NEWS
How to learn from trying multiple marketing activities for your Australian small business
We work with a client who is absolutely relentless in their marketing. Month after month, they show up across multiple channels without fail. They run three email campaigns a month. They send three SMS campaigns a month. They invest in SEO, AdWords and regular website updates. They sponsor their industry association. They’re visible, active,and constantly in front of their target audience. And because of this ongoing commitment, they generate revenue and profit from a variety of different marketing activities.
This client has also been in business for more than 30 years, which often leads people to say, “Well, of course they can do all of that. They’ve been around forever.” But what’s interesting is that the advice we hear in the small business space is often the opposite: Focus on one marketing activity, master it, milk it for all it’s worth, and only then move on to the next.
There’s truth in that advice—but it’s not the whole story.
Every business sits in a different stage of growth, with different goals, resources and audiences. A 30-year-old business has earned the luxury of experimenting with countless marketing activities over time. They’ve seen what works, what doesn’t and what needs refining.
But if you’re in the earlier years of your business, the rules look a little different.
You absolutely can try a handful of marketing activities at once. In fact, you sometimes need to. When you’re getting started, you may not yet know which marketing channel will give you the best return on investment. It’s only by testing and measuring that you start to understand where your customers are coming from and which actions move the needle for you.
If you lock yourself into just one tactic and it’s not delivering results, you run the risk of wasting time, money and opportunity. Sometimes the smartest move is to ditch what isn’t working and test something new. Other times, it’s about refining rather than replacing. The key is to give yourself permission to evolve.
The most successful small businesses don’t guess their way through marketing. They experiment, they measure and then they double down on what works best.
Once you’ve identified the marketing activity that consistently brings results, whether it’s email, SEO, social media, Google Ads, partnerships or something else, that’s when you can lean in and scale it. But you can only make that decision once you’ve built enough data to know for sure.
Do What Works for Your Small Business
Every business is different. Every brand is different. Every target audience responds differently. And every bank balance is different.
The right strategy is the one that aligns with where your business is today and where you want it to go next.
So try a few things. Test and learn. Evolve. And when you find what works, commit to it consistently. That’s how small businesses build long-term momentum, visibility, and profit.
Marketing isn’t about following a strict formula, it’s about being intentional, adaptable and consistent. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for decades, the key is to keep showing up, testing what works and refining your approach. Over time, those small, consistent efforts compound into real growth, stronger brand recognition and a business that thrives in any market.
The team here at Little Marketing have been working with small business owners for over 16 years and helping them in this approach. If you're looking for a consultative approach to your small business marketing, then speak with our team today.
