Most small business marketing advice is a list of tactics with no ranking. Here is what actually moves the needle, in priority order.
1. A Real Website
Not a Facebook page. Not a Wix site from 2018. A modern, fast, conversion-focused website. This is the foundation. Skip it and nothing else compounds.
2. Google Business Profile Optimization
Highest-leverage marketing asset for any local business. Most owners spend less than an hour a month on it.
3. Reviews
A steady review pipeline drives both Google rankings and AI recommendations.
4. Local SEO and AI Visibility
SEO + AEO together. Long-term compounding traffic.
5. Paid Ads (Only After 1-4)
Ads work, but only if your website converts. Don't run paid traffic to a broken site.