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 […]
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 […]
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 discovered something remarkable: according to a study by SEMRush, customers coming from AI recommendations are worth 4.4 times more than regular Google clicks. This isn’t just a minor shift […]
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 […]
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, signals a seismic shift in how we need to think about local visibility. Meanwhile, ChatGPT’s browser mode and other AI platforms are creating new pathways for customer discovery that […]
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?” […]
SMX Advanced 2025 Recap: What Small Businesses Need to Know About the Future of SEO
SMX Advanced 2025 marked the first in-person SMX conference since early 2020, and it was worth the wait. Held in Boston, the event brought together some of the sharpest minds in search marketing to discuss how AI, structured data, and user-centric strategies are shaping the next generation of SEO. For small businesses navigating the evolving […]
Tourism SEO: How to Rank #1 When Customers Search From 1,000 Miles Away
How to Rank for Non-Local Travelers Planning Trips to Your Destination In the competitive world of tourism, having a strong online presence isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for attracting visitors to your destination. This is especially true for businesses near popular attractions like Glacier National Park, where most of your potential customers are planning their trips […]
5 Proven Strategies to Increase Your Google Business Reviews
Why Google Reviews Matter for Your Small Business Google reviews have become a cornerstone of local business success in today’s digital marketplace. When potential customers search for services in their area, Google prominently displays business listings complete with star ratings and review counts. These reviews serve a dual purpose: they help customers make informed decisions […]