Most local businesses don't have a marketing team. They have an owner who's already busy running the business. That's why the same digital marketing mistakes come up again and again. Here are six we see most often, and how to fix them.
1. A website that's hard to use on a phone
Most people looking for a local business are on their phone. If your site is slow, the text is tiny or the contact button is hard to find, they'll leave and try someone else.
The fix: open your website on your own phone and try to contact yourself. Make your phone number and enquiry button visible on every page, and keep pages light so they load quickly.
2. An incomplete or outdated Google Business Profile
Wrong opening hours, old photos and missing services cost you calls. Your Google profile is often the first thing customers see, sometimes before your website.
The fix: complete every section, check your hours, add fresh photos every month and reply to every review.
3. Posting on social media with no plan
Posting only when you remember, with no consistent look or message, makes a business feel inactive. Customers notice when the last post was months ago.
The fix: choose two or three content themes, such as your work, tips and behind the scenes. Plan a month ahead and post consistently. Consistency beats volume.
4. Running ads without tracking results
Boosting posts or running Google Ads without tracking enquiries is like paying for a billboard and never asking customers how they found you. You can't improve what you don't measure.
The fix: set up conversion tracking so you know which ads lead to calls, forms and sales. Then put more budget into what works and stop what doesn't.
5. Sending ad traffic to your home page
When someone clicks an ad for a specific service or offer and lands on a general home page, they have to search for what they wanted. Many won't bother.
The fix: send ad traffic to a focused landing page that matches the ad, with one clear message and one clear call to action.
6. Ignoring how people search now
Customers increasingly ask AI assistants for recommendations. If your business information is thin, inconsistent or hard to understand, these tools are less likely to mention you.
The fix: keep your business details identical everywhere, explain your services clearly on your website and answer common customer questions in plain English.
Where to start: pick the one mistake that applies to you most and fix it this week. Small, steady improvements add up quickly.
Need a hand?
If you'd rather spend your time running your business, Newey Marketing can take care of your website, Google profile, social media and ads. Request a free quote and we'll recommend where to start.