Where to Start
Not sure what your business needs? Start here.
A quick guide to what matters, what to do first, and how to figure out what's right for your business.
The basics
You started a business. Now what?
Not every business needs the same things. Here's how to figure out what matters for yours.
Your website is the foundation. Everything else builds on it.
This is for you if:
- You don't have a website at all
- Your site is more than 3 years old
- You're embarrassed to send people to your current site
- Your site doesn't work well on phones
- You have a site but it's not generating any leads or calls
You probably don't need this if:
- Your current site is modern, mobile-friendly, loads fast, and generates leads
- You built or redesigned your site in the last year or two and it's working
Every ad you run, every search result you rank for, every link you share points back to your website. If it's slow, outdated, or hard to use, you're paying for traffic that bounces.
Learn about website developmentIf you're a local business, this is free and non-negotiable.
This is for you if:
- You serve customers in a specific area
- You want to show up on Google Maps
- You rely on phone calls and walk-ins
- People search for your type of business with "near me"
You probably don't need this if:
- You don't serve a local area (e.g., you're an online-only business)
- Your customers don't find you through search (e.g., referral-only or B2B with a set client base)
Your Google Business Profile is how you appear in map results and local searches. It's free to claim and it can generate calls on its own. If you're a local business and you haven't done this yet, stop reading and go do it.
Learn about local SEOTwo different tools for two different timelines.
SEO is for you if:
- You want long-term growth that compounds over time
- You're willing to invest 3 to 6 months before seeing major results
- You want to stop paying for every single click
Skip SEO for now if:
- You need leads this week, not this quarter
- You're testing a new market and need fast validation
Google Ads is for you if:
- You need leads now, not in six months
- You have a monthly budget for advertising
- You want to show up at the top of search results today
Skip Ads for now if:
- You have patience and a tight budget
- You'd rather build organic traffic you don't have to keep paying for
Most businesses benefit from both. Ads bring in revenue while SEO builds momentum in the background. If you can only pick one, pick based on how urgently you need results.
Great for some businesses. Not the first priority for others.
This is for you if:
- Your customers are on Facebook or Instagram
- You sell something visual (food, fashion, events, real estate)
- You want to build brand awareness with a specific audience
- You're launching something new and need to get the word out
You probably don't need this if:
- You're a service business where people search Google when they need you (plumber, roofer, HVAC, attorney)
- Your business isn't visual and your audience doesn't browse social media for what you sell
- You don't have a website or landing page to send the traffic to yet
Social ads work best for visual products, retail, restaurants, and brand awareness. If people search for your service on Google when they need it, that's where your money should go first.
Learn about social adsThe highest-ROI channel, once you have the pieces in place.
This is for you if:
- You already have customers and want repeat business
- You have a list of contacts you're not doing anything with
- You want to stay top of mind between purchases
- You have an e-commerce store with abandoned carts
You probably don't need this if:
- You don't have an existing customer base or email list yet
- You're still working on getting traffic to your website in the first place
Email works best when you already have people to talk to. Build your audience first with a website, SEO, or ads. Then use email to turn one-time buyers into repeat customers.
Learn about email marketingHow we work
No pitch deck. No pressure. Just a conversation.
We listen first.
Tell us about your business, your goals, and your budget. We'll recommend what makes sense. If we're not the right fit, we'll say so.
You get a clear proposal.
What we'll do, what it costs, and what to expect. No hidden fees. Everything in writing before we start.
Month to month. No contracts.
We keep clients by producing results. You can walk away any time. Your accounts, your data, your work.