Growing Local

Small Business Marketing Roadmap

Growing Local is a small business marketing workshop series focused on helping Livingston County businesses strengthen how they show up, connect with customers, and grow their presence both online and within the community.

The series combines branding, marketing, social media, websites, customer communication, content creation, customer experience, and business visibility into one practical roadmap designed specifically for small businesses. Each workshop focuses on real-world marketing concepts, approachable strategies, and practical tools businesses can apply to strengthen their visibility, customer connection, and overall business presence. Workshop details below.

Location: Livingston County Government Center, Room 205 (6 Court Street, Geneseo, NY 14454)

Time: 9 - 10:30 AM

Dates:

  • Workshop 1: August 31, 2026

  • Workshop 2: September 21, 2026

  • Workshop 3: October 19, 2026

  • Workshop 4: November 9, 2026

  • Workshop 5: December 7, 2026

  • Workshop 6: January 11, 2027

  • Workshop 7: February 1, 2027

Cost: $15/class or $75 for all 7 (advance registration required)

Register today

  • Brand Presence & First Impressions

    Focus: How businesses are perceived and remembered.

    Topics Include:

    • What branding actually means

    • Customer perception and trust

    • First impressions

    • Visual identity basics

    • Photography and content quality

    • Messaging and tone of voice

    • Consistency across platforms

    • What makes businesses feel professional

    • Emotional connection and recognition

    Goal: Help businesses better understand how branding influences trust, visibility, and customer connection.

  • Building Your Online Presence

    Focus: Understanding where businesses should exist online and how customers find them.

    Topics Include:

    • Websites and mobile experience

    • Google Business Profiles

    • Social media platform selection

    • Online directories

    • Reviews and discoverability

    • Local SEO basics

    • Understanding customer search behavior

    • Choosing where to focus energy online

    • Common online presence mistakes

    Goal: Help businesses identify the most important online platforms and improve overall online visibility.

  • Social Media For Small Business

    Focus: Creating sustainable and effective social media content for small businesses.

    Topics Include:

    • What to post

    • Content pillars

    • Storytelling

    • Behind-the-scenes content

    • Reels and short-form video

    • Photography basics

    • Creating content consistently

    • Realistic content planning

    • Building recognizable content

    • Avoiding social media burnout

    Goal: Help businesses create more intentional and manageable social media strategies.

  • Email Marketing, Text Marketing & Customer Communication

    Focus: Building stronger customer relationships through consistent communication.

    Topics Include:

    • Email marketing

    • Text marketing

    • Promotions and campaigns

    • Customer follow-up

    • Loyalty and repeat business

    • Customer communication strategy

    • Retention marketing

    • Automations and scheduling

    • Creating stronger customer relationships

    Goal: Help businesses better understand customer communication, retention, and long-term customer value.

  • Reputation, Experience & Community Presence

    Focus: Growing businesses through reputation, customer experience, and community connection.

    Topics Include:

    • Word-of-mouth marketing

    • Reviews and online reputation

    • Customer experience

    • Repeat business and loyalty

    • Community involvement

    • Partnerships and collaborations

    • Building community trust

    • Creating memorable customer experiences

    • Why customers remember certain businesses

    • Balancing advertising with reputation and community presence

    Goal: Help businesses understand how relationships and reputation influence long-term growth.

  • Websites, Systems & Customer Journey

    Focus: Improving customer experience and making businesses easier to interact with.

    Topics Include:

    • Website usability

    • Booking and scheduling systems

    • Customer flow and navigation

    • Mobile experience

    • FAQs and customer information

    • Streamlining communication

    • Customer journey basics

    • Reducing friction for customers

    • Making businesses easier to buy from

    Goal: Help businesses improve customer experience and create smoother customer interactions.

  • Building A Marketing Plan That Fits Your Business

    Focus: Pulling everything together into a realistic marketing strategy.

    Topics Include:

    • Choosing priorities

    • Identifying gaps and opportunities

    • Monthly marketing planning

    • Marketing budgets

    • Organic vs paid marketing

    • Understanding advertising basics

    • Choosing where to spend marketing dollars

    • Sustainable marketing routines

    • Creating realistic goals

    • Creating a roadmap for growth

    Goal: Help businesses leave the series with a clearer and more manageable marketing direction.