The Best Marketing Investments for Small Businesses That Want to Grow Fast
By DREW LARISON
Founder and CEO, Larison Media
Fast Growth Starts with Alignment — Not Just Ads
Every small business owner wants to grow. Whether you're running a retail store, law firm, wellness brand, or a creative service — growth is likely a top priority.
And it's a question we hear all the time at Larison Media: "What’s the fastest way to grow my business with marketing?"
But here’s what we’ve learned after working with dozens of small businesses across different industries:
Marketing alone doesn’t create growth. Alignment between your marketing, sales, and operations does.
You can launch the perfect campaign and generate 100 leads in a day. But if your team isn't ready to respond, quote, onboard, and fulfill at scale—that growth doesn’t happen.
This article outlines the best marketing investments for small businesses looking for fast, sustainable growth—and the foundational work that makes it all possible.
1. Sales & Fulfillment First: You Can’t Scale What You Can’t Close
Why This Is Step One:
If you want fast growth, your internal systems must be ready to scale with it. That means:
Can your team respond to inquiries within minutes, not hours?
Is your quoting or proposal process easy to understand and fast to deliver?
Can your operations or delivery team handle increased volume without chaos?
Marketing will expose inefficiencies. If your internal team isn’t ready to scale, fast growth becomes fast burnout.
Fix This First:
Implement a CRM or lead notification system
Automate follow-ups using tools like email drip campaigns or SMS
Build a sales flow that’s repeatable and trackable
Improve onboarding with welcome videos, timelines, and clear expectations
Audit your team’s capacity before you hit “launch” on a new campaign
Your business can’t grow faster than your systems can handle. Sales and delivery set the ceiling.
2. Paid Ads on Google: High-Intent, Ready-to-Buy Leads
Why It Works:
Google Ads and Local Services Ads (LSA) target people who are actively searching for what you offer. This is bottom-of-the-funnel traffic—people who want help now.
Why It’s Fast:
As soon as your ads go live, you're showing up in search results. And these clicks convert—if your landing page and sales follow-up are on point.
Best Use Cases:
Professional services (law, real estate, financial, wellness)
Local service businesses (contractors, salons, agencies)
E-commerce shops with high-converting product pages
Investment Range: $1,000–$3,500/month
Speed to Results: Fast
Lead Quality: High (if keywords and pages are optimized)
3. Facebook & Instagram Ads: Fast Awareness & Lead Volume
Why It Works:
Meta platforms (Facebook + Instagram) allow you to target your ideal customer based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and location.
Unlike search, this is push marketing—you’re getting in front of customers before they’re even looking.
Why It’s Fast:
Lead ads and boosted content can start delivering leads or traffic within 24–48 hours. You can quickly test messaging, offers, or creative.
Best For: Local businesses, lifestyle brands, consultants, retail offers, and events
Things to Consider:
Leads might be earlier in the buyer journey
Response time and nurturing matter more here
Strong creative (video or photo) can double performance
Investment Range: $1,000–$2,500/month
Speed to Results: Very Fast
Lead Quality: Medium-to-High (depending on offer and targeting)
4. SEO + Content Strategy: Long-Term Organic Growth
Why It Works:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ensures your website shows up when people search for what you do. Content builds credibility, trust, and long-term visibility.
Why It’s Not Instant:
SEO is a long play—it can take 3–6 months to build momentum. But once you rank, you’re generating leads without paying per click.
Best Investments:
Local SEO (Google Business Profile, reviews, citations)
On-page SEO (service pages, product pages, meta data)
Blogs that answer key questions your audience is Googling
Strategic content like FAQs, how-to guides, and case studies
Combine SEO with paid ads for a short + long-term growth stack.
5. Video Production: Trust at Scale
Why It Works:
Video builds connection, explains value, and increases conversions. It’s especially powerful in industries where trust and expertise drive sales.
Best Video Types for Small Business Growth:
Brand overview videos (who you are + why you exist)
Explainer videos (how your service/product works)
Customer testimonials (build instant trust)
Video FAQs (answer top objections or questions)
Why It’s Fast:
Once produced, videos work for you 24/7 on your website, in email, in ads, and on social.
Video doesn’t just support fast growth—it accelerates it.
Final Thoughts: Growth Requires More Than a Good Campaign
At Larison Media, we believe fast, healthy growth comes from aligned systems:
Marketing generates the leads
Sales captures and converts them
Operations fulfills the promise
If you skip one of those, growth stalls. But when they’re all in sync, marketing becomes an engine—not a gamble.
Want help building a marketing system designed for growth? Schedule a Free Strategy Session with Larison Media