Mastering Local Marketing: Sales and Marketing Strategies for Small Business Growth
Mastering Local Marketing is a small business podcast focused on local marketing strategies, sales efforts, marketing tactics, and digital marketing that drive real customer acquisition and business growth. Built for entrepreneurs and marketers, this show breaks down marketing strategies for business owners who want results, not fluff. Each episode explores practical marketing strategies including local advertising strategies, social marketing, sales strategies, and digital marketing tactics designed to help you market a local business more effectively. Hosted by marketing expert Matt Hanson, the podcast highlights real-world marketing for small business, common marketing mistakes, and proven systems used by masters of marketing to grow local brands.
Episodes
Eight Digital Marketing Strategies That Convert
Most businesses assume that growth requires more attention. More website traffic. More followers. More advertising. More leads. But attracting people is only half the job. Customers may already be visiting your website, reading your emails, viewing your products, and considering your services. Something is simply stopping them from taking the next step. It could be a confusing website. A w
Segmentation Is Email Marketing's Advantage
Most businesses treat their email list like one large audience. Every subscriber receives the same promotion, the same announcement, and the same message at the same time. That may be the easiest way to send an email, but it is rarely the most effective. A first-time customer should not receive the same message as someone who has purchased from you for five years. A customer interested in on
Is Your Business Stronger Without Social Media?
Most businesses assume thei need social media. But what if relying on it too heavily is acutally holding them back? Followers can disappear. Reach can collapse. Algorithms can change overnight. A business can spend years building an audience and still have no reliable way to contact those people directly. That does not mean social media is useless. It means we may have to think is it our best st
$100 Million Marketing Secrets Hiding in Costco
Walk into Costco for a few items and somehow leave with a cart full of things you never planned to buy. That's not luck. That's marketing strategy. Some of the world's biggest retailers understand the psychology behind buying better than almost anyone else. The good news is that you don't need a warehouse or a billion-dollar marketing budget to use many of the same techniques. In this episode of
What's Really Holding Your Business Back?
Most business owners can quickly explain why their company is not growing faster. They need more customers. Their competitors charge less. Marketing has become too expensive. The economy is uncertain. But those explanations may only describe the symptoms. The real obstacle could be an outdated process, a fear of making the wrong decision, or a business owner who has become the bottleneck without
What Great Salespeople Notice Part 3: Sales Buying Signals Most People Miss
The customer starts asking about delivery. They compare two specific options. They want to know what happens after they sign. These may sound like ordinary questions, but they often signal that the buying decision is already taking shape. The problem is that many salespeople miss the moment. They keep explaining, introduce more information, or accidentally give the customer new reasons to hesita
What Great Salespeople Notice Part 2: Objections Customers Never Say Out Loud
The customer seemed interested. They asked questions, listened to the explanation, and appeared ready to move forward. Then they said they needed to think about it. Sometimes that statement is completely honest. Other times, it is a safer substitute for the concern they do not feel comfortable sharing. They may be confused, unconvinced, worried about making a mistake, or afraid of being press
What Great Salespeople Notice Part 1: What Customers Reveal Through Their Questions
A customer asks about the price. Another asks how soon you can get started. Someone else wants to know what happens if the product does not work. These may sound like ordinary sales questions, but they can reveal where a customer is in the buying process, what is making them hesitate, and how close they are to making a purchasing decision. Great salespeople do more than provide answers. They
One Offline Marketing Channel That's Thriving
You may not agree with this, but one of the most overlooked marketing channels for local businesses might be sitting in your customer's mailbox. Direct mail sounds old school, expensive, and hard to manage. But today, it can be targeted, simple, trackable, and surprisingly effective when you use it the right way. Special Guest: Chris Barbauld, Barbauld Agency 30-MINUTE FREE CONSULTATION WI
The Marketing Power of Owning Your Mistakes
Every business makes mistakes. But what happens next may matter more. Customers are not always looking for perfection. They are looking for proof that your business cares when something goes wrong. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we talk about the marketing power of owning your mistakes, responding with honesty, and turning uncomfortable moments into trust-building opportunities
The Likeability Advantage in Local Marketing That Helps You Sell More
People like to think they make buying decisions based on price, quality, convenience, or logic. Sometimes they do. But in local business, there is another factor that quietly influences almost every decision. Do people like you? Do they like your team, your tone, your story, your attitude, and the way you treat people? In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we look at the psychology
The Boring Business Marketing Problem
Some businesses feel easy to market. Restaurants have food. Gyms have transformations. Events have energy. But what if you run an insurance agency, HVAC company, painter, repair shop, or another business that does not feel naturally exciting? That does not mean your marketing has to be boring. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we talk about how to make a "boring" business mor
Facebook Marketplace: The Local Research Tool Few Businesses Use
Facebook Marketplace is usually treated like a place to buy used furniture, sell old equipment, or find a deal. But for small business owners, it can also be a free window into local demand. When you know what to look for, Marketplace can show you how people describe their problems, what products get attention, what price points feel realistic, and where gaps exist in your local market. In t
The Sales Warning Sign You're Missing
Revenue gets all the attention. But revenue is often the last number to change. Before sales drop, something else usually weakens first: traffic, inquiries, repeat visits, conversions, referrals, average order value, or customer response. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we look at the early warning signs small business owners should be watching before a slow sales month becomes a r
Hidden Marketing Messages Found in Slow Days
Slow days are frustrating. But they may not be meaningless. A quiet afternoon, an empty dining room, a slow sales floor, or a week with fewer sales calls can reveal marketing patterns most business owners miss. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we look at what slow sales days can teach you about customer behavior, timing, demand, promotions, messaging, and missed opportunities. Beca
Businesses Are Sitting On Marketing Gold (And Don't Even Know It)
Most small business owners believe growth starts with something new. A new advertising campaign. A new social platform. A new piece of software. But what if the biggest opportunity is already sitting inside your business? Many companies are surrounded by valuable marketing assets they never fully use. Assets that can create trust, generate referrals, increase sales, and strengthen customer rel
From Surgery to A Fully Automated Social Media System
Social media automation sounds great until you automate the wrong thing. After some downtime from his recent surgery, Matt finally had the space to work on a social media automation system he had been thinking about for a long time. The first version was a mess. Matt jumped into the tools too quickly, skipped the planning, and ended up with results that were nowhere close to what I wanted. Th
The Marketing Truths Hiding in Reddit (What Customers Think is Hidden in Plain Sight)
Reddit can feel like chaos, complaints, jokes, rants, and random opinions. But hidden inside all of that noise may be something every business owner wants: what customers actually think when they are not being sold to. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we look at whether Reddit is a useful place for marketing ideas or just another source of internet gossip. The answer depends on wha
Pick One Path to $1 Million In Sales (Four Ways People Build Million-Dollar Businesses)
There are four ways people build million-dollar businesses. The good news is you do not need to master all four. The fastest-growing businesses often choose one clear path and build everything around it. They connect their offer to something people already want badly, then make that value impossible to miss. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down the four ways businesses c
What Great Leaders See Differently w/Dr. Lori Feldman, ICF Certified Leadership Coach
Most business owners want better results, stronger teams, and fewer daily fires. But leadership often starts before the decision. It starts with what you notice, what you miss, and what you are willing to question. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, Dr. Lori Feldman joins us to talk about what great leaders see differently, why business owners often become the bottleneck, and how bet
The Business Lessons I Learned Early (From Mentorship to Failing Often)
Most people see the business systems, marketing strategies, and success. They do not always see the failures that shaped them. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, Jim asks me about my background and how history shaped today's vision. We talk about the struggles, mistakes, mentors, and hard lessons that helped shape the systems I use today. Sometimes the best advice is the advice you
Why That Last Customer Didn't Buy (The Psychology Behind Customer Hesitation)
Customers hesitate for reasons they may never say out loud. Before they buy, they are looking for signs that the choice feels right, safe, and worth it. For small businesses, that moment of confidence can be the difference between interest and action. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we look at the psychology behind customer hesitation and why the best marketing often makes people
Marketing Funnel: AI and Automation (How to Speed Up Your Sale Funnel)
AI and automation is changing how small businesses create content, follow up with leads, and move customers through the sales funnel. But the fundamentals are still the same. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we revisit each step of the sales funnel through the lens of AI and automation. From faster content creation to smarter email drip campaigns, we break down how technology is he
5 Small Business Marketing Mistakes and What to Do About Them
Small business marketing usually does not fail because of one bad idea. It fails when the message gets blurry, the strategy gets scattered, and the business starts chasing motion instead of momentum. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we look at the hidden marketing mistakes that quietly cost small businesses time, money, and trust. Because better marketing does not always mean doin
Mistakes Made in Marketing Math by Small Business Marketers
More sales do not always mean more profit. A local business can run a sale, bring in more customers, and still make less money than before. The problem is not always the marketing. It is the math behind the marketing. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down how discounts, ad spend, low-margin products, giveaways, and average order value can quietly turn a "successful" campai
Your Business Needs a Content Engine
Small businesses do not have a content problem. They have a content system problem. Most owners know they need more social posts, better emails, stronger videos, and maybe even a podcast. The problem is finding the time, ideas, equipment, and consistency to make it all happen. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we discuss why content studios are becoming a new option for small and me
The Simple Email System That Lifts Business Growth (And Increases Sales)
Most customers do not disappear because they are not interested. They get busy, distracted, unsure, or stuck comparing options. That is where a simple email drip campaign can keep the conversation alive. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down a four-email follow-up sequence small businesses can use to reconnect with warm leads, answer common questions, build trust, and brin
Is Live Selling the New Local Sales Floor?
Customers are not just shopping online anymore. They are watching, asking, reacting, bidding, and buying in real time. Live selling blends video, product demos, urgency, chat, and checkout into one fast-moving sales experience. For small businesses, the opportunity is not just picking the right platform. It is understanding why people buy when the moment feels live, social, and limited. In this
Local Marketing Strategies for Those Who Feel Stuck
Your business is busy, but business growth still feels stuck. When marketing stops working, most small business owners assume they need more posts, more ads, or a bigger budget. But the real problem is often harder to see. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down how to diagnose what is actually holding your business growth back, from visibility and messaging to offers, custo
Why Local Businesses Need to Watch Their Digital Marketing
Some of the easiest digital marketing tactics are starting to become the riskiest. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down three major shifts every local business should pay attention to and why the next phase of marketing may be less about chasing attention and more about earning trust. Brands are getting sued for using popular music in social media posts. Younger consumers
Is AI Speeding Up Or Adding Work to Your Local Marketing Strategies?
AI can either sharpen your local marketing strategy or bury it in distractions. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, Jim and Matt take a casual approach and discuss why today's AI landscape feels a lot like the early internet: full of options, hype, and uncertainty about who will lead. But the real advantage does not come from chasing every tool. It comes from knowing what your business
When Your Local Marketing Strategy Doesn't Match Your Business
Your marketing says one thing. Your customer's business experience says another. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, Matt unpacks what happens when a strong brand creates high expectations, but the real customer experience does not match. That gap can quietly damage trust, word of mouth, and repeat business faster than most owners realize. If your branding feels polished but your in-p
Your Target Market Might Be Wrong: A Discussion with Allyson Straka, Frozen Garden
What if your best customers are not the ones you have been targeting at all? In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, Matt Hanson sits down with Allyson Straka of Frozen Garden to unpack the surprising customer data that changed how Frozen Garden thinks about growth, messaging, and customer acquisition. We explore why assumptions about your audience can hold your marketing back, how real da
Ten Social Media Video Hooks to Stop the Scroll and Sell More (Part 2)
Stop making videos people scroll past. In this two-part episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down ten social media video hooks that grab attention fast and help turn views into sales. These are simple, practical ways to open your social media videos stronger, keep people watching, and make your content work harder for your business on Tiktok, Instagram, and more. If you want better vi
Ten Social Media Video Hooks to Stop the Scroll and Sell More (Part 1)
Stop making videos people scroll past. In this two-part episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down ten social media video hooks that grab attention fast and help turn views into sales. These are simple, practical ways to open your social media videos stronger, keep people watching, and make your content work harder for your business on Tiktok, Instagram, and more. If you want better vi
How to Know if Your Small Business Marketing Strategies Actually Work
Most small business owners are putting time and money into marketing without a clear way to judge whether it is working. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we simplify how to evaluate results by focusing on the numbers and signals that actually matter. We talk about awareness, traffic, leads, conversion, customer acquisition, repeat business, and revenue impact in a way that is practi
What It Takes to Win Shelf Space and Sales in Large Retail and Grocery Stores
Getting into a big store sounds like a breakthrough. What most product businesses do not realize is that winning shelf space and winning sales are two very different marketing strategies. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we sit down with Evan Sylvester, owner of E James Consulting, to talk about what it really takes to get products into grocery stores and large retailers. We unpack
What Small Business Owners Should Fix Before Spending Another Marketing Dollar
Before your small business spends any more money on ads, you need to make sure the basics are working. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we walk through the key things small business owners should fix first, including their offer, messaging, website experience, reviews, conversion path, and follow-up system. If those pieces are weak, paid traffic only exposes the problem faster. This
Marketing Habits Killing Small Business Growth & New Customer Acquisition
A lot of small business owners work hard at marketing. The problem is they struggle because they are locked into the wrong marketing habits. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down the patterns that quietly slow growth, from inconsistent posting and weak follow-up to constantly changing direction and relying too heavily on hope. The goal is to help business owners recognize w
Your Smartest Sales Strategy Is Positioning Your Small Business Correctly
Effective marketing tactics start with clear positioning. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we explore how proper brand positioning is one of the smartest sales and marketing strategies for small business growth. Understanding how to differentiate your brand is crucial for customer acquisition and strengthening your local presence. We break down five common ways to position your bran
Six Types of Small Business Customers To Understand For More Sales & Business Growth
In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we explore six distinct types of small business customers and what each person really wants from your marketing strategies. Understanding these customer profiles is essential for effective customer acquisition and tailoring your marketing tactics to different buyer needs. We delve into why some customers seek trust, others hunt for deals, and why ti
Create 30 Days of Social Media Content with AI in 30 Minutes
In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we explore how small business owners can use AI to create 30 days of social media content in just 30 minutes. If you are tired of staring at a blank screen, struggling to stay consistent, or wasting time trying to come up with new ideas every day, this episode gives you a faster system. We walk through how to use AI for content planning, content batc
Product Ideas: Perfect It or Launch It Now? What Your Marketing Strategy Says About You
Many entrepreneurs keep refining features, expanding functionality, and delaying launch because they want the product to feel complete. Meanwhile, other founders focus on a minimum viable product that solves one clear problem, gets into the market quickly, and improves through customer feedback. We break down the difference between product perfection and product-market learning, how feature cree
Follow-Up Marketing Tactics to Recover Lost Sales and Boost Customer Acquisition
Customers leave your business every day without buying. Many of them still plan to. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we dive into essential follow-up marketing tactics designed specifically to recover lost sales and enhance customer acquisition for small businesses. Many small business owners miss out on valuable opportunities because they don't revisit prospects who walked away w
The AI Prompt Checklist for Better Marketing Every Business Owner Should Know
Most people think AI is the magic. It's not. The real skill is knowing how to formulate your AI prompts and ask better questions. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down the nine essential elements of a powerful AI prompt that can dramatically improve marketing tactics and and help you uncover ways to increase customer acquisition. By defining the AI's role, setting clear c
What's Really Holding Back Your Business Growth? Marketing? Resources? Is It YOU?
Most businesses say they want growth. But when it comes time to invest, scale, or push harder, hesitation shows up fast. Limited marketing budgets. No time. Fear of what happens if things actually work. So what is really holding businesses back? In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we challenge the idea that growth problems are caused by marketing tactics alone. Instead, we dive into th
Three Sales Questions Every Marketing Strategy Should Include for Better Customer Acquisition
Most sales conversations fail long before the pitch even begins. It is not because of pricing, competition, or even the product. It is because most salespeople walk into meetings without answering the three questions every buyer is silently thinking. Miss them, and your message falls flat. Nail them, and everything changes. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down the psychol
Outdoor Advertising Strategies Every Local Business Should Know
Everyone is obsessed with digital marketing, but some of the smartest businesses are quietly winning with outdoor advertising. Billboards, transit ads, local signage, event banners, and hyper local placements still drive awareness, influence buying decisions, and support real business growth when used the right way. The problem is most businesses either ignore outdoor advertising completely or u
Business Growth Through Events, Social Media, and Smart Sales Funnels
Everyone talks about social media and ads, but some of the most powerful marketing strategies for business growth and sales happen when you bring people together in the real world. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we break down why running your own event can completely change how customers discover you, trust you, and buy from you. From turning one night into months of social media
Rule of Reciprocity: How Generosity Boosts Marketing Strategies & Customer Acquisition
The Rule of Reciprocity is one of the most powerful marketing tactics that drive customer acquisition and growth, yet many small businesses misunderstand its impact. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we dive into effective marketing strategies that use generosity as a tool to build trust and loyalty. Discover how giving first influences customer behavior and strengthens your marketin
Marketing Strategies That Work on Generation Z (14-29 year olds)
In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, you'll discover the marketing tactics that truly resonate with Generation Z. We share firsthand insights gained from conversations with 18-25 year olds, revealing how this demographic discovers brands, what content captures their attention, and why many common marketing strategies miss the mark. Learn about the digital marketing platforms that matter
Overlooked Marketing Signals in Real Estate: Insights for Small Business Growth
Discover how overlooked marketing signals in real estate can transform your marketing strategies for small business growth. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we dive into how trends like new builds, rising rents, and commercial vacancies uncover shifts in customer acquisition and spending behavior before they show up in your sales numbers. If your marketing feels reactive or disconn
The Most Expensive Marketing Mistake You'll Make & Why You'll Never See It Coming
Some of the most expensive marketing mistakes look like smart, responsible decisions. In this episode, we break down a common pattern seen in marketing strategies for small business, where well-intentioned marketing hires quietly slow progress, drain momentum, and delay results. These hidden costs are often overlooked, with no red flags or dramatic failures, just time and money slipping away unn
Beginning AI Marketing Tactics For Small Business Growth w/Kajal Jain
In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, host Matt Hanson talks with AI expert Kajal Jain about beginner-friendly AI marketing tactics that small businesses can use to fuel growth. Kajal breaks down practical, jargon-free ways to apply AI for marketing strategies, content creation, customer communication, and productivity that are all designed to help small business owners streamline their m
Business Growth & Marketing Strategies From an E-commerce Brand w/Allyson Straka
Starting a business is one thing. Growing it into a successful e-commerce brand is another. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we sit down with Allyson Straka, the founder of The Frozen Garden, an e-commerce brand that makes it easy to enjoy smoothies with pre-portioned frozen fruit and vegetable packets delivered right to your door. We dig into why she started the business, how it h
Two Ways to Sell and Why Most Businesses Fail to Choose The Right One
Most sales conversations small business owners have break down long before price ever becomes the issue. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we will explore a simple shift in how businesses sell and why many unintentionally slow down the buying process without realizing it. This conversation looks at what actually moves people from interested to buying and why saying more is often the
Three Creative Customer Acquisition Tactics for Small Businesses That Actually Work
In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we explore marketing for small business owners who want practical, real-world ideas to improve customer acquisition. This episode focuses on how speed, human connection, and buyer psychology quietly influence purchasing decisions and why small businesses that apply simple marketing strategies often outperform larger competitors. You will learn how sm
Is Social Media a Marketing Tool or Just Entertainment?
Social media is one of the most talked-about yet misunderstood channels for small business marketing. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we delve into whether social media truly functions as a powerful marketing tool that drives customer engagement and revenue, or if it has evolved into mere entertainment offering little real return. We explore how local businesses can develop an effe
10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business with Effective Marketing Strategies (Part 2)
Growth does not happen by accident. Too many small businesses chase tactics without building a solid marketing plan. In this episode, we break down what sustainable business growth looks like and how local business owners can move beyond short-term wins with effective marketing for small business. We discuss core components of a strong marketing strategy including hiring and systems, building a
10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business with Effective Marketing Strategies (Part 1)
Growth does not happen by accident. Too many small businesses chase tactics without building a solid marketing plan. In this episode, we break down what sustainable business growth looks like and how local business owners can move beyond short-term wins with effective marketing for small business. We discuss core components of a strong marketing strategy including hiring and systems, building a
Growing Facebook Followers: Social Media Marketing Strategies for Local Businesses
Many small businesses struggle with their social media marketing strategy, especially on Facebook, feeling like their efforts aren't yielding growth. In this episode, we dive into why typical approaches fall short and reveal what truly drives Facebook follower growth today without spending money on ads. This is essential listening for anyone interested in marketing for small businesses and onlin
Your 2026 Marketing Challenge: Focused Marketing Strategies for Small Business Growth
2026 does not need more marketing tactics. It needs more commitment. In this episode, we introduce the 2026 Marketing Challenge. One intentional choice. No pressure to do everything. We challenge you to pick just one marketing initiative. Not the easiest one. Not the trendiest one. The one you are willing to stick with long enough to see results. This is not about chasing algorithms or trying
The Most Important Thing in Marketing Isn't Strategy. It's Belief.
Marketing rarely fails because of bad ideas. It usually fails because people quit before the work has time to compound. In this episode, we step away from tactics, trends, and tools to talk about the part of marketing no one prepares you for. The waiting. The silence. The stretch where you are showing up, doing the work, and wondering if any of it is actually working. This conversation is about
Marketing Myths We're Forgetting in 2026
As we start the new year, Matt and Jim are clearing the slate. In this episode, they're talking about the biggest marketing myths that small businesses need to leave behind in 2026. These are the ideas that sound good but quietly hold businesses back. They unpack common beliefs around social media, advertising, branding, and growth that no longer match how customers actually behave. They explain
How People Judge Your Small Business in First 10 Seconds
Before a customer speaks to you, before they understand your offer, and before price ever comes into play, a perception has already formed. In the first ten seconds, people judge your business based on things you may not even notice anymore. The parking lot. The front door. The website load time. The greeting. The signage. The feeling of order or chaos. This episode breaks down why first impres
You're Doing Marketing More Than You Think
Most people think marketing is something you learn later, hire out, or turn on once a business is already running. In reality, most of us have been doing marketing long before we ever called it marketing. In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, Jim and Matt reflect on how their paths into marketing started much earlier than they realized. Matt shares how his interest in marketing began in
Outsourced Credibility from the Internet: How Marketing Influence Comes from Others
People will drive past a local business they have known for years but only give it a try when a stranger on the internet they have never met says it's good. A one sentence review. A TikTok recommendation. A YouTube comment. Somehow, that feels more reliable than anything else these days. This episode of Mastering Local Marketing explores the strange hierarchy of credibility we have created in th
Favorite Marketing Lessons from Our First 100 Episodes
If you are new here and just finding the Mastering Local Marketing podcast, welcome. And for everyone who has been here since the early episodes, thank you for sticking with us through one hundred shows. Your support and feedback are the reason we keep building these conversations. For this milestone episode, Matt and Jim go back through the last year of content and pull the strongest ideas, the
One Marketing Metric That Rarely Gets Tracked
Today we break down one of the most important marketing metrics that rarely gets tracked. Customer Acquisition Cost, or CAC, tells you exactly how much it costs to bring in each new customer. In this episode we explain what CAC is, how it is calculated, and why it matters for any small business trying to grow profitably and understand their marketing results. We also walk through several practic
Your 2026 Marketing Readiness Plan
This episode walks small business owners through the essential items they must get in line before the new year so their marketing is ready to perform on day one. Most businesses slide into January without a plan, and the lack of preparation shows for the next six months. Today we look at the areas that matter most. Your customer data, your content plan, your offers, your partnerships, your advert
Marketing Presentation Mistakes That Cost You Business
Today we explore real examples of marketing presentations that either landed perfectly or fell apart in the moment. Jim and I break down the factors that made each presentation work or fail, including clarity, pacing, confidence, preparation, and the ability to read the room. You will hear how a strong presentation can create instant buy in and how a weak one can lose attention, credibility, and
How Your Marketing Bias Can Hurt Your Results
In this episode, we dive deep into how marketing bias can undermine your local marketing efforts and overall marketing strategy. Many small business owners create marketing campaigns based on their own daily habits and preferences, but this approach often leads to missed opportunities and weak results. We discuss why you are not your customer, how your target audience consumes local marketing dif
Expanding Your Local Marketing Sales Funnel
Most small businesses spend their time and money focused on generating awareness for their business, but real growth comes from understanding every stage of the sales funnel. In this episode, we break down ways to look at awareness, consideration, and conversion, but also introduce two new areas you need to focus on: trial and lifetime value. Simple data and a little analysis may uncover some ne
Holiday Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses
Holiday marketing does not need to be overwhelming or expensive. This episode shares simple and creative ideas that help small and medium businesses stand out during the busiest time of the year. The focus is on connection, visibility, and community rather than flashy campaigns or deep discounts. The ideas are practical, easy to execute, and designed to work for any industry including salons, re
When Your Brand Confuses More Than Resonates
In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, Matt breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in business. When should you rebrand? Most small and medium sized companies do not realize that a brand is not their logo. A brand is the promise customers believe you will keep and the story that shapes their expectations. Matt explains how businesses often grow, add new products, or attract new c
Building the Right Marketing Team
This episode looks at the real state of your local marketing team. Some teams are growing, some are quietly growing cancerous behaviors, and some are stuck in the insanity loop of doing the same thing each day and hoping something will change. Today we talk through what defines a great marketing team, why every person needs a clear role, and how internal and external partners must support the mis
Maximizing Every Minute: Time Is Marketing
In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we'll explore how every minute you invest impacts the growth of your small business and marketing success. From answering emails to planning social media posts, each task carries measurable value—or cost—to your bottom line. Many small business owners stay busy but often miss evaluating whether their time contributes to real local marketing success a
Local Marketing Has a Cloning Problem
In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we're exposing one of the biggest issues holding small businesses back — cloning. From identical social posts and themed taglines to look-alike ads that blend into the feed, too many businesses are copying each other instead of standing out. Matt is going to explain why "safe" marketing is actually the riskiest strategy of all and how originality crea
Your Local Marketing Isn't Your Priority
Many small businesses struggle to get noticed because their local marketing isn't a priority. In this episode, we dive into the reasons why local marketing strategies often fall by the wayside and why prioritizing these efforts is essential for small business growth. Host Matt Hanson explains how every entrepreneur has a ten million dollar idea but few commit the time and focus needed to turn tha
Email Automations for Small Business Marketers
Running a small business means there's never enough time, but what if an unpaid "intern" could handle your follow-ups, reminders, and promotions automatically? In this episode of Mastering Local Marketing, we explore how email automation can be a game-changer for local marketing and small business marketing efforts. You'll learn practical ways to use email automation tools like Mailchimp or Const
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