Feeling stretched thin by ever-changing platforms and endless marketing advice? We sat down with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, to chart a calmer, clearer route to growth. Dave has spent two decades translating complex marketing into plain English and actionable steps, and he brings a refreshingly grounded approach: simplify your message, own your audience, and take consistent action. We start by naming the real culprit: marketing overwhelm. Dave breaks down how FOMO and scattered tactics drain time and confidence, then shows how focus brings momentum. You’ll learn the four questions every homepage must answer—what is it, who is it for, so what, and what’s next—and how removing sliders, vague headlines, and clutter can raise conversions fast. We dig into value-first list building with examples that work today, from a pizzeria offering free garlic knots to service pros using content upgrades and delayed pop-ups that fit the moment. From there, we map a simple email growth ladder: send a welcome email that delivers immediately, establish a cadence you can keep, then layer in segmentation and light automation. Dave shares practical plays like click segmentation to identify intent (think “Need Catering?”) and how announcement, reminder, and last-chance emails convert without being pushy. We also explore the RPE framework—Review, Plan, Execute—to help you choose priorities, protect time, and move forward without burnout. And in a world of AI-generated sameness, Dave makes a powerful case for showing your face and point of view to build trust and stand out. If you want a strategic, human way to turn your website and email into a reliable growth engine, this conversation gives you the steps to start this week. Subscribe, share with a fellow founder who’s stuck in the weeds, and leave a quick review to tell us which tactic you’ll try first. Are you feeling the marketing overwhelm as an entrepreneur? This marketing podcast episode addresses how businesses often create resources without considering the reality of a small business owner's life. Also, offer practical marketing tips and a solid marketing strategy to help achieve business success without falling into the FOMO trap of new online marketing trends. In this episode of The Website Growth Show, Rana Shahbaz sits down with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, to talk about why marketing feels overwhelming for small business owners and how to simplify it without losing results. Dave has spent over 20 years helping business owners use their website and email list as reliable growth tools instead of chasing every new marketing trend. This conversation is designed for business owners who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to focus on next. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✅ What marketing overwhelm really is and why it happens ✅ Why doing everything is hurting your growth ✅ How to simplify your website message so people understand it fast ✅ The four questions every homepage must answer ✅ Why your website is still your most important marketing asset ✅ How to collect email addresses without annoying visitors ✅ What actually wor Send a text Support the show Follow us on our social channels: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WPminds/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wp_minds/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wp-minds/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wp_minds X (Twitter): https://x.com/wpminds Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/website-growth-show/id1840905450
