This page offers essential tips for small business owners—saving time, money, and avoiding costly mistakes. Learn smart strategies without the hard lessons

By Phillip Verry - Marketing Specialist & Graphic Designer

Business Cards:

Standard business cards often get tossed or forgotten, especially if they have no coating on them.

• A unique shape (rounded edges, square, mini, or die-cut) makes your card stand out.

• Adding a soft-touch finish, embossing, or foil stamping makes people instinctively want to hold onto it.

White Space = Premium Design Choice

• Business owners often feel the need to cram every detail onto a card. In reality, strategic white space makes key information more readable and gives your card a premium feel.

Never Say "Call Me" – Tell Them Why

• Instead of just listing a number, add a CTA (Call to Action):
  “Let’s build your brand – call me today!”
  “Free consultation – let’s talk!”

• Giving them a reason to reach out boosts conversion rates.

Never Leave a Stack—Hand Deliver

• Dropping a pile of cards at a coffee shop almost never leads to real connections.

• Instead, personally handing your card while making eye contact increases engagement and recall.

Never Stretch Text or Photos

• Stretched text makes every word harder to read and people will often give up on the first try.

• Considered 'a dead give away' to the card being designed by a novice (or) a tightwad. If they are this thrifty with their own business card - will they take short cuts and create work arounds on my project too?

The Unexpected Power of “Less Is More”

• Many assume more information = better.

• In reality, keeping it simple with your name, title, phone, email, and ONE key message increases response rates.

Business Cards Still Work – But Only If You Do

• Some think business cards are outdated, but they still outperform digital connections in first-impression networking.

• The trick is following up: After handing out a card, send a quick message within 24-48 hours to keep the connection alive.

Marketing:

Running Ads Without a Strong Offer is Useless

• “We’re Open!” isn’t a good ad.

• Your ad should answer: WHY should people care?

• Example: Instead of “New Coffee Shop,” say “Buy One Coffee, Get One Free – This Week Only!”

You Can’t Just “Buy” Success – Smart Marketing Wins

• Some business owners waste thousands thinking more ads = more success.

• The truth? The right message + the right audience + the right timing = results.

Print Ads Can Still Work—But Only With Tracking

• Flyers, postcards, and newspaper ads still work but only if they include:
  * A clear call to action (CTA)
  * A tracking method (unique coupon code, QR code, or phone number)

• Otherwise, you’ll never know if they were worth the money.

Websites:

Fancy Logos and a Website Doesn't Make Sales – Strategy Does

• Many new businesses spend thousands on branding but skip sales strategy.

• A simple, clear website + a strong offer outperforms a flashy design with no direction.

Google My Business = Free & Powerful Advertising

• Many businesses ignore this, but a fully optimized website support Google by bringing in more customers.

• Add photos, updates, and respond to reviews to boost local search rankings.

• Responding with anger or irritation often makes your business look worse—ultimately reinforcing the reviewer’s complaint. Ignoring the review altogether? That’s even worse. Instead, acknowledge what went wrong, address the issue professionally, and demonstrate humility. Future customers appreciate honesty and a business owner who takes responsibility. Mistakes happen—how you handle them defines your reputation.

Pay A Little Extra - Invest in SEO Optimization

• More Visibility, More Customers – Optimized SEO, keywords, and meta tags help your website rank higher on Google, making it easier for potential customers to find you before your competitors.

• Better User Experience = Higher Conversions – Clean URLs (slugs), proper tags, and structured content improve website navigation, keeping visitors engaged and increasing sales.

• Long-Term ROI – Unlike paid ads that stop the moment you stop paying, SEO builds lasting traffic—meaning free leads for months and years to come.