Video Marketing for Small Businesses in Kalispell, Montana: What’s Working in 2026
If you run a service business in Kalispell or the Flathead Valley, you’ve probably noticed something: the businesses getting the most attention online are the ones showing up on video. Not with Hollywood-level production. Not with scripted corporate talking heads. Just real people doing real work and letting potential customers see what they’re about before […]
The State of Small Business in 2026: Cautious Optimism and the Cost of Standing Still
Small businesses enter 2026 with more confidence than they’ve had in years, and more uncertainty about what to do with it. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index closed out 2025 at 99.5, sitting above its 52-year average for the first time in a while. A Citizens Financial Group survey found that 68% of middle-market companies […]
5 Marketing Strategies to Maximize Your Home & Garden Showcase Booth
How local businesses can turn tradeshow visitors into qualified leads at the Flathead Building Association’s biggest event 2026 Home & Garden Showcase Presented by the Flathead Building Association | March 7th, 10am-5pm & March 8th, 10am-4pmLocation: Flathead County Fairgrounds – 265 N Meridian Rd, Kalispell, MT 59901 The 2026 Home & Garden Showcase in Kalispell […]
The Content Land Grab: Why Creating Content for AI Search Is Easier Now Than It Will Ever Be Again
I’ve been writing content consistently this year, on the Hill Media Group website and my personal site. For the first few months, nothing happened. I’d get the occasional response from someone who received my newsletter, but nothing from anyone who found me through search. That changed about 60 days ago. My content started appearing everywhere: […]
7 Steps to Rank Your Montana Business in Google Maps in 2026
When a homeowner in Kalispell searches for “plumber near me” or a driver in Missoula needs emergency auto repair, Google Maps determines which businesses they see first. If your Montana business doesn’t appear in those top three results, you’re invisible to the customers most ready to buy. The numbers tell the story: the top three […]
The Real Reason Your Cold Emails Go Unanswered—And What to Do Next
Your inbox is a battleground. Right now, you’re probably sitting on 47 unread emails. Half of them are cold outreach from people you’ve never met, pitching services you don’t need, using templates you’ve seen a dozen times before. You’ve learned to scan subject lines in milliseconds, deciding what deserves attention and what gets deleted without […]
The State of Small Business Marketing in 2025: What You Need to Know to Stay Competitive
The world of small business marketing has fundamentally changed. What worked even two years ago may be costing you opportunities today. If you’re feeling like marketing has become more complex, more expensive, and less predictable, you’re not alone. The data confirms what many small business owners are experiencing firsthand. Let me walk you through what’s […]
What I Learned Analyzing 15 Auto Repair Websites in Flathead County
Last month, I spent several hours doing something that probably sounds incredibly boring to most people: I systematically analyzed every auto repair shop website I could find in Flathead County. Why would I do this? Two reasons. First, I’m always researching local marketing trends to better serve the businesses we work with at Hill Media […]
ManyChat Instagram Summit 2025: Day 1 Recap – What Small Businesses Actually Need to Know
A small business owner’s honest take on the Instagram Summit – separating the hype from the helpful I spent Day 1 of the ManyChat Instagram Summit with 20,000+ creators (virtually) learning how to maximize Instagram for business growth. But here’s what I was really doing: filtering everything through one critical lens – what actually applies […]
Black Friday Operators Online: Marketing Breakout Session Recap
Deep-dive strategies from the tactical breakout sessions at the Marketing Operators Conference Following the main stage presentations at Black Friday Operators Online, the Marketing Breakout Session delivered granular, actionable tactics from brands executing at the highest level. Led by Connor Rowland and featuring insights from teams at Hexclad, Jones Road Beauty, and other leading e-commerce […]