Content Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

Joel Conner • August 9, 2022

There are many ways to deliver value to your audience!

As a small business owner, you may not have a significant budget to spend on marketing your goods and services. This is especially true if you haven't seen much in the way of results through conventional tactics in the past. You may even question whether the cost of marketing is worth it. Firstly, yes, it is, and luckily for you, content marketing is another more cost-effective way to generate new leads and increase visibility or findability in the digital age.


What is Content Marketing?


Content marketing is the engine that drives sales in the online world. When you upload online material (blogs, images, videos, articles, etc.) to promote your small business, to be shared, liked, or commented on by followers or future customers—this is an example of content marketing.

 

The content you upload is all part of your marketing strategy, and to make the most of this effort, you must develop material that focuses on educating your audience and building trust—all based on your core business objective.

Did you know the similarities between a hamburger sold at McDonald's and content marketing? They're both easy on the wallet. But let's get real here. Content marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. As you communicate successfully with your audience, it has the potential to change their behavior over time. Not only will this help you sell more, but it will also help you accurately predict your company's growth. Here are some content marketing ideas to help you get started.


Conversion-Bound Website

A company's website serves as their home base, and every content marketing plan revolves around it. Because more than half of consumers research businesses before making a purchase, having a high-quality and dependable platform is essential for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to giant corporations. While some marketers believe in faster routes, taking shortcuts in this regard is likely to discourage potential customers, resulting in higher bounce rates.


On top of that, it's important to understand that creating a conversion-bound website is no simple task, particularly if you have no training in web design, copywriting, and coding. Therefore, if you don't have whatever it takes to build a dream website, hire some experts. Considering that your website is the foundation of your digital marketing efforts, you must ensure it is done right.


Written Material

A good place to begin is with some written content; however, the internet is a vast space, and the mere existence of your blog will not be enough to make it stand out from the competition. You must aim to write articles that present new information, help your target audience in some way, or simply just entertain them—and the best content revolves around all three. Simply put, if your material is well-written, optimized for search engines, and adheres to blogging best practices, you're good to go.


If you often find yourself asking, "What should I write?"—you are in trouble. Instead of asking that question, you should be wondering, "What do my readers want to read?" Effective blogging (aimed to build a brand and boost sales) is focused on what the target audience wants, NOT what you want the audience to read. Here are some foolproof ways to get blog post content ideas any day, every day.



●       Start by creating content similar to your most-viewed posts.

●       Use Google Search Console (Check out its 'Performance' tab).

●       Visit Quora to find what individuals are talking about these days.

●       Just like Quora, Reddit is also a treasure trove for content ideas.

●       Search for the relevant Hashtags on Twitter, and create something similar.

●       Make use of social media analytics. (There's one in nearly every top platform).

●       At the end of every post, ask your readers/visitors what they'd like to see next.

●       Learn from competitors but never try to copy the stuff they're already producing.

●       Follow the "news" in your industry—preferably the controversial ones. 


Once you have the content idea that works in your favor, use it to create an editorial schedule for at least three months. Not only will it save you time (you don't want to look for content marketing ideas every day), but it will also bring consistency to your blogging approach, transforming it into a content asset. Having a content asset is essential to building a brand.

Savvy Infographics

Try to recall when you last read a lengthy article or blog post with loads of complicated jargon, where it wasn't easy to make sense of all that was going on. Your audience may feel the same if the content you put out there is not quite comprehensible—and this is where infographics come in. Infographics are visually appealing and simpler to distribute than text, making it far simpler to understand and recall statistical information. Good content is 50% of a successful infographic.


For those concerned with infographics being a thing of the past, note that they have had the most significant increase in the last four years among B2B marketers and were at 67% in 2020. Infographics have always been—and will always be—a powerful tool to deliver information. Don't worry if you don’t have the required designing skills. There are hundreds of customizable infographic templates available online to provide a helping hand even if you have a tight budget.



However, even if you are familiar with the infographic fundamentals, there is something remarkable about the professional approach. An experienced infographic designer will not only think about the components of the design but will also concentrate on the other aspect of content “marketing” - the marketing. They will create a design that draws in your target demographic, boosts user engagement, and expands your customer base. So, DIY approach or professional infographic designer, the choice is yours. 


Interviews Industry Rockstars

Rockstars may be found in every field imaginable. For example, Elon Musk is at the helm of startups, Jony Ive is available to designers, and then there's marketing guru Seth Godin. Due to their accomplishments and years of expertise, they are a veritable treasure mine of pointers, strategies, and recommendations your audience is itching to pick up. Before setting up an interview, one must have a strong familiarity with their qualifications and experience.

Start off by determining what their backstories are and what it is about them that makes them so exceptional. Look for marketing advice and think about what your readers may learn from them. Simply put, create subjects that are relevant to the situation. This way, you can connect their area of expertise to something you already know your audience would like. You may ask:

●       How do you manage to be so good at what you do?

●       What is the key to your incredible level of productivity?

●       What are some of the most significant errors you've made?

Digital Advertising

Digital advertising has become a significant component of modern-day content marketing strategies—and if it's not part of your small business marketing strategy, it should be. The transition businesses have gone through to migrate and adapt to the changes that society has undergone may be considered digital advertising. After all, if 4.18 billion individuals connect to the internet with their smartphones, your small business must also be visible to increase its relevance and brand recognition.


One of the most well-known methods marketers use to promote their content is via Google's search adverts, which were once known as AdWords. Marketers can advertise their content alongside organic search results using this method, often known as search engine marketing or SEM. The Google Adverts program uses a concept known as pay-per-click, or PPC for short. This means that you only pay when users click on one of their ads rather than for impressions.


It is an excellent way to put your content in front of the appropriate audience since the adverts display the search queries entered by users to determine results. Additionally, considering that around 75% of individuals never go beyond the first page of search results, this might significantly boost the visibility of your content, improving your business's SEO.


Email Marketing

A regular newsletter is one of the best ways to get your content in front of your targeted audience. Remember that users will only sign up for your list if there is something in it for them. Start by creating enticing subject lines. On top of that, maintain brevity and focus when writing the body of your email. Finally, don't forget to add a direct call to action along with a link to your content.


Video Marketing

As the old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words; multiply that number by a thousand in the case of a video—the foundation upon which video marketing is built. It is a powerful marketing tool that successfully engages with the audience and only requires a little practice and creativity to blow them away. When it comes to video content, marketers have various tools at their disposal. This indicates that locating a strategy compatible with your content marketing objectives is simple.


●       Videos experience a 27% higher click-through rate.

●       Receive 41% more web traffic.

●       Grow revenue 49% faster than non-video users.



Converting your articles into videos is one of the simplest ways to repurpose your content. Additionally, doing so gives you a new avenue to generate new traffic. More precisely, a whopping 91% of those who use the internet. So, what are you waiting for? Take your most recent blog or article, hire a video marketing expert, give it a few minutes of your time, and voila! A custom-made video is all set to be published on your social media accounts.


Bonus Idea: Invest in Innovation

Even though Amazon was not the first online business, practically everything it has done since its inception has been groundbreaking. They don't keep up with the rest of the industry; they are the ones in charge. Even after all these years, Amazon continually seeks new methods to monetize its existing customer base. However, not everything Amazon has done has been a home run success story. They've undoubtedly had several setbacks.

Nonetheless, the critical factor to note here is that Amazon has never shied away from developing and experimenting with new ideas. They were frequently willing to take risks when the rest of the industry was not, which has paid off handsomely in the long term.



The secret sauce here is to think like your consumer and design services and an experience that meets their requirements and expectations. Remember that not everything you try will be successful; therefore, test even the smallest ideas to ensure they are safe to implement.

Rather than using a costly survey platform, simply establish a free Google Form and manually distribute links to the general public. If the reaction is positive and the input is meaningful, you may want to consider investing in a more sophisticated, automated solution.


The Final Cut

Content and marketing are like peanut butter and jelly, complementing one another and generally performing best when integrated. However, you must have a strategy to balance them to get the highest ROI. Whether you're a rookie or a pro, at some point, you will experience writer's block and find it challenging to come up with relevant ideas. If you're in a rut or simply need new content to align with your marketing strategy, join hands with the content marketers at BlueSwing Media.


Here, we unpacked some content marketing ideas to make your small business the next big thing. This brings us to the end of this quick-start guide. Now it's time to hear from you. Any questions? Or maybe there's something we missed? Either way, feel free to leave a comment below. 


Share

How to Set Up Go High Level for Real Estate (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

By Joel Conner • February 2, 2026
If you’re a real estate agent or broker, you’ve probably heard of Go High Level. You may even know it’s “powerful” and “can run your whole business” — but when you log in, it feels like a cockpit. Dozens of features, endless menus, and no clear roadmap for what you actually need to use. The good news: as a real estate professional, you don’t need everything. You just need a few core pieces set up correctly: A simple pipeline that matches how you work Automated follow-up so no lead slips through the cracks Smart tagging and routing so leads go to the right place Appointment reminders that reduce no‑shows Easy open house and offer follow-ups Basic dashboards so you can see what’s working In this guide, we’ll walk through how to set up Go High Level for a real estate business step by step — and how to use it without getting buried in complexity. Why Go High Level Is a Good Fit for Real Estate Go High Level (often written as GoHighLevel or GHL) is an all‑in‑one platform that can: Capture leads from forms, funnels, and ads Store and organize contacts like a CRM Automate follow‑ups via email, SMS, and even ringless voicemail Track deals in pipelines Book and manage appointments Build simple landing pages and funnels For real estate agents and brokers, that means you can: Respond instantly to new leads Keep track of buyers and sellers by stage and property Follow up after open houses Send appointment reminders automatically Stay on top of which leads came from where You don’t have to use every feature. If you focus on a handful of essentials, you’ll get real value quickly — and you can grow from there. Step 1: Start With a Real Estate Sub‑Account and Snapshot Go High Level lets you create sub accounts — essentially separate spaces for each business. If you’re just getting started: Go to your Agency account. Click Sub accounts in the left menu. Click Create sub account . Search for Real Estate snapshots. You’ll see options like: Real Estate Agent Real Estate Broker Pick the one that matches you best. These snapshots come preloaded with: Real estate pipelines Basic automations Landing page templates Then: Add your business information (address, name, etc.). Click Add sub account . Switch into it with Switch to sub account . This gives you a solid starting point tailored to real estate rather than a blank, generic setup. Step 2: Build a Pipeline That Matches Your Real Estate Workflow Your pipeline is where you visually track deals from “new lead” to “closed.” The real estate snapshot usually includes a default pipeline with stages like: New lead Hot lead New booking Visit attended Deal Left a review You can keep this, or you can create your own so it reflects how you actually work. How to Create a Custom Pipeline Go to Opportunities . Click Pipelines . Click Create pipeline . For a buyer pipeline , for example, you might set stages like: New lead Contacted Appointment set Showing Offer made Closed For a seller pipeline , you could have: New listing Photos taken On market Offer received Sold Name the pipeline and click Create . Then, in the top left, switch to your new pipeline to start using it. Tip: If you work with both buyers and sellers, create separate pipelines. It keeps your view clean and makes follow‑up easier. Step 3: Automate Lead Follow‑Up So You Respond Instantly This is where Go High Level really shines. Most agents lose business not because they don’t get leads — but because they don’t follow up quickly or consistently. With Go High Level, you can create workflows that: Trigger when a new lead comes in Send an immediate SMS and/or email Add the lead to a pipeline Assign it to an agent Continue nurturing over days or weeks Start with a Simple New Lead Workflow Go to Automations → Workflows . Click Create workflow → Start from scratch (or use “New Lead Nurture – Fast 5” as a base). Add a trigger , such as: Form submitted (for website or funnel forms) Facebook lead form submitted TikTok form submitted LinkedIn lead form submitted New contact created Appointment booked If you’re using a standard Go High Level form, choose: Trigger: Form submitted Filter: Form is [Your Buyer/Seller Form] Once you’ve set your trigger, add actions like: Create/Update Contact – to ensure the lead is saved properly Add to Pipeline – put them into the “New lead” stage of your buyer or seller pipeline Send SMS – something friendly and immediate, like: “Hi {{contact.first_name}}, thanks for reaching out about homes in {{location}}. Would you like to schedule a quick call to talk about what you’re looking for?” Send Email – a slightly more detailed introduction and next steps Wait steps and If/Else conditions – for follow‑ups based on whether they reply You can also use the prebuilt New Lead Nurture (Fast 5) workflow in Go High Level. It typically: Triggers when someone submits an offer form or Facebook lead form Creates a new opportunity in the New lead stage Sends a conversational email and SMS Waits for replies Moves leads to Hot lead if they reply Triggers call connect actions This is a great starting point if you don’t want to build from scratch. Step 4: Auto‑Tag and Route Your Leads for Better Organization Once leads are flowing in, you want them automatically: Tagged (e.g., buyer, seller, rental, luxury, open house) Routed to the right pipeline and agent This keeps your database clean and makes it easy to run targeted follow‑ups. Tagging Leads Based on Forms and Sources Say you have different forms: Buyer form Seller form Open house form Free home valuation form You can: Use a trigger like Form submitted or Facebook lead form submitted . Filter by specific form. Add an action: Add contact tag . Useful tags might include: Buyer / Seller Rental Luxury listing Came from Facebook Came from Google Open house – 123 Main St Free home valuation With these tags in place, you can quickly filter contacts, build targeted campaigns, or trigger routing automations. Routing Leads to the Right Agent You can also route leads based on tags. Example: all Buyer leads go to your buyer’s agent. Create a new workflow with trigger Contact tag . Filter: Tag added is Buyer. Add action: Assign to user . Choose the agent responsible for buyer leads. You can set up similar workflows for sellers, rentals, or specific property types or locations. This way: Facebook buyer leads go straight into your buyer pipeline Seller leads go to your listing pipeline Agents see only the leads they’re responsible for No manual sorting. Less confusion. Faster response times. Step 5: Set Up Appointment Reminders to Reduce No‑Shows Once you’re booking showings and consultation calls, appointment reminders can dramatically reduce no‑shows. Create a Calendar in Go High Level Go to Calendars → Calendar settings . Click New calendar . Choose the calendar type: Personal booking – for one agent Round robin – for multiple team members Class booking – useful if you want a “group” appointment (e.g., open house time slots) Name the calendar (e.g., “Buyer Consultation,” “Listing Appointment,” “Property Showing”). Add team members if using round robin. Set: Meeting duration Bookable times Buffer times between appointments Then, connect it to your personal calendar: Go to Connections Click Add new Connect Google Calendar, Outlook, iCloud, or Calendly Now, when someone books through this calendar, it automatically shows up in your personal calendar. Use Automated Confirmation and Reminder Workflows Go High Level usually includes a workflow like “Appointment Confirmation and Reminders.” This can: Trigger when an appointment is confirmed Update the opportunity stage to something like Appointment set Send a confirmation email: “Hi {{contact.first_name}}, your appointment has been confirmed for {{appointment.start_date}} at {{appointment.start_time}} {{appointment.time_zone}}.” Send reminder emails: 24 hours before 1 hour before Send SMS reminders (e.g., 1 hour before) If someone doesn’t show, another workflow can trigger on Appointment status: No show and: Send a link to reschedule Follow up again after a day This combination keeps your calendar fuller and minimizes missed opportunities. Step 6: Automate Open House Follow‑Ups Open houses are great for collecting warm leads — but those leads often go cold if you don’t follow up quickly and consistently. Go High Level makes it easy to: Capture visitor info Tag them based on the specific open house Send personalized follow-ups with similar listings or next steps Create a Simple Open House Form Go to Sites → Forms → Form builder . Build a form that collects: Name Email Phone What they’re looking for (beds, baths, budget, area) You can use this: On a tablet at the open house As a QR code link (visitors scan and fill it out on their phone) Embedded on your website As part of your Facebook lead ad form that’s integrated into Go High Level Automate the Follow-Up Use a Form submitted trigger for your open house form. Add an action to Add contact tag , e.g.: Open house – 123 Main St. Add actions to: Send an immediate “Thanks for stopping by” email or SMS Include links to similar listings or next steps Add them to a Warm leads pipeline Set reminders for follow‑up calls or texts Example SMS: “Hi {{contact.first_name}}, thanks for visiting the open house at 123 Main St today. I’ve got a few similar properties you might like — want me to send them over?” This simple automation helps you stay top‑of‑mind and turn casual open house visitors into real opportunities. Step 7: Use Dashboards to See What’s Working (and Fix What Isn’t) Once everything is up and running, you don’t want to guess how it’s performing. Check your Dashboard or Reports in Go High Level regularly (weekly works well). You can see: How many leads are coming in Which sources (Facebook, Google, website, open houses) are performing best How many leads are moving from stage to stage in your pipeline Where deals tend to get stuck From there, make small tweaks like: Adjusting the delay between follow‑up messages Refining your SMS and email templates Changing which tags trigger which workflows Fine‑tuning your pipelines or reminders Often, small improvements in timing or messaging can significantly boost your response rates and conversions. Bonus: Simple Funnels and Offers for Real Estate You don’t need complex funnels to generate leads. Go High Level snapshots for real estate often come with ready‑made pages like: Free home valuation offer Home buying consultation Seller consultation For example, you could: Run Facebook ads to a free home valuation landing page Collect details through a form Tag those leads as Free home valuation Trigger an automation that: Reminds you to prepare the valuation Sends a follow‑up message to schedule a consultation Adds them to a seller pipeline This turns a simple offer into a structured system that consistently feeds your business. Keep It Simple, Then Grow Go High Level has dozens of features — social planners, reputation management, and more — but you don’t need all of them on day one. If you’re a real estate agent or broker, start with: A buyer and/or seller pipeline New lead follow‑up workflows (email + SMS) Tagging and routing rules Appointment calendars and reminders Open house follow‑up Basic dashboard checks Once those are in place and working, you can gradually add: Social media scheduling Review generation (reputation management) More advanced campaigns and funnels The goal isn’t to use every feature — it’s to build a system that quietly saves you hours each week and helps you close more deals.  Need Help Setting This Up? If you’d like to use Go High Level (or any CRM/automation system) but don’t have the time or desire to configure it yourself, Blue Swing Media can help. We work with small businesses and local service providers — including real estate professionals — to: Set up practical, easy‑to‑use pipelines Build automated follow‑ups that feel personal, not spammy Connect your website, ads, and forms so every lead is tracked Create landing pages and offers that actually convert If you want a real estate system that runs smoothly in the background while you focus on serving clients, reach out to Blue Swing Media. We’ll help you implement the strategies in this guide and tailor them to your business, your market, and your goals.

7 Proven HVAC Marketing Strategies (That Work in 2023): Expert Tips

By Joel Conner • October 11, 2023
Having A Clear Plan Can Make All The Difference!
Smartphone, Reading Glasses, Keyboard, & Coffee Cup Top View

Is Content Marketing Effective for Small Businesses?

May 11, 2022
Are you looking for new ideas to market your small business? Here’s an interesting post discussing content marketing and its effectiveness for small businesses.