Running a small business in cities like Surrey or Vancouver, BC, comes with its fair share of challenges. Between overseeing daily operations, managing staff, and ensuring customer satisfaction, marketing often takes a backseat or gets handled without a clear strategy. But the truth is, that effective marketing is the backbone of business growth. Yet many small business owners unknowingly make common marketing mistakes that cost them time, money, and lost customers.
In this blog, we’ll cover 7 of the biggest marketing mistakes small business owners make and how to fix them, so you can attract more customers, increase your visibility, and grow with confidence in 2025 and beyond.
Many small business owners jump straight into running ads, posting on social media, or creating a website without a clear plan. Without defined goals, a target audience, or a content strategy, your marketing feels scattered and ineffective.
Fix it: Create a simple marketing plan. Define:
It doesn’t have to be complex, even a one-page plan helps.
Your customers are searching for services like yours in your service area in Canada. If your Google Business Profile isn’t claimed, verified, or updated, you’re missing a huge opportunity to show up in local search results.
Fix it:
An optimized GBP boosts your chances of showing up in the top 3 results on Google Maps—a prime spot for local business visibility.
Posting every day doesn’t guarantee sales. Many small businesses post random images, stock quotes, or unrelated content without any real strategy.
Fix it: Focus on creating content that resonates with your local community. Include a mix of:
Remember, quality > quantity.
Lots of businesses don’t collect emails or phone numbers from interested customers. If someone visits your site or likes your page, and you don’t follow up, you’re losing potential sales.
Fix it:
Even if you don’t sell online, email marketing helps keep your business top of mind.
You don’t need to maintain a presence on every social media channel. A lot of business owners end up draining their time trying to juggle Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube all at once.
Here’s a smarter approach: choose one or two platforms where your target audience is most active. For many small businesses in Surrey or Vancouver, Facebook and Instagram are usually the best bet.
Focus your energy on those platforms and maintain a consistent presence. It’s far more effective to manage one channel well than to struggle with too many.
If your website doesn’t include your location or isn’t tailored for local search, it’s likely to miss out on appearing in results when someone looks for “[Your Service] in Surrey” or searches for options “near me.”
Fix it:
Local SEO helps customers nearby find you online quickly.
Constantly promoting discounts, offers, and products without building trust or educating your audience can lead to low engagement and a weaker brand image.
Fix it: Use the 80/20 rule: 80% helpful, engaging content and 20% promotional.
Examples:
People buy from brands they trust. Build that trust by showing value first.
Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By avoiding these common mistakes, small business owners in Surrey, Vancouver, and across BC can create a smarter, more focused approach that actually brings results.
Remember:
With the right strategy, your marketing will feel less like a struggle and more like a growth engine. Whether you’re a local salon owner, a security services provider, or a restaurant owner in Burnaby, Richmond, or Abbotsford, small steps in the right direction can make a big difference.
Ready to level up your marketing? Start by fixing just one mistake from this list today. If you need professional digital marketing services in Surrey, Vancouver and across BC, then consult Bizfist IT Solutions.
