Why SMEs Might Need  Internet Marketing to
Drive Traffic and Cashflow.

So let's have a pseudo chat about Internet Marketing.

SME Owner (Sceptical): 

Look, my business is doing fine with word-of-mouth and normal ads etc. 

Why should I bother with Internet Marketing?
It sounds like a lot of work and expense for something that might not even pay off.

Marketing Advocate: 

I get it — sticking with what has worked in the past feels safe.

So let’s unpack this a bit ok.

Your customers are already online
—76% of consumers search for local businesses on their phones before visiting.

When you are not showing up where they’re looking, you are invisible to most of your potential buyers. Internet marketing isn’t just a fancy add-on; it’s how you get in front of those people actively searching for what you offer. 'Screen Time' is almost an epidemic. So how do we capitalise on this?

SME Owner:

Okay, however I am not that tech-savvy.
Doing this myself sounds overwhelming,
while hiring someone to do it sounds expensive. 

How do I even know it will work?

Marketing Advocate: 

Fair concern, and I do hear you on that point too,
many people share the same concern. So lets dig in and unwrap this. 

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to make this work.

Start small—set up a Google Business Profile, which is free and puts you on Google Maps and search results. Or, if you outsource, a pro can target ads to your exact audience, like locals searching for “coffee shop near me” or “plumber in [your city].” 

The proof? Businesses using online ads see an
average 2.7x increase in website traffic,
and targeted campaigns can deliver $2-$4 in revenue for every $1 spent.

That’s not just traffic—that’s cashflow.

SME Owner: 

But what about the time or cost? I’m already stretched thin running my business.

Marketing Advocate: 

I hear you—time and money are tight. 

Doing It Yourself can be as simple as posting on social media once a week or optimizing your website for local SEO, which takes a few hours to learn and maintain, and run some targeted ads.

When You Hire Out (DFY), you can set a budget—say, $200 a month for ads—and track every dollar to see what’s working. Tracking is the KEY.

Compare that to traditional ads like flyers or radio, where you’re guessing who’s even seeing it. Online, you get data: clicks, visits, sales. You’ll know exactly what’s driving your growth.

SME Owner: 

Hmm, that makes sense, what if I don’t see results right away?
I can’t afford to throw money at something that’s a gamble.

Marketing Advocate: 

Totally valid. Internet Marketing is not a slot machine—it’s a strategy. 

Start with low-risk moves like optimizing your website for search engines or running a small, hyper-targeted ad campaign. 

Within a month, you’ll see data—maybe 50 new website visits or 10 new leads. 

Tweak what’s not working, double down on what is working and trackable.

Unlike old-school advertising, you’re not locked into long contracts.

You control the spend and adjust on the fly. Businesses that invest in digital marketing consistently see 20-30% more paying foot traffic within 3-6 months. 

That’s not a gamble; it is a strategic actionable plan for positive cashflow.

SME Owner: 

Alright, you’ve got my attention. 

What’s the first step when I want to give this a go?

Marketing Advocate: 

Awesome! 

Choose A Pathway

1. Lets say you are DIY, then claim your Google Business Profile today—it’s free and takes 20 minutes. Add your hours, photos, and a link to your website.

2. Create a simple Google Sites Website like this one, or a more professional one
   based on either Wordpress or A Bespoke one if you really want to go that fancy.

3. We have training for much, much more. 

4. Perhaps you want to make or source products to sell online for example.

OR

1. Whenever you may want DFY help,
   then lets talk a bit about having a Local Digital Marketing Agency
   set up a smallish advertising campaign

5. You can start with $1000-$2000 just to test the waters. 

As you gather tangible positive results, because now you are not just hoping and praying for customers anymore, You are practically pulling them into your business with focused intention and actioned to the end. You can then upgrade to make it a monthly rollover.