Small Business Marketing Checklist
This practical checklist is designed to help small and micro-businesses across ‘Your Region’ build visibility, attract local customers and compete effectively, both online and offline.
1. Foundations: Get the Basics Right
☐ Clear value proposition
Can you clearly explain what you do, who you do it for, and why you’re different in one or two sentences?
☐ Defined target audience
Know your ideal customer by:
- Location (town, city, rural area)
- Demographics
- Needs and pain points
☐ Consistent branding
Ensure your business name, logo, colours and tone of voice are consistent across:
- Website
- Social media
- Directories
- Printed materials
2. Website Essentials
☐ Professional, mobile-friendly website
Most “near me” searches happen on mobile, so your site must work well on phones and tablets.
☐ Clear contact information
Your:
- Business name
- Address (or service area)
- Phone number
- Email
should be easy to find and consistent everywhere online.
☐ Location-specific pages
Include references to your town, city or region (e.g. Newcastle, Leeds, London, Glasgow or wherever) within your website copy.
☐ Fast loading times
Slow websites lose customers and rank lower on search engines.
3. Search Engines & “Near Me” Visibility (Local SEO)
☐ Google Business Profile set up and optimised
- Accurate business details
- Opening hours
- Photos
- Services
- Regular updates or posts
☐ Listed on major online directories
Including:
- Google Maps
- Bing Places
- Yell
- Yelp UK
- Local Chamber of Commerce directories
- Industry-specific directories
☐ Consistent business information everywhere
Your business name, address and phone number must match exactly across all listings.
☐ Customer reviews actively encouraged
Positive reviews strongly influence both rankings and customer trust.
☐ Optimised for “near me” and local search terms
Examples:
- “Plumber near me”
- “Accountant in [Your Region]”
- “Dry Cleaners near Newcastle city centre”
4. Content & Messaging
☐ Clear service descriptions
Explain what you do in plain English, not jargon.
☐ Local relevance
Reference local projects, customers, partnerships or events to reinforce your Nregional presence.
☐ Regular content updates
This could include:
- Blog posts
- News updates
- Case studies
- FAQs
☐ Calls to action
Tell visitors exactly what to do next: call, book, email or visit.
5. Social Media Presence
☐ Choose the right platforms
You don’t need to be everywhere. Focus on where your customers are (e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram).
☐ Consistent posting schedule
Even once or twice a week builds familiarity and trust.
☐ Local engagement
- Tag local locations
- Engage with other North East businesses
- Share local news and events
☐ Link back to your website
Social media should drive traffic, not replace your website.
6. Networking & Local Business Support
☐ Join the local Chamber of Commerce
Benefits include:
- Networking opportunities
- Increased credibility
- Business visibility through member directories
☐ Engage with local business organisations
Such as Growth Hubs, enterprise agencies, and business networks.
☐ Attend local events and workshops
In-person relationships still matter and often lead to referrals.
7. Measurement & Improvement
☐ Track website traffic
Understand where visitors come from and what they do on your site.
☐ Monitor enquiries and conversions
Know which marketing channels generate real leads.
☐ Review and refine quarterly
Marketing is not “set and forget”. Small improvements add up over time.
8. Optional Growth Activities
☐ Paid search or social advertising
Target local audiences for faster visibility.
☐ Email marketing
Build and nurture a local customer list.
☐ Professional marketing support
Even limited advice from a specialist can deliver strong ROI.
Moving Forward
For locally focussed small businesses, success often comes from combining strong local relationships with strong local digital visibility. Being active in the regional business community and easy to find online — especially for “near me” searches — is a powerful competitive advantage.
