Tag: idaho marketing

3 Social Media Tips for Small Business Owners

Posted on by HINSEL

Today’s small business owner is really feeling the pinch!
Between rising supply costs, tariffs, and inflation people are holding tighter to their hard earned dollars – and everyone is feeling it. A lot of business owners know they need to be doing more to bring in customers but don’t know what to do, and can’t necessarily afford hiring a full time social media manager. Left feeling like they have little choice, they brave it on their own…

I’ve seen everyone from real estate agents to window cleaners and so many more take on the task of marketing their services online only to find out one thing: Marketing Your Business Is a FULL TIME JOB!

And why shouldn’t it be?! Your digital presence is your best employee – it’s online and working 24/7 to represent your brand as a reputable and quality provider! BUT! That doesn’t mean you have 40 hours a week to dedicate to making it happen.

To help, I’ve put together these 3 quick tips that almost any small business owner can use to boost their business on social media. Let’s go!

It Works – If You Work It
First and foremost, if you’re not USING social media don’t expect to get anything out of it. That means more than just having a page on some of the major platforms, you need to be creating something there. If for no other reason than to let potential customers know you’re still open!

So, post regularly. At least 3 times per week; preferably with an eye-catching image or better yet a video that let’s people know not only what you do but a little about who you ARE.

It’s Social Media, So BE Social
That means post something more than just your sales pitch! People are advertised to every moment of their day – they don’t login to see more of it, they just scroll. Chances are you are not the only provider of your kind and customers have their choice of companies to choose from; so by letting them see your personality you increase your chances of standing out above the noise.

But Don’t Stop There…
Be even more social online! That’s right. Make sure you’re spending some time every day logged in as your business and interacting with other local businesses and profiles. Be active in online groups, and comment on posts as your business. Always be sure to reply to every follower comment, even if it’s just to say thank you. Every time you do these small things they help add up to larger results towards building your visibility.

Number Three
Is it going to be something lame like “hire a professional social media manager with two decades of proven experience”?

…Well, duuuuuuh!
Fact is, there are more ins and outs and tips (like what time of day to post! Hashtags! And more!) than I can put in one post. But if you’re not ready to sign on yet, the best step from here is to schedule a consultation, download my free social media success guide, or even get your own site health scan to see where you can make improvements on your own. If you’re the more direct type, contact PICKWICK directly to get the ball rolling right away!

But in all seriousness…
Before you even click any of those buttons. As your trusted digital advisor I’ll give you the REAL third tip: spend money on your digital presence. Far too many small businesses STAY SMALL because they think it’s too expensive to invest in paid advertising on social media in addition to paying a social media content creator…and well, that’s fine.


We’re as big as we think we are; that’s why I encourage even the smallest business that’s actually looking to grow their business online to not be afraid to pay to play. There are more businesses online and competing than ever before!

When your audience is targeted properly, having even a moderate monthly advertising budget can help make sure that the posts you’re making are getting more eyes on them. It’s not a part of the online marketing business that I like, it’s just how it works; regardless social media marketing remains one of the most cost effective ways to get your message seen.

As a small business owner you CAN still start out online and even do well for yourself if you make it your focus using many of the tips I provide, but it IS a full time job to see real results. If you’re ready for help or have any questions please get in touch!

Why You Still Need a Website

Posted on by HINSEL

Let’s say it out loud: social media is dead.
No, not the way you might think, and it’s not going away anytime (too) soon but you don’t have to be an industry expert to realize that it’s changed from what it was and reached peak saturation across most of the major platforms. And I’m not just talking about this impacting individual users’ experiences, but for business users as well.

Your average user will complain that the platform – take your pick – is nothing but ads now when they remember seeing more content from their friends and other connections previously.

While simultaneously business users – especially on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube – are puzzled at why their marketing dollars aren’t getting the results they once did, regardless of the content they’re creating.

It’s all pay to play and the users are paying the tax.

Because of the drop in the quality of user experience, as well as censorship and owner politics, there’s been a rise in new up and coming platforms like Bluesky that promise something new.

While these new platforms have found a varied measure of success, despite some innovative features, they’ve proven to be little more than echo chambers for users who are accustomed to higher volumes of content to consume.

Don’t Call It a Comeback, Baby…
In consideration of these things, and with the ease at which even people without tech savvy can create a basic website it’s no wonder that personal blogs, mini business sites, and digital storefronts have begun to pop up more and more.

Don’t Delete Your Facebook (yet)
The instability of social media, along with censorship controls, and unpredictable changes to “pay to be seen” algorithms should be a strong signal for the return to digital presence ownership. Your website is the most powerful online resource you possess.

A website that you own, that you can control and change, has always been key to online success, and as the landscape of how business is done online continues to change it is vital to establishing yourself as a resource to the audiences you serve.

In the meantime, a website (no matter how good) isn’t enough by itself, and it never has been! There is no one silver bullet fix-all push button thing to make online success just happen – but the next closest thing is working with PICKWICK.

I’m here to help!
You don’t have to struggle with figuring out social media or web design anymore! I am experienced in many industries and systems. Whether you are just starting out and don’t know where to begin, or a long time business owner who doesn’t have the time to handle marketing while running the show, I hope you will get in touch with your ideas so that we can make them happen! 

Why You Need to Update Your Site

Posted on by HINSEL

My website looks good, isn’t that enough?! No.

A good looking car with no engine doesn’t go anywhere. Your website is the same way and the engine that runs it needs to be maintained.

Ask yourself, when is the last time anything lasted forever? When was the last time something ran perpetually without any maintenance or assistance? The answer is of course never, because that’s not how the laws of thermodynamics work. All things, no matter how well built or efficient, must be taken care of from time to time to make sure they continue to run the way they should.

Your website is no different!

Imagine if you bought a car back in 2008 and never changed the oil, never tuned it up, never got new tires and just drove and drove. How long do you think that car would last? A year? Maybe two? It might look good on the outside but it’s not going anywhere.

And yet there are so many business owners who get a website, think that’s the end of the road, and then wonder why they got left behind on the side of the information superhighway!

Don’t let it happen to YOU!

While technical updates to your site may seem like something no one ever sees, making sure the engine that pumps the lifeblood of your business is running right is crucial to seeing online success! Even if your site is technically still “running” (hey, she ain’t much to look at but she got it where it counts, right?!) that doesn’t mean it’s running RIGHT.

It’s not just about looking better!
What might begin as simple technical errors can quickly turn into data corruption, and leaving your website software out of date can leave you wide open to hacker attacks. Sites that use old software are not only more vulnerable to attack but they often run slower which will cost you customers even if your site hasn’t been compromised. Having the engine of your website purring like a kitten is the way to drive customers where you want them!

Fact is, these days business is done online. If you’re not online you’re not in business!


Thankfully PICKWICK is here to help! Offering web design, social media management, search engine optimization, and more. Pickwick provides all of the digital services you need to get online, stay online, and find success. Get in touch today to find out how Pickwick can help you!