Marketing Your Local Business Online

How do I get my local business noticed online? How can I create Facebook and Instagram ads that actually work? How do I drive more foot traffic to my brick-and-mortar location? What strategies will help me book out my services? How do I convert social media followers into paying customers? I'm Sydney Chakalos, a marketing nerd and owner of Marathon Marketing & Branding with a passion for helping other small business owners grow their business using effective online marketing strategies on any budget. Learn how to create and implement a marketing strategy that strengthens relationships with your audience and increases your bottom line. We'll dive deep into Facebook and Instagram advertising, social media strategies, email marketing, branding, and websites with a special focus on tactics that drive real-world results. Building your brand is a marathon and I'm here to help you win the race.

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Why a Mixed Social Strategy is Your Secret Weapon in 2026 11/25/2025

Why a Mixed Social Strategy is Your Secret Weapon in 2026 Ready to rethink your social media playbook in 2026? In this episode, Sydney explains why a mixed social media strategy isn’t just smart, it’s the competitive edge every local business should be using in 2026. If you’re tired of chasing the latest trends or burning out trying to “be everywhere,” this episode will give you a clear, practical roadmap for building a resilient social media strategy that actually brings customers over the finish line. The truth is, ads and organic content each have superpowers—but they shine brightest when used together. Sydney explains what ads do that organic content can't (and vice versa), and why trying to rely on just one leaves money on the table. What You’ll Discover: Why ads are non-negotiable for local businesses to drive awareness Why your organic social media strategy shouldn’t be ignored and how to use it in a way that builds relationships with customers How to implement a mixed social media strategy yourself using the framework Sydney uses with her own clients How to use your organic social media content to save money on your ads The common mistakes local businesses make with a mixed social media strategy and how to avoid them Wondering if Sydney’s advice will work for your local business? Good news: Sydney doesn’t give you a rigid checklist. Instead she hands you a flexible framework including not only the “why” behind every recommendation but specific, repeatable tactics so you can adapt the framework to your business, your team size, and your budget. Key Takeaways You’ll Learn: A simple framework to use as you map out your social media content for the new year How to combine paid ads and organic content to build awareness while deepening relationships - a winning combination to get more customers through your door consistently The exact steps you can take to use social media to grow your business and the common mistakes to avoid along the way This episode will give you the confidence to stop guessing and start building a social presence that’s not only sustainable, but strategic and profitable. Tune in to learn how to make your social media mix work for you in 2026 without the overwhelm. Drive More Foot Traffic Workshop In this hands-on, one-hour workshop, you’ll learn step-by-step how to set up your first Facebook & Instagram ad campaign and start driving more customers to your local business. No tech overwhelm, no large budget required. Join Sydney on January 6th at 11AM EST. Save your seat . Connect with Sydney: Instagram: (DM Sydney with your questions!) Love this episode? Leave a five-star review to help other local business owners discover this podcast or share this episode with a friend! New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss one! Want to get started with ads but need some help? about designing local ads that work. /episode/index/show/marketinglocalbusinessonline/id/39161105

Success Stories: How These Local Businesses Grew with Social Media Ads 11/19/2025

Success Stories: How These Local Businesses Grew with Social Media Ads Ready to feel inspired? In this episode, Sydney pulls back the curtain on real success stories from local businesses that transformed their results using Facebook and Instagram ads. Bonus: you won't believe how little they spent to see massive returns. From a jewelry store that had one of their busiest holiday seasons ever, to a nonprofit that finally solved their recruitment crisis, to a restaurant that had to make dough three times in one day because of overwhelming customer turnout. These stories prove that social media ads work for local businesses across every industry. What You'll Discover: Sydney shares detailed case studies from five different local businesses, including: A retail store that maximized holiday foot traffic A volunteer fire department that brought back a recruitment class they hadn't offered in years (with just $100/month in ad spend every month!) A restaurant that brought in over $2,000 in catering orders for Thanksgiving The customer appreciation event that had a line out the door A garden center that had to order more Christmas trees for the first time ever But here's what makes this episode truly valuable: Sydney doesn't just share the wins. She breaks down the strategy behind each success. What images they chose, how they crafted their messaging, and why these campaigns worked so well. You'll learn the common threads that made each of these campaigns successful, regardless of industry. The best part? Most of these businesses spent between $50-$150 per campaign. You don't need a massive marketing budget to see real results. You just need the right approach. Key Takeaways You'll Learn: How to identify which photos and imagery will perform best in your ads Why understanding your customer personas is crucial One of the biggest mistakes business owners make that causes their ads to "fail" How to give your ads enough time to actually work Why planning ahead makes all the difference in your results Whether you own a retail store, restaurant, service business, or nonprofit organization, this episode will show you what's possible when you leverage social media ads strategically. If you've been on the fence about trying ads or felt like they "don't work," these real-world examples might just change your mind. Connect with Sydney: Instagram: (DM Sydney with your questions!) Love this episode? Leave a five-star review to help other local business owners discover this podcast or share this episode with a friend! New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss one! /episode/index/show/marketinglocalbusinessonline/id/39088990