We are marketing in a great period of transition: a digital divide. The abandonment of traditional media and the adoption of new media in small business marketing is in. Or is it? So what should you do? Jump wholeheartedly into social media and online marketing? Are traditional media like newspaper, TV and radio dead? Is Facebook and Twitter the magic marketing answer?

To determine the state of small business marketing, I asked four small business marketing practitioners to give their opinion. Where should entrepreneurs do? What’s working right now? What does the future hold?

Guests: Rod Sloane, Drew McLellan, Becky McCray, Matt Foster
Length: 28 minutes

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Show Notes on the State of Small Business Marketing

Rod Sloane – Author of 121 Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business

1. Do the simple things and get back to basics.
2. Always do what your competition is not doing.
3. The future is about you as an individual and what you stand for.

Rod Sloane’s Blog: No Bull Business
The Book: 121 Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business

Drew McLellan – Top Dog, McLellan Marketing Group

1. Pick one thing that you should be doing and commit to doing it for six months to a year.
2. Your marketing is not about you, it’s about your customer.
3. Don’t put too much information in your marketing message. Choose one key message.
4. It’s ok to use a blend of old and new media.

Drew McLellan’s Blog: Drew’s Marketing Minute
Drew’s Company: McLellan Marketing Group

Becky McCray – Small Town Entrepreneur

1. Reach beyond your community.
2. Use traditional marketing tools to build awareness
3. Engage customers. Don’t just advertise.
4. Have a plan.

Becky McCray’s Blog: Small Biz Survival
Becky‘s Business: Allen’s Retail Liquor Store

Matt Foster – CEO of ArteWorks Search Engine Optimization

1. Having a website without having at least some basic search engine optimization is pointless.
2. Consider having some off-site search engine optimization such as blogs or a social media presence.
3. Get a 5-6 page website, add contact, build links and start making a name for yourself.

Matt Foster’s Company: ArteWorks SEO
Matt on Twitter: @ArteWorksSEO