10 Commonly ask questions about Marketing

Written by Catherine Hayford

10 Marketing Questions Small Business Owners Ask Most (Answered Straight)

After 35+ years in sales and marketing, I get asked the same handful of questions over and over by small business owners here in Columbus and Central Ohio. So I am putting the honest answers in one place. No jargon, no sales pitch, no fluff. Just real answers from someone who actually picks up the phone.

1. How much should a small business spend on marketing?

There is no magic number, and anyone who gives you one without knowing your business is guessing. A common rule of thumb is 5 to 10 percent of revenue, but for a brand new business it may be more, and for an established one with steady referrals it may be less. What matters more than the percentage is spending it where it actually reaches your customers. I build plans around what you can realistically afford, with à la carte options and payment plans so you are never locked into something that does not fit.

2. Do I really need a website if I already have a Facebook page?

Yes. Your Facebook page is rented land. The platform owns it, sets the rules, and can change them overnight. Your website is property you own. It is also where people land when they search for you on Google, and it gives you credibility a social page alone cannot. The two work best together, but the website is the foundation.

3. How long before I see results from marketing?

Be honest with yourself here, because plenty of agencies will not be. Paid ads can bring leads quickly. Organic growth like SEO and social media takes months of consistency before it builds momentum. Anyone promising overnight results is selling you something. Real marketing is a steady drumbeat, not a lottery ticket.

4. What is SEO, and do I actually need it?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is the work that helps your business show up when someone in your area searches for what you sell. For a local business, the single most powerful free tool is your Google Business Profile, which feeds the map results and local search. Yes, you need it. And no, you should never pay someone who "guarantees" a number one ranking, because nobody can promise that. Google does not work that way.

5. Should I be on every social media platform?

No, and trying to be will burn you out. Pick the one or two platforms where your customers actually spend time and do those well. For most Central Ohio small businesses, that is Facebook and Instagram, sometimes Nextdoor for hyper-local reach. One platform done consistently beats five done half-heartedly.

6. Why do some agencies lock me out of my own website and domain?

Because it keeps you trapped. If they own your domain and your website logins, you cannot leave without losing everything. This is one of the most predatory practices in my industry, and I refuse to do it. With me, you own all of it, the domain, the website, the accounts, from day one. If we ever part ways, you walk away with everything that is yours.

7. What is a 3-Touch Marketing Strategy?

It is my signature approach: reaching the same prospect three different ways, by email, by phone, and by direct mail. People rarely act the first time they hear from you. Showing up across multiple channels builds familiarity and trust, and it dramatically increases the odds that they remember you when they are ready to buy.

8. Do I need to post on social media every single day?

Yes, posting consistently every day helps keep you visible in the algorithm. The platforms reward accounts that show up regularly, and the more often you post, the more chances you have to reach your audience. But here is the key: make most of your posts educational and helpful, not promotional. Teach people something. Share a tip, answer a common question, explain how something works in your industry. People scroll right past "buy my stuff," but they stop, read, and share content that actually helps them. A good rule is to give far more than you ask. When you do post about your services, your audience is already warmed up and paying attention because you have spent your other posts earning their trust.

9. What is AEO, and why is everyone suddenly talking about it?

AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization. It is about getting your business cited when people ask questions to AI tools like ChatGPT, Google's AI overviews, and similar search assistants. More and more people are skipping the old blue links and just asking a question. Structuring your content in clear question-and-answer format, like this very post, helps those engines find and recommend you. It is quickly becoming as important as traditional SEO.

10. Can I do my own marketing, or should I hire help?

You can absolutely do a lot yourself, especially with free tools like Canva for graphics and your Google Business Profile for local search. The real question is whether your time is better spent running your business or wrestling with marketing tools. Plenty of my clients handle the day-to-day and bring me in for the pieces that overwhelm them. I work especially well with business owners who have ADHD, dyslexia, or other neurodiverse wiring, because I keep things simple, direct, and human.

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Got a marketing question that is not on this list? Call me directly. I answer every call myself, no phone trees, no account managers, no runaround.

Hayford Marketing | Real Solutions for Columbus and Central Ohio small businesses.
Serving Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, Gahanna, and surrounding communities.
Call Cat directly: 614-273-5303 | hayfordmarketing.com