Small Business SEO & Marketing Agency
Get found, get calls, and know what you're paying for.
Softscotch is a marketing agency for small businesses that don't have a marketing person. We tell you what to do first, do the work in plain English and show you what it brought in.
A marketing agency for small businesses, in plain English
You don't need every service. Our digital marketing services for small businesses focus on what matters most: being found on Google, looking trustworthy, replying fast and knowing what's working. We start with what you have and agree on the first few jobs.
SEO and Google Maps
We help your business show up in unpaid Google results and Maps when nearby customers search for what you offer. SEO (search engine optimization) builds over months.
See how we can help ↗Google Ads that bring calls
Search ads charge you when someone clicks, so they are also called PPC (pay-per-click). We keep budgets small and focused on the searches most likely to become customers.
See how we can help ↗A website that answers questions
A fast, phone-friendly site that says what you do, where, roughly what it costs and how to get in touch. You own it.
See how we can help ↗Clear words and real photos
We write pages and ads in plain English and use real photos of your work, team and place, not stock images.
See how we can help ↗Fast replies and reminders
Missed-call text back, booking reminders and review requests, so fewer customers slip away.
See how we can help ↗Simple monthly reports
Calls, forms, bookings and cost per lead (what each inquiry costs you), explained in plain words.
See how we can help ↗Marketing help sized for a small business
Big-company marketing plans don't fit a business where the owner answers the phone, does the work and the books. Three things shape what makes sense for you.
A small budget has to work hard
You can't test ten channels at once. The order you do things in matters, so money goes first where customers are already looking.
Your time is the scarcest thing
Any plan has to fit around running the business. We tell you up front what we need from you, and keep it short.
Customers are mostly local
Most of your customers live or work nearby. Google Maps, reviews and a clear website usually matter more than going viral.
What to do first with a small budget
No one should sell you everything at once. This is the order we usually suggest, though your business may need a different one.
Tracking and your Google listing
Count calls and forms, and complete your free Google Business Profile. It is cheap and often brings the first wins.
Website basics
A clear headline, phone number, services, area and a short form, all working on a phone.
Local SEO and reviews
Service pages, matching directory listings and steady reviews, which build over months.
Google ads, if needed
A small, focused campaign for your best service while SEO grows.
Fast follow-up
Missed-call text back and reminders, so the leads you pay for aren't lost.
Social media, later
Useful for staying in touch, but rarely the first thing that brings new customers.
A website that answers customer questions
Before they get in touch, customers want to know what you do, whether you serve their area, roughly what it costs and whether others were happy. We build your pages and ads around those questions.
hair salon near me
Someone searching for "hair salon near me" should land on a page that answers that need. The page can show real photos of your work, team and place and explain how to call, book or ask for a quote.
- What the page explains
- Real photos of your work, team and place, plus your offer and a clear next step.
- What you may need to ask
- What they need, plus the best way to reach them.
- What to check next
- New inquiries.
accountant near me
Someone searching for "accountant near me" should land on a page that answers that need. The page can show your prices or how your pricing works and explain how to call, book or ask for a quote.
- What the page explains
- Your prices or how your pricing works, plus your offer and a clear next step.
- What you may need to ask
- Where they are, plus the best way to reach them.
- What to check next
- Quotes or bookings.
landscaper near me
Someone searching for "landscaper near me" should land on a page that answers that need. The page can show reviews from real customers and explain how to call, book or ask for a quote.
- What the page explains
- Reviews from real customers, plus your offer and a clear next step.
- What you may need to ask
- When they need it, plus the best way to reach them.
- What to check next
- New customers.
These are example searches. We check what people search for in your market before choosing the pages and ads to work on.
SEO services for small business: get found on Google and Maps
Local SEO for small businesses means improving your website and Google listing so nearby customers find you without you paying for every click. It usually takes several months to build, and no one can honestly promise a ranking.
Start with the questions people actually ask.
Ask what the customer needs, where they are and when they need it. A short form with the right questions saves you time and helps you reply with something useful.
- hair salon near me
- accountant near me
- landscaper near me
What we do to help you get found
We explain the work, make the agreed changes and check what happens after they go live.
Find the searches that bring customers
We check what nearby customers search for, see who shows up now and pick the few pages that would help most.
A complete Google Business Profile
Your free Google listing for Search and Maps. We fix categories, services, hours, photos and posts, which often brings calls before anything else.
One clear page per service
Each main service gets its own page that explains what it is, who it's for and how to get in touch.
Reviews from real customers
A simple way to ask every customer for an honest review. Buying reviews or only asking happy customers breaks Google's and the FTC's (Federal Trade Commission) rules.
Directory listings that match
Your name, address and phone should match on the directories people check, such as Yelp, Apple Maps and Bing.
Fix what holds the site back
Slow pages, broken links and phone problems cost customers. We fix the ones that matter most first, and check how AI tools describe you.
Show up when people are ready to buy
Ads can bring calls in weeks while SEO builds. With a small budget, we keep ads tight: a few services, your real service area and pages that make it easy to call. Ad spend is paid to Google or Meta and is separate from our fee.
What should happen after someone clicks?
The page should explain your offer and make it easy to call, book or ask for a quote. A click alone does not tell us whether the ad helped your business.
We check results such as new inquiries and quotes or bookings. We also check whether the requests match what your team can provide.
What we do with your ads
The ad, the page it opens and the next step need to work together.
Start with the searches that mean business
We focus on searches from people ready to buy, like a service plus 'near me', not broad topics that only bring browsers.
Local Services Ads, where they fit
For some service businesses, Google's Local Services Ads charge per lead instead of per click. Not every business type qualifies.
Facebook and Instagram, when it suits
Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram) can work for offers, events and reminders, but rarely beat search for urgent needs.
A spending limit you set
You agree the monthly budget. We don't raise it without asking and we explain every change.
Block searches that waste money
We exclude job seekers, DIY searches and places you don't serve, and check the real search terms often.
Judge ads by customers, not clicks
We track calls, forms and bookings from each ad, and where your records allow, which became customers.
Examples of ads we could plan with you
These show how different searches can need different pages. We choose the actual ads after checking your offer, budget and the rules for your account.
hair salon near me
What the page shows: the advertised offer, plus real photos of your work, team and place.
What to ask: what they need, plus the best way to reach them.
What to check: ad costs and new inquiries.
accountant near me
What the page shows: the advertised offer, plus your prices or how your pricing works.
What to ask: where they are, plus the best way to reach them.
What to check: ad costs and quotes or bookings.
landscaper near me
What the page shows: the advertised offer, plus reviews from real customers.
What to ask: when they need it, plus the best way to reach them.
What to check: ad costs and new customers.
Pages that turn clicks into calls
You may not need a new website. Often the one you have needs a clearer headline, a visible phone number, real photos and a short form. If a rebuild is needed, we explain why, and you own the site and domain.
What a useful page should do
Tell people what you offer, answer their main questions and make it easy to call, book or ask for a quote. We check that the next step works and reaches the right person or system.
- Explain what you offer
Show what you offer, who it is for and what happens after someone gets in touch.
- Help people make a choice
Put useful details, such as real photos of your work, team and place or your prices or how your pricing works, beside the questions they answer.
- Give the practical details
Ask what the customer needs, where they are and when they need it. A short form with the right questions saves you time and helps you reply with something useful.
- Ask only for what you need
A useful request may include what they need, where they are, when they need it and the best way to reach them. We help you keep the form short and relevant.
- Make it work on a phone
We check reading size, loading, phone links, forms and buttons. People should be able to finish the task without zooming in or guessing what to tap.
- Make sure the request arrives
We test where forms, calls or bookings go. Your team should receive the details it needs to reply, and the visitor should know whether the request went through.
Show customers why to choose you
Real photos, honest reviews, before-and-after examples and a few words about who you are help customers pick you over a bigger name. You approve every claim before it goes live.
Ads that explain one useful offer
We write each ad around a clear offer and the question it answers. We choose words and images that fit the place the ad will appear. The page it opens should carry the same message.
- A clear message for the people you want to reach
- Images and words that fit the ad format
- A small test with a result we agree to check
Real details that help people decide
We help you choose what to show, such as real photos of your work, team and place, your prices or how your pricing works and reviews from real customers. You provide accurate details and permission to use the material. We place it where it answers a visitor's question.
- Photos or examples that match the work you offer
- Checks that the facts are right and the material can be used
- Simple captions that explain what someone is seeing
Follow one customer from search to booking
Picture someone who just moved to town and needs a reliable local service. Here is how simple, well-run marketing gets them to you.
They search nearby
They search on their phone and see your Google listing with recent reviews, photos and opening hours.
They check your site
Your page says what you do, where you work and roughly how pricing works, with a button to call or book.
They book, and hear back fast
They fill in a short form. You get it right away, they get a confirmation, and later a reminder and a review request.
Answer every lead quickly
Marketing pages rarely mention it, but a fast reply often decides who gets the customer. We help you set up simple tools so no inquiry is forgotten, even when you're busy with a customer.
Missed-call text back
If you can't answer, the caller gets a short text within minutes asking how you can help. Texts follow consent rules.
Booking confirmations and reminders
Automatic confirmations and reminders cut no-shows and save you phone time.
A simple CRM
A CRM (a simple customer list with notes and reminders) so every lead has a next step and nobody falls through the cracks.
Supporting services for small businesses
Start small. These can be added later when they would clearly help.
Social media management
Regular posts that show your work and keep customers in touch.
Social media ↗Email and text marketing
Reminders and offers to customers who agreed to hear from you.
Email and SMS ↗Online booking
Customers book a time that matches your real calendar.
Appointment booking ↗Website check-up
A review of what is slowing your site down and what to fix first.
Website audit ↗Landing pages
One focused page for an ad or offer.
Landing pages ↗Marketing strategy help
A senior marketer to plan and guide, part time.
Fractional CMO ↗Clear work you can see
You get a written plan and only the work we agree to do. Each item has an owner and a check that it works. The list depends on your goals and budget.
A priority list
What to do first, second and later, based on your budget and what you already have.
Google listing and review set-up
Your Google Business Profile fixed and a simple way to ask for reviews.
Website fixes or pages
The pages, words and fixes agreed in your plan, tested on a phone.
An ad plan with a set budget
Which searches, which pages and how much to spend, if ads are part of your plan.
Follow-up set-up
Missed-call text back, reminders and review requests, tested with real calls and forms.
A monthly report
What we did, what you spent and what came in, in plain English.
Start with a review, then improve
Here is how the first three months usually work. Expect to give about an hour in week one, then a short check-in each month to approve work and answer questions.
Month 1: review and fix the basics
We review your website, Google listing, reviews and any ads, then set up call and form tracking so we can measure what follows.
- A review of what you have
- The first jobs and who handles them
- Checks that requests are recorded
Month 2: make the first changes
We fix the main pages, finish your listing, start review requests and, if agreed, launch a small ad campaign.
- Changes to the first pages
- A small ad test where agreed
- Checks that replies reach the right team
Month 3: review and decide next steps
We look at calls, forms, bookings and costs, then agree whether to keep going, change course or add a service.
- A review of results and costs
- Changes based on what we learned
- A clear plan for the next jobs
Start by sending your website and telling us what you want help with.
Know what is included before you agree
Our fee and your ad spend are separate. Ad spend goes to Google or Meta; our fee pays for the work. Some work is a one-off project, such as fixing a website; some is monthly, such as SEO or ads. You can start with one service and add more later. Photos, paid tools and extra content are listed separately if you need them.
What we agree with you
Our work: the pages, writing, ads, fixes and reports included in your plan.
Your part: accurate details about your small business, the materials we need and someone to approve the work.
The cost: our fees, any ad budget and any extra tool or website costs are listed separately.
Approvals: your team checks prices, claims, permissions and any sensitive information before it is used.
See what changed each month
Each month you see calls, forms, bookings and, where your records allow, new customers and what each one cost. If something can't be measured yet, we say so.
What we explain in your report
- How people found you
We show which searches and sources brought people to your website. We also explain which pages we changed and what happened after those changes.
- What you spent and received
We show ad costs alongside useful results such as new inquiries. Where records allow, we work out the cost of each result and compare different ads or offers.
- What happened after the first step
We look at quotes or bookings and new customers where your records allow. A click, a request and a completed sale or visit are different things, so we report them separately.
We point out missing information and results based on only a few people. If a result cannot be checked, we explain what information is missing.
Make the basics work before adding more
New tools and channels only help once the basics work. Before suggesting anything extra, we check these three things.
Can customers reach you?
Phone links, forms and booking all work on a phone, and every request reaches you.
Can you see what's working?
Calls and forms are tracked to their source, so you know where customers come from.
Is there time to keep it going?
Any new channel has to fit your week. If it doesn't, we suggest a simpler option.
How to choose a small business marketing agency
Ask any agency these questions, including us.
Who does the work?
Ask who you'll talk to, who does the work and how often you'll hear from them.
How long is the contract?
Ask about the notice period and what happens to your website, listings and ad accounts if you leave. They should stay yours.
What will the monthly report show?
Ask for calls, forms, bookings and customers, not just clicks and impressions.
Do you guarantee rankings?
Be careful if they do. No one controls Google. An honest agency explains what it will do and how it will measure it.
Specialist or full-service?
A full-service agency can cover search, ads, website and follow-up together, which keeps things simple for a small team.
How does pricing work?
Fees depend on the services, how much website work is needed and whether it is a project or monthly. Ad spend is separate. We send a scoped proposal.
How SEO pricing works ↗Our track record across client work: 2,140+ keywords, $12M+ in ad spend managed, $28M+ in revenue and 87,200+ leads. We don't promise rankings or lead numbers.
Small business marketing by industry
Many of our pages go deeper into one type of local business.
Home services
Trades and contractors.
Home services marketing ↗Restaurants
Menus, bookings and reviews.
Restaurant marketing ↗Dentists
New patients and reminders.
Dentist marketing ↗Cleaning services
Recurring clients.
Cleaning marketing ↗Auto detailing
Bookings and before-and-after photos.
Auto detailing marketing ↗Florists
Orders, delivery and busy holidays.
Florist marketing ↗Small business marketing questions
Straight answers to what small business owners ask us about cost, time and where to start.
How much do digital marketing services for a small business cost?
It depends on what you need, how much website work is involved and whether it is a one-off project or monthly work. Ad spend is separate from our fee. After a short review, we send a proposal with the full cost before you agree.
What should I do first if my budget is small?
Usually: set up tracking and your Google Business Profile, fix website basics, then build local SEO and reviews. Add a small Google ads campaign and fast follow-up after that.
How much of my time will this take?
Expect about an hour at the start, then a short monthly check-in to approve work and answer questions. We ask for photos and facts only you can give.
Do I need a new website before marketing?
Often not. Many sites just need clearer words, a visible phone number and working forms. If a rebuild would really help, we explain why.
Is ad spend included in the fee?
No. Ad spend is paid to Google or Meta and shown separately. Our fee covers the work of planning, building and managing the ads.
Can I start with one service and add more later?
Yes. Many small businesses start with their Google listing and website, then add SEO, ads or follow-up once the basics work.
Do I need SEO, Google ads or both?
SEO builds free traffic over months. Google ads bring calls sooner but cost per click. Many small businesses run a small ad budget while SEO grows, then lean more on SEO.
How can I improve visibility in Google Maps and local search?
Complete your Google Business Profile, get steady honest reviews, keep your details matching across directories and have a clear page for each service.
How long does it take to see results?
Ads can bring calls within weeks. SEO usually takes several months. We show you what changed each month so you can judge progress.
Can an agency guarantee sales or rankings?
No honest agency can. Google decides rankings and customers decide to buy. We promise clear work, honest reporting and changes based on what the numbers show.
Why hire an agency instead of doing it myself?
You can do some of it yourself, and we'll tell you what. An agency saves you time and avoids costly ad mistakes, but only if the work is clear and reported.
What should an agency report each month?
What was done, what you spent, and calls, forms, bookings and new customers where your records allow. Clicks alone don't tell you much.
No questions match. Try a different word or choose all questions.
More ways we can help
Before you decide
Explore related industries
Let’s look at your small business together.
Send your website and tell us what you would like to improve. We will explain what we find and talk through the next useful steps with you.