10 ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS TO SHAPE YOUR 2025 MARKETING STRATEGY
Navigating the small business marketing landscape can be tough, but it’s crucial for staying competitive and standing out. What strategies are your competitors using? How are they allocating their marketing budgets? What are their plans for 2025?
To help answer these questions, LocaliQ has created The Small Business Marketing Trends Report for 2025, featuring data and insights from over 730 small businesses!
10 KEY INSIGHTS FROM LOCALIQ'S 2025 SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING TRENDS REPORT
Here are 10 key takeaways from the report to help you navigate the small business marketing landscape and kickstart your 2025 planning.
1. THE MAJORITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT ALLOCATING FUNDS TO PAID SEARCH
2. FEWER THAN HALF OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE INVESTING IN SOCIAL MEDIA ADS
We were surprised to learn that fewer than half of small businesses are investing in social media ads across platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and others.
With customers spending more time on social media, these platforms have become key for discovering new businesses. For example, TikTok is now the fourth most popular search engine, with one in 10 Gen Z users preferring it over Google.
By not leveraging ads on these popular social media platforms, Small Businesses are missing valuable opportunities to engage and convert customers where they’re spending most of their time online.
3. SMALL BUSINESSES RUNNING PAID SEARCH ARE SEEING POSITIVE RESULTS
4. SMALL BUSINESSES ARE MISSING OUT ON AFFORDABLE ONLINE PRESENCE OPPORTUNITIES
When reviewing the marketing channels Small Businesses are investing in, it’s important to highlight the lack of focus on strategies like reputation management, listings, and website chat.
These tactics play a crucial role in building a strong online presence. Listings and reputation management help attract potential customers through search engines and map apps, while website chat enables businesses to capture leads and convert them more efficiently.
What’s more, many tools for these strategies are low-cost, making them ideal for small businesses looking to maximize their digital footprint without breaking the bank.
5. FACEBOOK REMAINS THE MOST POPULAR SOCIAL PLATFORM FOR SMBS TO USE IN THEIR MARKETING EFFORTS
6. SMALL BUSINESSES ARE WORKING WITH LIMITED MARKETING BUDGETS
Understanding the marketing budgets of your SMB competitors can be incredibly helpful.
According to LocaliQ, only 5% of small businesses have no marketing budget, while 38% operate with monthly budgets under $2,500. The report also breaks down budgets by business size, revealing a clear correlation between business size and budget. While this may not come as a surprise, it’s a great reminder for small businesses doing a lot with limited resources that they’re not alone in this challenge.
This highlights the importance of embracing low-cost strategies and leveraging creative marketing tactics to reach potential customers.
Here are some resources that might inspire you:
- 27 Free & Low-Budget Marketing Ideas for Any Business
- 42 Powerful Local Marketing Ideas That Work (+ Examples!)
- 10 Free & Creative Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses
7. MANY SMALL BUSINESSES LACK DEDICATED MARKETING SUPPORT
8. THE MAJORITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY LEVERAGING AI
9. ECONOMIC CHALLENGES PERSIST
The past few years have been tough for businesses, with challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, and supply chain disruptions. As we head into 2025, nearly half of Small Businesses are still worried about the economy, with 18% acknowledging it will be a major challenge for them.
Additionally, 56% of businesses planning to reduce their marketing budgets in 2025 cited economic conditions and uncertainty as the primary reason.
10. ACQUIRING NEW CUSTOMERS REMAINS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
DEVELOP THE RIGHT MARKETING STRATEGY FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT IN 2025
Small businesses are setting ambitious goals for 2025, and this summary highlights just a few of the key trends. To dive deeper into the full data and insights gathered from over 730 Small Businesses, download the complete report. And if you’re looking to craft a marketing strategy that helps you rise above the competition, reach out to schedule a demo with our team.
Here’s a recap of the top insights from The Small Business Marketing Trends Report for 2025:
- Most Small Businesses aren’t investing in paid search
- Many are also not leveraging social ads
- Those using paid search are generally satisfied with the results
- Small Businesses are overlooking low-cost online presence strategies
- Facebook remains the most popular social platform for SMB marketing
- Smaller businesses often face budget constraints
- They are less likely to have dedicated marketing support
- Most Small Businesses are already adopting AI in their strategies
- Economic challenges persist
- Attracting new customers remains a major hurdle
HOW MCIVOR MARKETING CAN HELP YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
At McIvor Marketing, we specialize in helping small businesses grow by providing tailored digital marketing strategies that drive measurable results. With over 15 years of experience, our team leverages a mix of SEO, paid advertising, social media, content creation, and data-driven insights to elevate your brand and reach your target audience.
We understand the unique challenges small businesses face, and we work closely with you to create cost-effective marketing solutions that maximize your budget and deliver results. Whether you’re looking to increase online visibility, generate leads, or boost sales, McIvor Marketing is here to support your growth every step of the way.
Want to Read 5 Marketing Tips for Small Businesses?
Check out this blog post and see if your business is currently tackling these Top 5 Marketing Tips. If you have questions or find you need help in an area, reach out!
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