An Honest Friday Afternoon Session with Grace: How to Really Market Your Small Business

Grace sits down for a spontaneous Friday afternoon chat about how to actually market a small business. Drawing from her experiences working with entrepreneurs in travel, tech, and hospitality, Grace shares creative, no-nonsense strategies that go beyond the usual “post on social media” advice. This solo session is packed with practical tips on email marketing, content creation, partnerships, and more—all focused on getting results without breaking the bank.

Key Moments:

• (02:15) Social Media Isn't the Fix-All: Why social media shouldn’t be your first marketing move—and how to use it as a credibility tool instead.
• (05:48) Email Marketing Done Right: Why collecting email addresses is the most serious marketing move you can make—and how to start now.
• (15:20) Creating Valuable Content: How to use case studies, customer reviews, and real-life stories to build trust and engage your audience.
• (23:40) Partnerships That Pay Off: How to co-host webinars, events, and cross-promotions to expand your reach and tap into new markets.
• (31:12) Asking for What You Want: Why business owners should ask for referrals, feedback, and partnerships regularly—and how it leads to surprising opportunities.
• (37:50) Mastering One Thing at a Time: Why it’s better to be great at one marketing channel before expanding to others.

Key Takeaways:

• Own Your Audience: Collect email addresses and build your list—you own that audience, unlike social media followers.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Use customer stories, reviews, and user-generated content to demonstrate what your business can deliver.
• Be Present and Valuable: Share content that educates, entertains, or inspires—without constantly selling your services.
• Partnerships Matter: Cross-promote with aligned businesses for mutual growth and greater visibility.
• Start Now, Improve Later: You won’t be perfect at first, but taking action is better than waiting.

Follow Along:

• Grace Van Hollebeke: LinkedIn | Instagram
• Office Hours Podcast: Official Site
• Lucia: Learn More