What to Fix First in Your Local Marketing: A Simple Checklist for Busy Business Owners

If you run a local business, you’ve probably felt this:

“I know I should ‘do more marketing’… I just don’t know where to start (or what actually matters).”

You’re not alone.

Massage therapists, electricians, shop owners, counselors, landscapers, tree crews — everyone’s hearing the same noise:

• “You need to post every day.”

• “You need more followers.”

• “You need to run ads.”

• “You need to learn AI.”

Meanwhile, you’re just trying to keep the doors open, the phone answered, and the work done.

So instead of a hundred random tips, here’s a simple local marketing checklist you can walk through in order. Fix these in sequence, and your marketing will feel a lot less chaotic — and a lot more effective.

Step 1: Make It Obvious Who You Are, What You Do, and Where You Are

Before you worry about “getting more traffic,” make sure the people who already find you can understand you in 5 seconds.

Ask yourself:

• If a stranger lands on my website or Google listing:

  • Can they tell what we do?

  • Can they tell who we’re for?

  • Can they tell where we are?

If the answer is “sort of,” start here.

Quick fixes:

• Add a clear one-liner you use everywhere (website, Google Business Profile, social):

  “We provide [service] for [who] in [city/area].”

  Examples:

  • “We provide therapeutic massage for stressed professionals in Auburn and the foothills.”

  • “We provide tree removal and defensible space services for homeowners in Placer County.”

  • “We provide bookkeeping and tax support for small businesses in Roseville.”

• Make sure your city / service area is written in normal language, not just in a tiny footer.

If people can’t tell what you do and where you do it, nothing else matters.

Step 2: Claim and Clean Up Your Google Business Profile

For local businesses, Google is the front door.

Before they see your website, a lot of people see:

• Your star rating

• Your review count

• Your photos

• Your hours and phone number

If your Google Business Profile (GBP) is half-empty or out of date, you’re losing easy wins.

Quick fixes:

• Make sure your GBP is:

  • Claimed and verified

  • Using the right category (massage therapist, electrician, tree service, retail store, counselor, etc.)

  • Showing correct hours, phone, and website

• Add:

  • A real description (not just “we’re passionate and professional”)

  • A few good photos of your work, space, or team

• Check that your name, address, and phone number match what’s on your website and social.

You can do most of this in 20–30 minutes, and it’s one of the highest-impact local moves you can make.

Step 3: Make It Easy to Contact or Book You

You’ve probably visited a business online, wanted to take the next step… and then had to hunt for how.

Don’t do that to your customers.

Ask:

• If someone is ready right now:

  • Can they call you easily?

  • Can they send a quick message or inquiry?

  • Can they book online (if that makes sense for your business)?

Quick fixes:

• Put a clear button or link on your website:

  • “Book Now”

  • “Request a Quote”

  • “Schedule a Call”

• Make sure your phone number is:

  • Easy to find

  • Clickable on mobile

• For services that require quotes (contractors, tree service, electricians, etc.):

  • Add a simple form that asks only what you truly need to respond:

    • Name

    • Best contact

    • Address or area

    • Short description / photos upload

The easier you make that first step, the less likely people are to bounce to a competitor.

Step 4: Start Treating Reviews Like Part of the Job

For almost every local business, reviews are a major decision-maker:

• For wellness: “Do people feel safe and cared for here?”

• For contractors and trades: “Did they actually show up, do good work, and clean up?”

• For retail: “Is this place worth the drive?”

• For professional services: “Can I trust them with my problems or money?”

If your online reviews don’t match how good you actually are, that’s your next priority.

Quick system:

• Right after a great session, project, or purchase, say something like:

  • “If you’re happy with everything, a quick Google review really helps us. I can text you the link.”

• Text or email a short, friendly message with a direct review link.

• Make it a habit:

  • Wellness: aim for a few reviews a month

  • Contractors/trades: aim for a review on every “nice” job

  • Retail: ask loyal customers and people who clearly had a great experience

  • Professional services: ask after you’ve helped with a clear win

You don’t need hundreds overnight. You just need steady, honest reviews that build trust over time.

Step 5: Show Real-World Proof with Photos

Photos aren’t just for social media. They’re proof.

• Wellness: your space, your treatment room, calm corners

• Contractors / tree service / electricians: before & after, gear, safety practices

• Retail: your storefront, displays, seasonal setups

• Professional services: your office, your team, and simple visuals that feel welcoming

Quick system:

• After a job or on a quiet day:

  • Snap 3–5 photos with your phone:

    • One “wide” shot

    • One or two detail shots

    • One that captures atmosphere or scale

• Upload them to:

  • Your Google Business Profile

  • Your website (if relevant)

  • Social media (when you have time)

You don’t need perfect photography. You just need real and respectful photos that help people imagine themselves working with you.

Step 6: Stay in Touch with People Who Already Like You

New customers are great. Repeat customers are gold.

Most local businesses don’t have a “stay in touch” system. They:

• Do a good job

• Hope people remember them later

• Maybe post on Facebook when they have the energy

Instead, build something slightly more intentional.

Options:

• A simple monthly email:

  • 1 tip

  • 1 short story or behind-the-scenes

  • 1 reminder or offer

• A quarterly check-in:

  • Wellness: reminders about seasonal stress, self-care, or new services

  • Contractors: seasonal maintenance, safety reminders, “we’ll be booking up fast” notes

  • Retail: new arrivals, events, or local collaborations

  • Professional services: deadlines (tax, legal, etc.), planning reminders

You don’t have to send a newsletter every week. Even a steady touch once a month or once a quarter keeps you from being forgotten.

Step 7: Choose One “Marketing Habit” and Commit for 90 Days

Once the basics are in place, it’s tempting to try 10 new things at once:

• Ads

• Reels

• TikTok

• Blogging

• New offers

• Events

That’s a fast track to burnout.

Instead, pick one marketing habit that fits your business and commit to it for 90 days.

Examples:

• Wellness:

  • “One helpful post per week + one email per month.”

• Contractors / tree services / electricians:

  • “Photos + a short Google post after every good job.”

• Retail:

  • “Weekly post about what’s new + one event or promotion every quarter.”

• Professional services:

  • “One educational article per month + quarterly client check-ins.”

If you like using AI, this is where it can quietly help:

• Drafting your posts or emails

• Cleaning up your website copy

• Brainstorming ideas when you’re tired

You still control the voice. AI just makes the blank page less painful.

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Fix in Order, Then Layer On

Local marketing doesn’t have to be loud, flashy, or complicated.

Most of the time, the big wins come from:

1. Clear message: who you are, what you do, where you are

2. Clean Google Business Profile

3. Easy ways to contact or book you

4. Steady reviews and real photos

5. Staying in touch with people who already like you

6. One consistent habit you stick with

If you focus on these in order, you’ll be way ahead of most businesses in your area — without trying to be everywhere at once.

And if you’d like help figuring out what to fix first for your specific business, we offer a simple local marketing review. We look at your website, Google presence, and basic funnels, then give you a short list of changes that will actually move the needle.

How Can We Help?

No jargon. No 50-page report. Just clear next steps.