is important—like, “make or break your business” important. But let’s be real. You’re not exactly swimming in extra cash to throw at marketing experts, fancy tools, or paid courses. You probably break into a cold sweat just thinking about spending $50 on Facebook ads.

But guess what? You don’t have to sell your left kidney to get your marketing on track. There’s a magical land out there called “the internet,” and it’s filled with free resources. Yes, FREE, as in zero dollars, no strings attached, and no monthly subscription you’ll forget to cancel.

Let’s dive into the best free online marketing resources that will help you grow your business—and keep your organs right where they are.

1. Google Analytics: The Stalker You Actually Want

Ever wonder who’s visiting your website, what they’re doing there, or why they left without buying anything (because, rude)? Enter Google Analytics. It’s like Big Brother but without the dystopian vibes—just helpful, creepy insights into how people are interacting with your website.

With Google Analytics, you can track who’s visiting, where they’re from, how long they stayed, and what pages made them yeet right off your site. And the best part? It’s totally free. All you need to do is install a bit of code on your website, and BOOM, you’ve got the ultimate digital spy on your team.

Why you need it: Because guessing what your audience wants is so 2005.

2. Canva: Where All Your Ugly Graphics Go to Die

You’re not a graphic designer, but you need visuals for your business. So, what do you do? You fire up Microsoft Paint and create a monstrosity that makes your website look like a middle school art project gone wrong. Please, for the sake of all things visually appealing, stop.

Canva to the rescue! Canva is a free design tool that lets you create professional-looking graphics without needing a degree in design. Want to make an Instagram post? They’ve got templates for that. Need a new logo? Yep, they can help with that too. Canva is basically graphic design on training wheels, and we’re not judging.

Why you need it: Because “DIY” should not stand for “Disaster In Yellow.”

3. Google My Business: The Free Billboard You Didn’t Know You Needed

Small business owners, meet your new best friend: Google My Business (GMB). Ever notice those businesses that show up at the top of Google when you search for a local pizza place or dog groomer? That could be YOU. GMB is free and gets your business in front of local customers, complete with reviews, maps, and all the essential info.

Setting it up is like putting up a free digital billboard—except this one won’t cost you thousands of dollars and get tagged by graffiti artists.

Why you need it: Because if your business doesn’t exist on Google, does it even exist at all?

4. Mailchimp: The Friendly Monkey Who Delivers Your Emails

Remember that time you sent a group email to 500 people and forgot to BCC them? Yeah, we all make mistakes. But with Mailchimp, you can avoid being that person ever again. This free email marketing tool lets you send beautifully designed emails to your entire list—without giving away everyone’s email addresses in the process.

Mailchimp also offers analytics so you can see who opened your email, who clicked, and who immediately deleted it because you used the subject line “Exciting Newsletter!” (hint: try something more exciting than the word “exciting”).

Why you need it: Because sending marketing emails from your personal Gmail account is so amateur hour.

5. HubSpot’s Marketing Hub Free Tools: The Swiss Army Knife of Marketing

If you want to dip your toes into the world of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) without paying enterprise prices, HubSpot’s got your back. Their free marketing tools let you do everything from tracking customer interactions to building landing pages to managing social media—all in one handy-dandy dashboard.

It’s like giving your marketing a full-on system upgrade without having to install a single piece of overpriced software. It also has a nice, friendly interface that won’t make you feel like you need an IT degree just to figure it out.

Why you need it: Because running your business on Post-it notes and your mom’s Rolodex is not a sustainable system.

6. AnswerThePublic: For When You’re Out of Content Ideas and Desperately Googling for Inspiration

If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen, trying to think of anything to write for your blog or social media, AnswerThePublic is about to be your lifesaver. Type in a keyword related to your business, and it’ll show you all the weird and wonderful questions people are searching for around that topic. Instant inspiration!

For example, if you sell shoes, it might show you that people are asking, “Why do my shoes smell like a dead animal?” Now you’ve got content gold: “5 Reasons Your Shoes Smell Like Roadkill and How to Fix It.” You’re welcome.

Why you need it: Because no one wants to read another blog post titled “Why We’re Great.”

7. Buffer: The Social Media Sitter You Wish You Had

Running a small business means you’re juggling about 57 tasks at once. Posting on social media at the right time every day is probably the last thing you want to think about while you’re, you know, actually running your business. Enter Buffer, the tool that schedules your social media posts for you.

It’s like hiring a personal assistant to manage your Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts, except you don’t have to pay them, and they never ask for time off. Just load up your posts, pick the best times to post, and let Buffer handle the rest.

Why you need it: Because staying active on social media shouldn’t require sacrificing your sanity (or your lunch breaks).

8. Ubersuggest: The Free Keyword Tool You’ll Actually Understand

SEO doesn’t have to be scary (or expensive). Ubersuggest is a free keyword tool that helps you figure out which search terms your potential customers are using. Instead of blindly guessing what people are Googling when they’re looking for your services, you’ll know exactly which words to target. It’s like a marketing cheat code.

And don’t worry—you don’t need a PhD in digital marketing to use it. Ubersuggest explains things in plain English, not technical jargon that’ll make you want to cry.

Why you need it: Because SEO is only as useful as your ability to understand what the heck you’re doing.

You Don’t Need a Huge Budget to Market Like a Pro

Marketing doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle against your dwindling bank account. With these free online marketing tools, you can level up your small business without draining your savings or making questionable deals with the universe.

Use them wisely, and you’ll be marketing like a pro in no time. And hey, if things don’t work out, at least you’ll still have both kidneys.

 

 

Welcome to Nest-Egg Digital – where we’re not just building businesses, we’re building sustainable growth through proven marketing strategies.

Have questions? Want to learn more about what we can do SPECIFICALLY for your business? Book a 30-minute Discovery Call with Angela, our Founder & CEO.