I was at my buddy Mike’s auto shop, and he told me he dropped $800 on Google ads and got exactly zero phone calls. Zero! That’s when we sat down and figured out these 10 ideas to boost your business marketing in 2025 – and none of them require you to blow your kid’s college fund.
Your Marketing Probably Sucks
Let me be straight with you. Most small business marketing fails because we’re still doing 2019 stuff in 2025. Your ideal customer isn’t scrolling through Facebook looking for pushy ads anymore. They’re not checking the Yellow Pages (does that even exist?).
Take my neighbour Jenny’s flower shop. She was paying $400 monthly for those tiny newspaper squares that nobody reads. Meanwhile, her competitor down the street was posting flower arrangement tutorials on Instagram and booking three weddings a week. Jenny switched tactics, started showing her process online, and now she’s booked solid through summer.
1.Jump on Short Videos (But Make Them Real)
Video content is everywhere now, but most people screw it up by trying to be too professional. Nobody wants to watch a corporate training video when they’re scrolling at 11 PM.
Here’s what actually gets views:
- Show how you make your product (even if it’s messy)
- Answer the questions customers always ask you
- Film customer reactions when they see your work
- Give people a peek into your daily grind
My electrician friend Dave started posting 30-second videos about “why your outlet keeps tripping.” His phone hasn’t stopped ringing since. It turns out people love learning things that save them money.
2.Team Up with Businesses Around You
This one’s a game-changer that almost nobody thinks about. Instead of seeing other businesses as competition, make them your allies.
Smart partnership moves:
- Send customers to each other
- Create combo deals that benefit everyone
- Split the cost of local advertising
- Run events together to double your reach
3.Own Your Google My Business Like Your Life on It.
If someone searches for “plumber near me” and you’re not listed, you might as well not exist. And Google My Business is free advertising that most people completely ignore.
Easy wins that take 10 minutes:
- Fill out every single blank on your profile.
- Upload new photos every few weeks.
- Answer every review (even the crappy ones).
- Post updates about what you’re working on.
- Use words people actually search for.4.Build a Loyalty Program That’s Not Stupid
Those punch cards where you need 47 visits to get a free coffee? Forget it. Real loyalty programs make people feel like they’re in an exclusive club.
What works better:
- Let loyal customers try new stuff first
- Invite them to special events
- Remember their birthdays with something personal
- Give them better service or faster appointments
Although this mechanic I know sends his best customers a text when he gets their car parts in stock before he even orders them. They feel special, he gets guaranteed sales, and everyone wins.
5.Let Your Customers Do the Bragging
Your customers are already posting about your business (hopefully good stuff). Why not ask them to do more of it?
Customer content that works:
- Start a hashtag and actually use it
- Share customer photos on your page
- Ask happy customers to leave reviews
- Feature success stories on your website
Real talk: Always ask before you repost someone’s photo. It shows respect and builds trust.
6.Email People Without Being Annoying
Email marketing has a bad reputation because most people send garbage. Don’t send garbage.
How to email without sucking:
- Talk to different customers differently
- Write like you’re texting your friend
- Share helpful stuff, not just “BUY THIS NOW”
- Set up automatic welcome messages
7.Get Ready for People Talking to Their Phones
More people are asking Siri and Alexa to find businesses for them. “Where’s the best burger place nearby?” is the new phone book.
Voice search prep:
- Write content like people actually talk
- Answer questions your customers ask
- Make sure “near me” searches find you
- Create a page that answers common question
8.Build a Crew, Not Just Customers
However The businesses killing it right now aren’t just selling stuff – they’re creating tribes of people who actually care about what they do.
Community building that works:
- Start a Facebook group for customers
- Host monthly get-togethers
- Share what happens behind the scenes
- Let customers help each other out
A CrossFit gym near me has created a private Facebook group for its members. They share workout tips, celebrate personal records, and organise weekend hikes. People stay for 40% longer than they do at regular gyms.
9.Stop Guessing, Start Measuring
Quit throwing marketing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. The numbers tell you exactly what’s working.
Numbers that actually matter:
- How much does it cost to get a new customer
- How much money does each customer bring you over time
- Which posts get people actually to engage
- How many website visitors become customers
- Whether your ads are making money or losing it
Free tools that help:
- Google Analytics (tells you website stuff)
- Facebook’s built-in analytics (shows post performance)
- Your email platform’s reports (tracks opens and clicks)
10.Make Every Customer Interaction Count - This is where most small businesses fail. Also you can have the best marketing campaign ever, but if someone calls and gets terrible service, game over.
Customer experience fixes:
- Get back to people fast (within an hour if possible)
- Check in after they buy something
- Make buying from you quick and straightforward
- Train everyone to solve problems, not create them
Putting It All Together
Look, you don’t need to do all 10 ideas to boost your business marketing in 2025 tomorrow. Pick the three that make the most sense for your situation and nail those first.
And also Start with the stuff you control completely – your Google listing, how you treat customers, and maybe one social media thing. Get those working, then add more.
