Today marks 1 year since I launched BFellin Studio. Phew – I did it!

The first 12 months of small business ownership felt weirdly similar to my first year of parenthood. Adjusting to unfamiliar routines, pulling late nights, and lots and lots of learning on the fly. And just like new parenthood, I stretched myself in ways I never could have imagined yet felt completely at home.

With over 15 years of experience launching (and relaunching) countless brands, I felt pretty confident this time last year. Been there, done that. How different could it be, right?

Well… let’s just say I quickly learned why “small business marketing” is referred to as a whole separate entity. I didn’t have a six-figure advertising budget. I didn’t have a marketing team. It was just me, my two computer screens, and occasionally my kiddos running in the background.

I don't claim to have the secret marketing recipe for how to launch a new small business. I’ve made more than a few missteps along the way. But there are definitely a few things I know can be a big help, no matter what type of services you provide.

1. Your most important “marketing” is a stellar business reputation.

Meeting your clients’ needs is great – exceeding them is way better. As you go through the discovery phase of your project, make a mental note of little extras you can tack on without charging more. And always, always meet your deadlines, even if you are the one who set the deadline in the first place. No excuses. Those “little things” are often what clients remember most.

2. Leverage your happy clients.

Research shows that people trust what other people have to say about your business way more than what you have to say about your business. If you have a happy client, ask them for a testimonial right away, while the project is still fresh in their mind. And use that testimonial anywhere you can – your website, social media, print materials, etc.

3. Pay it forward with other small business owners.

I believe in good business karma. Be a connector of businesses and offer referrals, even when there is nothing in it for you. Like, comment and share other small business owners' social media posts too. You never know when you’ll be on the receiving end of this kindness.

4. Consider yourself a Subject Matter Expert. Because you are.

If someone has a question about your industry, weigh in! Share your thoughts and opinions on trending topics. You can even quote yourself on social media and your website (gasp). Referencing other industry experts is great, but don’t let imposter syndrome keep you from having a voice.

5. Offer industry advice in a digestible fashion.

Never forget that something that may feel basic to your industry peers may actually be very helpful to a potential client. Find fun ways to offer easy-to-understand tips and tricks. If you follow me on social media, this is what I tried to do with my Friday Facts! I also heard a story about a tattoo business that has continued to kill it in SEO for years just because they created a simple digital guide to tattoo post-care.

6. Invest your time and energy where it matters most.

Figure out what is most important for your business and start there first. If you are going to design websites, make sure your website looks fantastic. If you want to manage social media for businesses, make sure your business’s social media presence is next-level. If you can’t do it for your own business, why should they trust you with theirs?

7. Try new things and have fun!

Marketing can be fun (I promise). With new tools and new social media platforms being added every day, don’t let the fear of failing keep you from test-driving new things. I may have had a little too much fun the other day playing with some of Canva’s new photo editing tools. You don’t have to be an expert in something to give it a whirl.

8. Be true to who you are.

As important as it is to try new things, it’s also okay to determine something just isn’t for you. If doing TikTok dances doesn’t feel genuine for your brand, just say no. Your business marketing doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s, but it does need to feel authentic to who you are.

9. Your clients want to see behind the curtain.

This one is tough for a lot of us who consider themselves private people (myself included). But even before people started sharing every aspect of their lives on social media, job interviewers used to ask about your hobbies and passions outside of the office. If you aren’t comfortable sharing a lot about your personal life, try sharing more of a behind-the-scenes look at your business, not just the end results. It is far more relatable.

10. Devote time every week to marketing your small business.

Marketing your business is a marathon, not a sprint. Once you become busy with client work, it’s easy to put your own marketing on the back burner. Guilty! But if you set aside a little time every week to working on your own business, it will become much more of a habitual practice. Post on social, offer tips in forums, check your website speed, research keywords, update your materials – marketing is never set it and forget it (although that would be nice).

11. Whatever types of marketing you choose to do for your small business, go all in.

It’s okay to focus your marketing efforts on what feels manageable to you, especially in the first year. If you can only focus on Instagram, do it. If you want to focus on in-person industry networking, rock on. But whatever you do, commit fully. It’s better to do fewer things really well than too many things poorly. For example, I did not want to start this blog until I could commit to posting on a very regular basis.

12. Don’t compare yourself to others.

Do not fall into the comparison trap. Yes, maybe that person you admire has 100,000 social media followers and 5,000 likes on every post, but you have no idea how long they have been doing this or how much support they have. Use them as a source of inspiration instead! Ask them for a quick coffee (or virtual coffee) to learn more about their journey.

13. Just start.

Preparation paralysis for launching a small business is real. You don’t need everything just right. One of the best things I ever did for my business was proclaiming in February 2022 that I was launching on July 26 whether I liked it or not. There will always be more to learn and you’ll never feel completely ready. Just start. You can figure a lot of things out as you go, I promise.

14. Outsource tasks you aren’t comfortable with.

You do not have to do everything. One more time for the perfectionists in the back! I repeat: you do not have to do everything. You actually can’t. If organization isn’t your jam, hire a virtual assistant. If you know your stuff but struggle with finding the right words to describe your business, find a skilled copywriter. It may be tempting to try to do it all yourself to save money, but starting a business is an investment. Think about outsourcing as a way to free yourself up to have more time to do what it is that you do best.

That’s a wrap on year one of BFellin Studio and my very first blog post. I hope you’ll continue to follow along for more. Hit me up if there are any specific topics you’d like me to cover. I’d love to hear from you!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go celebrate with my amazing kiddos and husband who are always my biggest cheerleaders. Cheers friends!