You’ve poured everything into your small business—your time, your savings, maybe even your sanity.

But here’s the hard truth: nearly half of businesses like yours may not survive past year five.

Why 50% of Small Businesses Fail by Year Five (And What Most Get Wrong)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail after their first year. By the fifth year, nearly 50% have shut down.

There are many reasons—cash flow, poor planning, supply chain issues—but one major thread ties a lot of these failures together: lack of visibility.

Most small businesses pour everything into their product or service but overlook one essential ingredient for survival: marketing. Worse, they assume marketing is a luxury or something to “get to later.” But without marketing, you’re invisible. And invisibility is fatal in business.

Shutting down of businesses per year

So, how do you start getting noticed, trusted, and chosen—without breaking the bank?

Here are four stellar digital marketing strategies every small business must start using today.

1. GMB to Help Customers Find You Online

Imagine someone’s searching for exactly what you offer. They type it into Google… and your business doesn’t even show up.

That’s where your Google Business Profile comes in—it’s one of the most powerful tools to boost your local visibility and get discovered by nearby customers.

Make sure you:

  • Claim and fully optimize your Google Business Profile with accurate business info
  • Add high-quality photos of your storefront, team, or products
  • Collect and respond to positive customer reviews

Showing up on Google Maps and local search is no longer optional—it’s how people find and trust you.

Business on google Maps

The best part? Most of this is free or low-cost to implement.

Pro Tip:

Use keywords in your business description and services section to match local search intent—think “vegan bakery in Austin” instead of just “bakery.”

2. A Strong Online Presence to Build Trust With Customers

After coming across your brand, your potential customer would now look for your credibility online. If your website and social profiles are outdated, broken, or inconsistent, they might bounce before they ever contact you.

Your online presence is your digital handshake.

Make sure:

  • Your website is mobile-friendly and fast
  • Your business details—Name, Address, and Phone Number (N.A.P)—are consistent across all platforms
  • Your brand voice and visuals are aligned
  • Your website layout is clear—not cluttered or overwhelming

You don’t need to be everywhere—just show up well where it counts.

How web site should be

Pro Tip:

Use a tool like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to quickly check how your website performs—and fix what’s hurting your first impression.

3. Run Targeted Local Ads to Reach Real Customers

One of the easiest ways to shout out your service or product to your digital audience is through targeted local advertising—specifically on Google or Facebook.

Why it works:

  • You can spend as little as $5–10/day
  • You control who sees the ad (location, interests, intent)
  • You only pay when someone clicks or engages

Run an ad for a seasonal promo, a new service, or a local event. The goal isn’t to go viral—it’s to reach the right people in your area.

How to target ads on google

You’ll start seeing what kind of messaging works, what people click on, and how traffic flows to your site or profile.

Pro Tip:

Use location-based copy in your ad headline (e.g., “Looking for a plumber in Dallas?”) to instantly connect with nearby searchers and boost relevance

4. Let Marketing Data Drive Your Growth, Not Guesswork

With traditional marketing, it’s hard to measure what’s working. But with digital tools, you’ll know exactly how your audience is engaging.

Set up Google Analytics on your site. Use Facebook Insights if you’re running social ads. Check your Google Business Profile metrics for searches and actions.

Data helps you make informed decisions:

  • Which products are drawing interest?
  • Which pages get the most visits?
  • Are people dropping off before booking or calling?

Have a Google Analytic account

You don’t need to be a data scientist—just look at trends. Use them to tweak your content, offers, or targeting.

Pro Tip:

Connect Google Analytics to your website and track where users drop off—this helps you fix what’s not working and double down on what is.

How to Start Digital Marketing for Your Small Business

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t. Start small—but start today. Here’s a beginner-friendly checklist:

  1. Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile
  2. Refresh your website for mobile, speed, and clarity
  3. Pick one social media channel and post consistently
  4. Try a small, local ad campaign with a clear goal
  5. Track performance with free tools (Google Analytics, Facebook Insights)

Digital marketing doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. But not doing it at all? That’s expensive in the long run.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, visibility is survival. And digital marketing is the most accessible way to stay visible, trusted, and in demand.

So if you’re going to do just one thing for your small business this year—
make it digital marketing.