The Service Business Owner’s Guide to Winning the Holiday Season: 10 Strategies to Cut Through the Noise
How Local Service Businesses Can Leverage Black Friday Through New Year’s to Build Momentum That Lasts I just finished attending the Marketing Operators Digital Marketing Conference, where some of e-commerce’s sharpest minds, including leaders from ILIA Beauty, Tushy, Portland Leather, Grüns, Ministry of Supply, Obvi, birddogs, SET ACTIVE, and Hexclad, shared their battle-tested strategies for […]
Why Your Marketing Tools Are Working Against Each Other (And What to Do About It)
Last week, I had a conversation with a local restaurant owner that perfectly illustrates a problem I see with almost every small business I work with. Sarah runs a successful café here in Montana, and when I asked her about her marketing setup, here’s what she told me: “Well, we use Square for payments, MailChimp […]
Why Your Website Traffic Is Declining (And What to Do About It)
If you’ve noticed your website getting fewer clicks lately, you’re not imagining things. Recent research reveals a dramatic shift in how people interact with search results, and it’s fundamentally changing the digital marketing landscape for small businesses. The Numbers Don’t Lie Multiple large-scale studies from 2025 paint a clear picture of what’s happening: Why This […]
5 Communication Failures That Cost Nonprofits Donors and Volunteers (And How to Fix Them)
Last year, I attended the annual fundraiser for a nonprofit I’ve supported for several years. I walked into that event expecting the usual energy and excitement; stories of impact, updates on programs, and that feeling of being part of something meaningful. Instead, I left feeling disconnected and confused. The organization hadn’t sent a single email […]
5 Ways Local Service Businesses Can Use AI to Win More Customers (And Keep Them Coming Back)
After attending Search Marketing Expo Advanced earlier this month, I’ve been flooded with questions my clients about one topic: artificial intelligence. The feedback from my recap insights has been incredible, but the most common question I’m hearing is this: “How can my local business actually use AI without breaking the bank or becoming too technical?” […]
5 Powerful Ways to Re-engage Your Small Business Customers
Are you leaving money on the table by neglecting your existing customers? As a small business growth consultant, I’m consistently amazed by the lack of follow-up from businesses I purchase from. Whether it’s my local coffee shop, restaurant, or barber, very few make the effort to re-engage me after my initial visit, which suggests they […]
5 Essential Email Marketing Automations That Drive Business Growth
In today’s digital landscape, effective email marketing automation isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for small businesses looking to nurture relationships and drive revenue growth. At Hill Media Group, we believe in empowering small businesses with education-first strategies that deliver measurable results. Here’s our comprehensive guide to the five email marketing automations your business needs to […]
The Power of a Clean Email List: Why Less Is More in Email Marketing
Here’s an email marketing truth many businesses overlook: maintaining a pristine email subscriber list is just as crucial as growing it. Working with hundreds of local service businesses and online retailers, I’ve discovered that many owners feel emotionally attached to their subscriber count. They’ve worked hard to build that list and watching the numbers drop […]