Category: Search Marketing
Practical, education-first marketing — SEO, email, content, and the systems that tie them together.
Your Customers Are Using AI Right Now. Are You Part of That Conversation?
Part three of a series. Start here if you haven’t: hillmediagroup.com/google-io-2026-small-business-impact When Google demonstrated its new AI features at its developer conference in May 2026, they…
Less Friction Always Wins: How AI Is Raising the Bar for Every Customer Experience
Also in this series: Google I/O Just Changed the Rules. Here’s What Small Businesses Need to Know. hillmediagroup.com/google-io-2026-small-business-impact It was a Thursday evening. I was leaving…
Google I/O Just Changed the Rules. Here’s What Small Businesses Need to Know.
Every year, Google holds a developer conference called Google I/O where they pull back the curtain on where the internet is heading. Most years, the announcements…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
How to Dominate AI Search Results: The New SEO Strategy Small Businesses Can’t Ignore
The way customers find businesses is fundamentally changing. While most business owners are still focused on traditional Google rankings, a small group of smart entrepreneurs has…
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,…
The AI Search Revolution: How Local Businesses Can Dominate AI-Driven Discovery
The way customers discover local businesses is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Google’s aggressive push toward AI-driven search results, from AI Overviews to the new AI Mode,…