February 28, 2020
Ten things you can do to boost awareness of your business within your locale and get more customers through your doors.
February 26, 2020
March is upon us and we have a fresh list of marketing and promotion ideas for your small business! Use these ideas to spread the word […]
January 13, 2020
Learn how to set up a customer loyalty program so that both your business and customers can experience the benefits.
December 12, 2019
Use these simple promotion ideas across a variety of channels to get more customers this holiday season!
November 28, 2019
Get more email opens with these attractive subject line examples—for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and more!
November 25, 2019
In this episode of the Found Bytes podcast, Ignitor Digital cofounders Carrie Hill and Mary Bowling share what service area businesses can do with their website and Google My Business profile to increase their local search visibility.
November 19, 2019
Browse through a diverse range of deal and offer ideas to attract shoppers to your business on Small Business Saturday.
November 18, 2019
Learn how to create an effective marketing plan to engage your audience and promote your business on Small Business Saturday.
November 11, 2019
Promotion ideas and digital tools to help you get noticed on Small Business Saturday.
August 16, 2019
10 fall and september-themed ways to promote your business this September!
August 15, 2019
This week on Found Bytes, David Mihm invites Will Scott, CEO and Co-founder of Search Influence, to share insights from his decades of experience in digital […]
August 2, 2019
This week on Found Bytes, David Mihm invites Cindy Krum, CEO and Founder of MobileMoxie LLC, to talk about mobile marketing, local SEO, and how Google […]
July 26, 2019
Monica Ho, CMO of SOCi, a leader in social and reputation management, recently invited me to share my perspective on SOCi’s new LSM Benchmarking report, which […]
July 25, 2019
Note: Found Bytes is produced for the ear and designed to be heard. If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio […]
June 27, 2019
Note: Found Bytes is produced for the ear and designed to be heard. If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio […]
June 21, 2019
Happy official first day of summer! Among the sun and the sand and the backyard barbeque, one of the best bits of summer is refreshing your […]
June 18, 2019
Google Tag Manager (or GTM) is one of those “hidden gem” bits of functionality that can make your marketing analytics way more digestible. But the learning […]
June 13, 2019
Did you know 85% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation? And, 49% of consumers say a business needs at least a […]
June 12, 2019
Note: Found Bytes is produced for the ear and designed to be heard. If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio […]
June 2, 2019
Small business owners often have a tight marketing budget. This can be tricky for when you’re trying to promote your business. While you’re figuring out your budget, there […]
May 30, 2019
Note: Found Bytes is produced for the ear and designed to be heard. If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio […]
May 23, 2019
When it comes to local businesses, online reviews (and specifically Google My Business profile reviews) are King and Queen. In fact, 9 out of 10 people […]
May 22, 2019
Note: Found Bytes is produced for the ear and designed to be heard. If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio […]
May 16, 2019
Simple yet effective tactics we recommend to attract people to your business without breaking the bank.
May 10, 2019
As National Small Business Week comes to a close, we thought this would be a great time to talk about engaging in your larger community. Engaging […]
May 8, 2019
Now that you have your promotions underway, it’s time to talk about showing some love to the most essential part of any business: your customer. Your […]
May 6, 2019
Happy National Small Business Week! Go ahead and give yourselves a pat on the back for all the hard work you’ve done to build your business. […]
April 4, 2019
Ways to promote a new product or service for small businesses to get new customers and sell more.
March 1, 2019
Sales promotion examples and activities that you can use to promote your small business.
January 21, 2019
Adding a location to Facebook improves a business's visibility and helps customers locate you. Here's how to add a location to Facebook posts, photos, & mobile.
January 18, 2019
Use these 7 tips to get your business to show up in top results for local and maps searches.
January 16, 2019
Google My Business. This free tool is gaining importance but do you know how to use it successfully? Google is always changing, and Google My Business […]
November 13, 2018
Business growth contributes to longevity. This is especially true in the case of small businesses, 70% of which don’t survive their tenth year in business (Source: […]
August 17, 2018
This post was written February 23, 2016 and updated August 27, 2018
July 16, 2018
As a small business owner, you want to stand out from the pack. Having a well-known brand or business name is important in finding and retaining loyal customers. […]
July 3, 2018
Years ago when people wanted to find a particular business in their area, they would go to the Yellow Pages. Today, people have set aside those […]
May 31, 2018
Are you just about ready to launch your brand new business, open your relocated store, or add on another location? If so, you need to […]
May 29, 2018
The opening of your small business is a momentous occasion deserving of a full-fledged celebration. Are you thinking of holding a grand opening party? If so, […]
May 21, 2018
In today’s day and age, a time of stifling competition, it is essential that businesses stand out. This holds even truer for small businesses, who are […]
May 15, 2018
If you’re like most business owners, you’re looking for ways to improve awareness and get your business recognized in your local market. Facebook is an effective way […]
January 24, 2018
Are you looking for a business partner? Are you interested in forming a partnership with another business? Are you on the hunt for new clients? Or […]
January 14, 2018
There are so many different outlets to get your business “out there” into the online world, which is so very important these days. Listings, Local pages and Social Media are just a few of the many options. Maybe you have a website, but what else are you using to get noticed? What do you need to excel? What can you do to be the best? Get started building your online presence with three easy tools...
November 15, 2017
Word-of-mouth marketing is not something that happens by chance. Different than naturally-occurring word-of-mouth, this form of marketing is prompted, guided and encouraged by businesses. How can […]
November 1, 2017
Marketing your business is no easy task. The online world is vast and overwhelming. Put the two together, and online marketing becomes a monster that you […]
October 11, 2017
Did you know consumers use online listings as their primary source for deciding which business to buy from? If consumers don’t have the correct information about your company, they won’t be able to reach you. Updating your online listings ensures that your business details are complete and accurate throughout the web, no matter where your customers may find them...
September 18, 2017
The value of good press is undeniable: improved website traffic, loyal client base, new customers, and an edge over your competitors. It’s no wonder top brands […]
September 8, 2017
Contests make for successful social media campaigns because they can help facilitate a number of goals. They can help you to find new followers and customers, keep […]
August 29, 2017
A great way for your small business to increase social media engagement, get more followers, and attract new customers is to run an Instagram contest or […]
July 3, 2017
Independence Day, or the 4th of July, is the most important (and fun!) holiday of the summer. All businesses big and small can connect with their […]
July 1, 2017
July is here and we have some marketing and blog ideas to heat up your marketing efforts. Don’t just dip your toe in the marketing waters […]
June 21, 2017
Once you’ve achieved a level of success within your small business and feel prepared to open yourself to the advantages—and challenges—of expanding your brand, you will […]
June 12, 2017
The benefits of going green as a business right now are manifold. Eco-friendly practices used by canny business owners are not only showing strong results on […]
June 7, 2017
The idiosyncrasies of small business operation make achievement rewarding, but the slow progress and complications encountered along the way can propagate a negative mindset that is […]
June 6, 2017
Businesses across the country are making efforts to become more eco-friendly. Choosing to be more eco-friendly not only helps the climate, but also the productivity of […]
June 6, 2017
If you’re like most business owners, you started small—very small. When you were first starting out it might have been just you. Then you may have […]
May 31, 2017
Having a big sign on a busy physical location used to be enough to attract potential customers to your business. Today, a good marketing footprint still […]
May 29, 2017
June is upon us and we’ve got a new batch of 10 ways to promote your business through creative marketing and blog ideas. Round out the […]
May 24, 2017
In today’s interconnected digital world, online reviews hold more power than ever. In fact, they can make or break a small business. Positive reviews can build […]
April 30, 2017
May is upon us and marks the beginning of warmer weather and spring holidays! Here are some fresh ideas for your marketing and blogging efforts for […]
April 24, 2017
National Small Business Week is a time to recognize high achieving entrepreneurs, and to raise awareness for the role that all small businesses play in our […]
March 21, 2017
For a while now, small businesses have been using Facebook to connect with their target audience, promote their products and services, and drive traffic to their […]
January 18, 2017
Just because a business is local doesn’t mean people know about it. In fact, there are probably dozens of local businesses in your neighborhood that you […]
January 11, 2017
Location-based marketing focuses on reaching your target audience in the right place. It is not a new practice, as people have always known to strategically focus on […]
January 10, 2017
Real-time marketing is about reaching the right person at the right time—that is, a person most likely to engage with your business at the time they are […]
January 7, 2017
Online marketing is one of the best ways for small businesses to succeed and grow. As technology continues to advance, so too will online marketing tactics, […]
January 4, 2017
Influencers are people who may not be famous, per se, but have loyal and engaged online followings in a number of local or niche markets. As […]
October 10, 2016
As a business owner with a small marketing budget, collaborations with bloggers and local influencers can be an effective, cost-efficient way of marketing your business. But, […]
September 16, 2016
With the rise of blogger and social media “celebrities,” influencer marketing campaigns have become increasingly common across all types of business industries. We know that customers today […]
August 24, 2016
Facebook contests and giveaways are a creative way to get your business’s name, products, and services in front of new potential customers. But a contest only […]
August 22, 2016
Bloggers and social media influencers are trusted and respected voices who can help get your product, service, or brand in front an untapped (and potentially large) […]
August 15, 2016
Instagram is an effective social media tool for building and engaging with potential customers. What many small business owners don’t know is that Instagram can also […]
August 8, 2016
In order for potential customers to find your business online, you must be showing up on search engines. In order to show up on search engines, […]
August 5, 2016
For many businesses, particularly ones whose sales tend to peak in the summer, back to school season means lower sales and lower traffic online and in-store. […]
August 4, 2016
August is upon us, which means we’re only a few days away from one of the biggest events of the year—the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. The […]
August 2, 2016
Snapchat can be an effective way for small businesses to reach a specific target audience. However, unlike Facebook and Instagram where followers can access your website directly, […]
July 29, 2016
If you’re a business owner, one of the best things you can do is create a Facebook page for your business. Facebook is the most widely used social […]
July 27, 2016
Between the time commitment, generating content, and understanding platform-specific terminology, having multiple social media accounts can seem overwhelming. The great thing about social media is that […]
July 22, 2016
If you’re already running a Yelp page for your business, you’re taking advantage of an outlet that can drastically increase your visibility and reputation. If you […]
July 21, 2016
Unless you’ve been living under a rock over the past few weeks, you’ve probably heard about the latest viral craze to hit the United States: Pokémon […]
July 20, 2016
With so much competition, small business owners need to be able to reach people who are the right potential customers. So, how do you find the […]
July 12, 2016
Not every small business has an audience that can use its products and services year-round. This means that when things slow down and the rush is […]
July 11, 2016
With most companies now having accounts on the same social media platforms and interacting with their customers in similar ways, it’s getting more difficult to find […]
July 8, 2016
With never-ending competition between small businesses, small business owners need to keep an edge over the competition. Hosting events can help you stick out from the […]
July 5, 2016
Every business has a customer or group of customers who are the perfect fit for their business, but sometimes you have a product or service that […]
June 28, 2016
Hashtags are useful for businesses in many ways. While general and widely used hashtags can help you categorize your business and specify your products and services, custom hashtags can […]
June 21, 2016
Snapchat is quickly becoming a popular social media platform for small businesses. The real-time platform provides a means for small businesses to put the customer in […]
June 16, 2016
If you find yourself struggling to stay busy as the beginning of Summer arrives, you might not even be aware of all the holidays and marketing […]
June 16, 2016
In order for your small business to thrive, you need to find the right customers for your business. Selling to the appropriate customers may be obvious, […]
June 8, 2016
Choosing the right domain is often a difficult task. It takes a lot of time, effort, and planning to pick one that’s available and that will […]
June 7, 2016
Instagram is the storybook of social media, Facebook is the textbook, and Twitter is the note you pass to your friends in class. Instagram is one […]
May 17, 2016
We all dream. We have big dreams, grand ambitions, and smaller dreams, things we desire on a daily or weekly basis. Every business owner shares the […]
May 12, 2016
When planning a road trip, what’s the first thing you do? You consult a map. Similarly, before embarking any marketing initiative, you should create a marketing […]
May 11, 2016
For many small business owners, gaining traction on social media can be slow. It’s difficult to grow your account on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter when you’re […]
May 9, 2016
Looking into the future of your business you likely envision growing it, establishing yourself as a respected entrepreneur and turning a profit. These are your long-term […]
May 2, 2016
Social media has been a game changer in the world of small business marketing. The free tools available to you, especially via Facebook, have enabled business […]
April 25, 2016
As a business owner, you’re probably looking for new ways to reach local customers. By concentrating your efforts in a smaller area, you can focus on […]
April 19, 2016
What if we told you that there’s an easy way for your business to get high-quality, high-engagement content at little to no cost? What if we […]
April 11, 2016
Hashtags are a common marketing tool that small business owners are starting to take notice of. You’ve probably noticed hashtags not only on social media but […]
April 8, 2016
You should be continually maintaining your listing; adding your business to new directories and updating with fresh relevant content to keep the attention of Google, and more importantly your customers!
April 6, 2016
Do you remember what it felt like to have a birthday party as a kid and be terrified that no one would show up? Hosting an […]
March 18, 2016
With 1.49 billion members worldwide and 22 billion ad clicks per year, Facebook is arguably the most important social network in the world. At the very […]
March 17, 2016
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Good fortune will not just fall upon your marketing campaigns. You have to work to make them successful, striving for the best strategy, the strongest messaging, and the most compelling tools to reach your audience and drive results. How will you make “luck” from opportunity?...
March 14, 2016
Social media platforms such as Facebook can be excellent marketing tools for businesses. For many, however, the value of Facebook and other websites can often seem […]
February 22, 2016
Facebook is a must-use platform when it comes to creating events. It’s a free and effective way to get the word out on any event your business […]
January 20, 2016
Tag, you’re it! These days, social media “tags” are all the rage. You may have been “tagged” on Facebook before, and were never quite sure what […]
December 29, 2015
Advertising has a long and rich tradition in human culture. From vendors harking their wares on the streets with loud pronouncements, to the editorial advertisements in […]
December 18, 2015
As business owners know, no business is static. Constantly changing, growing, and digging their own “niche,” businesses seem to take on a spirit of their own. […]
November 16, 2015
When it comes to running a successful marketing campaign, or indeed, a thriving business, planning is key. In fact, whether you’re a small business or a […]
November 13, 2015
Facebook is the biggest social media platform in the world today. With over 1 billion active users, it is the perfect place for any business to […]
October 22, 2015
In this digital age, the realm of marketing is no longer reserved to professionals in the field. Today, anyone can market their business—regardless of funds or […]
October 2, 2015
Internet marketing’s popularity, effectiveness, and traceability have caused many small service-based business owners to drift away from traditional marketing mediums like print ads, mailers, coupons, and […]
October 1, 2015
Happy and motivated employees are an essential ingredient in the recipe of business success. Employee motivation isn’t simply a cherry atop the proverbial cake. Unmotivated employees […]
September 18, 2015
LinkedIn can be a confusing place. The social media website is for businesses and employees to connect online but many small business owners are hesitant to […]
September 1, 2015
LinkedIn groups present an opportunity to make new connections and promote your expertise by sharing ideas with a new audience. Not only can you grow business […]
August 31, 2015
Website and webpage optimization is what helps your business rank in local search results. Every aspect of your websites can be optimized to give your business […]
August 26, 2015
Instagram has revolutionized how we experience visual content. It allows people and businesses from around the world to connect through pictures, graphics, and video. With the new updates […]
August 18, 2015
One of the most important ways that people will find your business is by performing a search in Google. As a business owner, you have the […]
August 17, 2015
Link building through inbound, or backlinks, is an extremely important component of search engine optimization. Google sees backlinks to your site as a sign that others value your […]
August 12, 2015
When a person wants to find a business or a type of service, they turn to the internet. Online directories like Yelp, Yahoo, and Google+ are […]
August 4, 2015
For any small business, obtaining customer contact information and email addresses can be tough to do. Email is a great way to keep in touch with former […]
July 14, 2015
Recognizing customer patronage is not only the polite and personable thing to do, but it can help lead to loyal customers and more business in the […]
June 25, 2015
You have probably seen hashtags used on various platforms like Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest. But what are hashtags and why do businesses use them? Hashtags are […]
May 18, 2015
Facebook has changed radically over the past few years – and your Facebook page must adapt or be left behind by your competition. Tactics that worked […]
April 28, 2015
Marketing is not a one-size fits all process – small town business marketing ideas differ from marketing ideas that work in a city. In order to be […]
April 14, 2015
Ever get the feeling that no one is seeing your Facebook posts? Due to changes on Facebook, the organic reach of business posts are down. This […]
April 10, 2015
Local businesses can improve their Search Engine Optimization (SEO) through some basic steps. To help small business owners get found online, we provided simple tips in […]
February 24, 2015
Small business owners don’t have a lot of time for marketing. There are simple tricks like improving your SEO in 5 minutes and 5 minute marketing […]
February 18, 2015
There is no shortage of companies asking small businesses to shell out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to promote themselves. But if you’re like most […]
June 4, 2014
Paying a low monthly fee to automate your marketing and get customers for your business seems like the Holy Grail nowadays. This is the latest version […]
May 30, 2014
With summer on its way, folks are out and about, busting out their iPads and smartphones as they walk the streets to shop and search for businesses - just like yours! With a little guidance and some quick tips, Listings, Local pages, and Social Media can enhance your brand and get you found! These online tools are easy and an affordable way to dip your toes into the digital water this summer...
May 12, 2014
Here at Propel Marketing, we love all local businesses. In honor of National Small Business Week 2014, we've compiled a few great stats to show just how important SMBs are and why we love them!...
December 3, 2013
Diving into the world of digital marketing can be overwhelming. Where do you start? Like most unfamiliar areas of life, it is best to take baby steps and lay down your foundation first...
November 29, 2013
Shop small on Small Business Saturday, 2013! After the big box stores are cleaned out on Black Friday, support your community's local shops as they gear up for their own big day: Small Business Saturday....
April 27, 2012
Are you using Analytics to get the most out of your website? Google Analytics is tracking software that can provide detailed information about how people found your site, what they did on it, and display data that can help you improve the user experience. When used properly, Google Analytics can increase ROI no matter how you generate revenue.
February 8, 2012
National Small Business week is May 20th-26th. The conference, held in Washington, DC, boasts a series of events recognizing the impact and importance of small businesses in the US.