How to Start Marketing Your Business Online

June 16, 2025•4 min read

Custom HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT

Don’t Know Where to Start With Online Marketing? Start Here.

Most rural business owners I speak to just don’t know where to begin with marketing, it's a problem I hear again and again.

They know they need to get their business online…
But don’t know the first step.

Should I build a website?
Do I need a Google Business Profile?
Which social media platform should I post on?

It’s a mess out there for someone just starting out.

This guide gives you 5 simple steps to help you actually start marketing your business online — without the overwhelm.

1. Nail Down What You’re Selling (And to Who)

You’ll hear different opinions about what comes first:

Your offer (what you sell)
Or your target market (who you’re selling to)

The truth? Both can work — as long as you’re clear on both.

If you try to sell to everyone, you end up selling to no one.

Quick tip to define your audience + offer:

Look at your past 10–20 clients
Highlight the top 20% — the ones who paid well, were easy to work with, or both
These people likely make up 80% of your income
Write down:
- Who they are (location, industry, personality)
- What service you provided
- How it helped them

That becomes the foundation of your messaging.

2. Build a Simple Website That Converts

One of my clients nearly lost a high-paying job because they didn’t have a website.
The only reason they got the call was sheer luck.

The client told them, “I nearly didn’t call because you didn’t look professional.”

Your website doesn’t need to be flashy. But it does need to:

Show what you do
Explain who you work with
Include your location
Show a few past projects
Make it easy to get in touch

💡 Bonus: A website can become your most valuable online asset when done right.

You’ve worked hard to build your business — don’t let a dodgy site be the thing that holds you back.

👉 I wrote a full blog explaining exactly what Google wants to see on your website — click here to check it out.

Cost-wise?

You can buy a domain for about $20/year.
I recommend GoDaddy — and full transparency, I get a little kickback if you use that link.

3. Claim and Optimise Your Google Business Profile

If you only do one thing from this list — do this.

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is your digital shopfront.
It’s what shows up when people search things like:

“Plumber in Moree”
“Electrician near me”
“Best fencing contractor Tamworth”

It includes:

Business name
Opening hours
Location
Phone number
Website
Photos
Reviews

93% of people look a business up online before calling or visiting.
Even if they drive past you every day.

Being on the map matters. It builds trust and visibility — especially for rural businesses.

4. Don’t Try to Do Everything

This is marketing advice I wish I took when I started.

A lot of small businesses try to:

Post on Facebook
Post on Instagram
Post on TikTok
Write blogs
Run email newsletters
Launch a 19-step funnel
…and wonder why nothing’s working

It’s a fast track to burnout.

Instead:

🎯 Focus on the one platform your target audience actually uses.

Example:
If you’re a rural fencing contractor posting daily on Twitter (X), you’re likely wasting time.
But if your audience is women aged 30–50, Facebook or Instagram might be the ticket.

Do your research.
Stick to the platform that aligns with your audience.
Post consistently.
That’s it.