Why Having a Website Isn’t Enough – The Evolution of Local Marketing

I recently had a conversation with a client that highlighted a common misconception about internet marketing. He had just invested in a new website but wasn’t seeing the business growth he expected. When I asked about his marketing strategy, he admitted he didn’t really have one—he assumed having a website was enough.

Back in the day, he told me, marketing was simple. He’d place an ad in the local PennySaver magazine or the Yellow Pages, and just like that, his phone would start ringing. It was a straightforward, predictable process. But he doesn’t place those ads anymore, and when I asked where he was now spending that marketing budget, he didn’t have an answer.

This is where many businesses struggle today. The shift from print advertising to digital marketing has left some business owners uncertain about how to effectively reach new customers. While having a website is crucial, it’s only the foundation. To generate leads and drive traffic, you need to actively promote your site and ensure your business appears where potential customers are looking.

Where Are Businesses Spending Their Marketing Dollars Now?

If you’re no longer advertising in print directories, you need to reinvest those dollars into digital marketing strategies, such as:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Ensuring your website ranks well on Google through keyword optimization, backlinks, and technical SEO improvements.
• Google Ads & Pay-Per-Click (PPC): Placing targeted ads in Google search results to drive immediate traffic.
• Local Listings & Google Maps: Making sure your business appears in local searches by optimizing your Google Business Profile.
• Social Media Advertising: Running Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ads to reach your target audience.
• Content Marketing & Blogging: Regularly updating your website with useful content to improve visibility and authority.

Is Your Website Actually Working for You?

Here’s something I hear all the time:

“I don’t want to spend more money on my website because it doesn’t work.”

But here’s the truth—your website isn’t supposed to work on its own. A website without marketing is like a billboard in the middle of nowhere. If no one sees it, of course it’s not generating business.

Your website isn’t broken. It’s just waiting for traffic.

The New “Pennysaver” is Digital

The platforms have changed, but the game is the same. If you used to spend money on print ads, you should be spending it on digital marketing today.

• Google search has replaced the Yellow Pages.
• Google Ads work like those premium business listings.
• Google Maps is your new local directory.
• Social media ads let you target the right customers instead of hoping they flip to your page.

If you’re not showing up in these places, your competitors are.

So… Where Are Your Marketing Dollars Going?

If you’re like my client, you might not have an answer. That’s okay—but it’s time to change that.

Your website is a tool, but it needs fuel to work. If you want more leads, more calls, more customers, then you need to put your business where people are actually looking.

That’s what we do. We build websites, but we also make sure people can find them. If you’re ready to actually use your website to grow your business, let’s talk.

The Bottom Line

A website alone won’t bring in business—it needs to be marketed. Just like the Yellow Pages and PennySaver ads of the past, today’s businesses must invest in digital strategies to remain visible and competitive.

If you’re unsure where to start, we can help optimize your website for search engines, run targeted ads, and ensure your business appears in all the right places online. Let’s turn your website into a lead-generating machine.

So ask yourself: Is your website actually working for you?

Need help getting your business found online? Contact us today!