The Ultimate Marketing Checklist for Small Businesses

Everything you need to do — organized week by week. No fluff, no jargon, just actionable steps that actually drive customers.

🏠 Foundation (Week 1)

Claim & fully optimize your Google Business Profile (hours, photos, categories, description)

Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is consistent across all online listings

Set up Google Analytics 4 on your website

Install Meta Pixel on your website for future retargeting

Create or update your business Facebook page

Claim your business on Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple Maps

Verify your website loads in under 3 seconds on mobile

Add a clear CTA (call-to-action) above the fold on your homepage

Create a simple lead capture form (name + email minimum)

Set up a professional business email (not gmail/yahoo)

⭐ Reviews & Reputation (Week 2)

Send review requests to your 10 most loyal customers

Create a simple system for requesting reviews after every job/visit

Respond to ALL existing Google reviews (positive and negative)

Create a review response template for positive reviews

Create a review response template for negative reviews

Add Google review link to your email signature

Print a QR code for in-store review requests

Set up Google Alerts for your business name

📱 Social Media (Week 3)

Choose 2 platforms max (where your customers actually are)

Create a content calendar for the next 30 days

Post at least 3x per week consistently

Mix content: 70% value/education, 20% behind-the-scenes, 10% promotions

Use local hashtags in every post

Respond to all comments and DMs within 24 hours

Share customer testimonials and success stories (with permission)

Create Instagram/Facebook Stories at least 3x per week

Follow and engage with local businesses and community pages

📧 Email Marketing (Week 4)

Choose an email platform (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or similar)

Create a welcome email sequence (3-5 emails)

Offer a lead magnet on your website (checklist, guide, discount)

Send at least 2 emails per month to your list

Segment your list by customer type or interest

A/B test your subject lines

Include one clear CTA per email

Clean your list quarterly — remove inactive subscribers

Add email signup to your website footer and checkout process

🔍 SEO & Content (Ongoing)

Research 10 keywords your customers search for

Create a blog post targeting each keyword

Add your city/location to key pages (title, headers, meta description)

Build internal links between related pages on your site

Get listed in local directories and industry-specific sites

Ask partners/vendors for backlinks to your site

Update your website content at least quarterly

Create location-specific pages if you serve multiple areas

Add schema markup (LocalBusiness) to your website

💰 Paid Advertising (When Ready)

Start with Google Ads — target high-intent keywords only

Set a daily budget you're comfortable with ($10-20/day to start)

Create dedicated landing pages for each ad campaign

Use location targeting — only show ads in your service area

Set up conversion tracking before spending a dollar

Test Facebook/Instagram retargeting ads to website visitors

Review and optimize ads weekly — pause what doesn't work

Calculate your target CAC before scaling spend

🤝 Referrals & Partnerships (Ongoing)

Create a formal referral program (check local regulations before offering incentives)

Partner with 3 complementary local businesses

Ask every happy customer for a referral

Send referral reminder emails quarterly

Track where every new customer comes from

Host or sponsor a local event

Join your local Chamber of Commerce

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