TIMEBlog
Straight talk on small business marketing.
193 articles on social media strategy, paid ads, reputation and branding, written for owners who have to make the decisions.
Why Phone Calls Can Be More Valuable Than Facebook Form Leads
Not all leads are created equal. A Facebook Lead Ad can generate dozens, or even hundreds, of form submissions. But depending on your business, one phone call from a genuinely interested prospect could be worth more than 20 form fills. That doesn’t mean Facebo
You Don’t Have a Lead Problem. You Have a Follow-Up Problem
You spent money on Facebook ads. The leads came in. Your form notifications are sitting in your inbox. So why aren’t those leads turning into customers? Sometimes, the problem isn’t your ads. It’s what happens after someone fills out the form. A great Facebook
What Makes Someone Choose a Local Business in 2026?
A customer in Round Rock needs a roofer. Another is looking for a coffee shop before work. Someone else is searching for a marketing agency to help grow their business. What do they all have in common? They’re probably pulling out their phone, typing a quick s
Why “Boosting a Post” Isn’t a Marketing Strategy
If you’ve ever received a notification from Facebook saying, “This post is performing better than your recent posts. Boost it!”—you’re not alone. It’s one of the easiest buttons to click. A few dollars, a few days, a bigger audience. Sounds like marketing, rig
Independence Day Marketing Lessons: What 250 Years of American Brand Building Teaches Us
Every July, marketers dust off the same playbook: red, white, and blue graphics, a flag emoji, maybe a sale called “Freedom Fest.” It works fine. It’s also forgettable. This year is different. 2026 marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence: the sem
The Worst Marketing Advice We’ve Ever Received (From ‘Experts’)
Marketing has a credentialing problem. Anyone with a ring light and a strong opinion can call themselves a growth hacker, and the algorithm rewards confidence over accuracy. Over the years, we’ve sat through enough conference keynotes, LinkedIn threads, and “I
The “Google Yourself” Test Every Business Owner Should Try Today
Here’s a simple challenge every business owner should try today: Google your business. Not from your work computer. Not logged into your business account. Open an incognito tab and search your company the same way a potential customer would. What shows up? Whe
The Texas Small Business Marketing Budget Guide: How to Spend $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000/Month
One of the most common questions Texas small businesses ask is: “How much should I actually spend on marketing?” The answer depends on your goals, your industry, and how aggressively you want to grow. A business trying to maintain steady referrals will market
5 Social Media ‘Best Practices’ That Are Actually Hurting Small Businesses
For years, small business owners have been following the same “guru” advice to grow their brands. But in 2026, the digital landscape has shifted. Strategies that used to be standard are now actively signaling to algorithms that your content is low-value, or wo
The Death of the Follower Count (And What Actually Matters Now)
For over a decade, the “Follower Count” was the undisputed king of digital social standing. It was the metric that secured brand deals, fueled egos, and defined “influence.” But the era of the vanity metric is officially over. In today’s algorithmic landscape,
How to Handle a ‘Bad Egg’ on Your Business Page
Easter is usually synonymous with fresh starts, pastel aesthetics, and the thrill of the hunt. But if you’re a business owner or a marketing manager, you know that sometimes what you find in your notification tray isn’t a “Golden Egg” lead—it’s a Bad Egg. In 2
Marketing in a Mobile-First World: How Spring 2026 Will Be Different
As we step into Spring 2026, mobile is no longer just a channel; it’s the hub of consumer attention. From scrolling social feeds on the go to instant online shopping, mobile-first behavior is reshaping marketing strategies. For brands that want to stay relevan
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