Get found
Why doesn’t my business show up on Google? Do I really need SEO?
Google needs clear, complete information about what you do, where you do it, and why people should trust you.
Answers for local business owners
Questions.
Straight answers. No fluff.
Real questions about marketing, websites, Google, ads, and growth, so you can make the next move with confidence.
Featured question
Browse questions
Find the question behind the problem.
Start with what has been bugging you. We will give you a useful answer before we ever ask you to care about a service.
What’s working
How do I know if my marketing is actually working?
Track what you can, change one thing at a time, and use the business, not a prettier report, as the scorecard.
Read the answerWhat’s working
My marketing report says we’re doing great. Why doesn’t it feel that way?
Activity can be up while the business is not getting better. The definition of working has to include the business.
Read the answerWebsites & ads
I’m getting clicks and traffic, but it isn’t turning into business.
A click is not a customer. The campaign, page, offer, and phone experience all have to work together.
Read the answerAdvertising
Why am I paying for leads from people who were never going to hire me?
Cheap leads are not always good leads. The systems buying your ads need feedback about which leads become business.
Read the answerAdvertising
Google, Facebook, Instagram, SEO, mailers, radio… where am I actually supposed to advertise?
Most channels can work. The safer move is to start with one useful bet, learn, then add the next piece.
Read the answerGet known
Everybody seems to know my competitor. How do I get known too?
Familiarity is built through repeated public presence, not one magic campaign.
Read the answerWorking together
Marketing people keep talking over my head.
If you cannot understand the recommendation, it is hard to make a good decision about your business.
Read the answerWorking together
I need marketing help, but I don’t want to get burned or hand my business to mystery people.
Start small, know who is doing the work, and keep enough access to understand what is happening.
Read the answerBudget
How much should I spend on marketing?
There is no magic percentage. Start with an amount you can learn from without making the business nervous.
Read the answerWebsites
Do I need a new website?
Maybe, but first find out whether the current site is actually keeping people from understanding, trusting, or contacting you.
Read the answerWhat’s working
How long should I give a marketing campaign before deciding it isn’t working?
Some offers create action quickly; familiarity campaigns take longer. The question is whether the campaign is learning and improving.
Read the answerAsk your question
Not seeing it here?
Send us the question you are trying to answer. We may be able to help directly, and it may make a useful addition to this library.
Still have a question?
Let’s find the answer together.
Tell us what is going on with your business. We will take a look, ask useful questions, and tell you what we see.