Pepper Marketing's Simple 70-20-10 Marketing Framework for Small Business Owners in 2026
If you own a small business, you’ve probably caught yourself asking the same questions a lot of other business owners are typing into Google right now.
- Why isn’t my business showing up on Google Maps?
- What marketing should I actually be focusing on in 2026?
- Does social media really help my business get found?
- And is local SEO still worth it for a small business like mine?
Most owners aren’t doing anything wrong. They’re just overwhelmed. There are more platforms, tools, and “experts” than ever before, and everyone seems to have a different opinion about what you should be doing. That’s exactly why the 70-20-10 rule for small business marketing works so well, especially for local businesses in smaller communities.
It gives you a simple way to decide what deserves your time first, what should be improved next, and what should only be tested carefully, without turning your entire marketing plan into one big experiment.
Why So Many Small Business Owners Feel Confused
About What Marketing Actually Works
Marketing feels harder than it should because most advice is built for big companies with big teams and big budgets. Local business owners are trying to apply that same advice while also running the business, serving customers, and managing staff.
What usually happens is this: you hear about a new tool, a new social platform, or a new AI feature, and it feels like you’ll fall behind if you don’t try it. Before long, your marketing turns into a collection of random activities instead of a clear strategy.
The 70-20-10 rule helps bring order back into that chaos.
What the 70-20-10 Rule Really Means for Local Small Businesses
The idea is simple. Seventy percent of your marketing effort should go into the things that already bring customers to your business. Twenty percent should be used to improve and grow what’s already working. The remaining ten percent should be set aside for testing new ideas and tools.
For small businesses in Bertram, Burnet County, and the surrounding Central Texas area, this structure protects both your time and your budget. It also keeps you from chasing every new trend before you’ve fixed what actually matters.
That Matters Most:
Local Visibility, Google Search, and Customer Trust
The first seventy percent is your foundation. This is where real results start.
Right now, business owners are constantly searching for answers to things like “why is my business not showing up on Google Maps,” “how do I rank my business locally,” and “how do I optimize my Google Business Profile.”
Your local visibility is what determines whether people can find you at all. If someone searches for your service near them and your business doesn’t appear, no amount of social media posting or advertising will make up for that.
Your Google Business Profile should clearly explain what you do, who you help, and where you serve. Your categories should match what people are actually searching for. Your business name, address, and phone number should be consistent everywhere online. Your service descriptions should sound like real language, not marketing buzzwords.
If you serve local communities, those locations should be easy to spot throughout your online presence.
Why Your Business Is Not Showing Up on Google Maps and Local Search Results
One of the most common problems I see is that businesses think they are visible when they really aren’t. A profile may exist, but it’s missing services, using the wrong categories, or doesn’t clearly describe the area it serves.
Another common issue is inconsistency. If your address or phone number is different on your website, social pages, and online directories, Google has a harder time trusting your business information.
Fixing these small details is often the fastest way to improve local search visibility for a small business.
How Google Reviews and Online Reputation Affect Local Rankings and Customer Decisions
Reviews are not just about reputation anymore. They influence how often your business appears and how confident people feel when choosing you.
Many business owners are searching for things like “how many Google reviews do I need to rank,” “how do I ask customers for reviews,” and “do reviews help local SEO.”
The truth is simple. A steady, honest flow of reviews makes your business look active, trustworthy, and relevant. Having a basic process for asking customers for reviews, whether in person, by text, or by email can make a noticeable difference in both visibility and conversions.
Why Your Website Still Matters for Local SEO and AI Search in 2026
It’s very common for owners to ask whether they even need a website if they already have a Google Business Profile. Others wonder why their website never seems to show up in search results.
Your website still plays an important role in helping people and search systems understand your business. It should clearly explain your services, your service area, and how someone can contact you. It should also make it easy for visitors to quickly see what makes your business different.
For small businesses in local markets, a clear and trustworthy website often matters more than a fancy design.
That Helps You Grow: Improving What Is Already Working
Once your foundation is solid, the next twenty percent of your marketing should be focused on improvement, not expansion.
This is where business owners start asking questions like “what marketing should I focus on in 2026,” “does social media help SEO,” and “how do I create content that ranks in Google and AI search results.”
Growth comes from making your existing visibility stronger. That usually means creating helpful content that answers real customer questions, improving the pages on your website so they are easier to understand, and making sure your message is clear everywhere people find you.
How to Create Content That Ranks in Google and AI Search for Small Businesses
The content that works best right now doesn’t sound like marketing. It sounds like helpful answers.
When businesses explain why a company may not be showing up on Google Maps, how local search works, or how customers can choose the right provider, they build trust and authority at the same time.
This type of content also makes it easier for search engines and AI tools to understand your business and connect it to real questions people are asking.
How Website Structure, Service Pages, and FAQs Help Your Business Show Up in Search
Clear service pages, location-based pages, and simple FAQ sections help both people and technology understand what your business does.
When your website is organized in a logical way and answers common questions, visitors are more likely to stay longer and contact you. Search systems also have an easier time matching your business to local search queries.
This is one of the most overlooked growth opportunities for small businesses.
Does Social Media Actually Help a Small Business Get Found Online?
This is one of the most common questions business owners ask today.
Social media does not replace your Google presence. It supports it. It helps people recognize your business, feel more comfortable with you, and trust that you are active and legitimate.
When someone finds your business through search and then looks at your social pages, what they see often plays a role in whether they decide to call or move on to another company.
Social media works best when it supports discovery and trust, not when it is treated as your entire marketing plan.
You Should Use to Test New Marketing Ideas and Tools
The final ten percent of your marketing should be reserved for experimentation.
This includes things like short-form video, small paid advertising tests, new AI tools, and new campaign ideas. Testing is healthy. It helps you learn what could work next.
The key is keeping these efforts small and controlled. If your local visibility, reviews, and website are not solid, new tools will not solve your bigger problems.
Why the 70-20-10 Marketing Rule Works Better for Small and Rural Communities
In smaller communities, people rely heavily on visibility and reputation. Customers want to know that a business is real, local, and trusted.
You are not competing with hundreds of businesses. You are usually competing with a small group of nearby providers. The business that is easiest to find and feels the most trustworthy often wins.
That is why this framework fits local markets so well.
A Real-World Example of the 70-20-10 Rule for a Local Small Business
For a typical local service business or nonprofit in Burnet County, the seventy percent would focus on Google Business Profile optimization, review generation, consistent business listings, and cleaning up the website for local search.
The twenty percent would be used to improve content, add helpful service and location pages, strengthen conversion paths on the website, and create social content that supports visibility and credibility.
The final ten percent would be used to test new video formats, paid advertising, and new marketing tools.
What Small Business Marketing Is Really About Today: Being Found, Trusted, and Chosen
The goal of small business marketing today is not to go viral.
It is to be found when someone needs your service, to look credible when they compare options, and to feel like the obvious choice when they are ready to reach out.
That is exactly what the 70-20-10 marketing rule helps small business owners in Bertram, Burnet County, and across Central Texas achieve.
People also ask...
The first priority should always be local visibility.
If your business does not appear when people search for your services in your area, everything else becomes harder and more expensive. Fixing that problem first gives every other marketing activity a better chance to succeed.
Yes. Local SEO is still one of the most effective ways for small businesses to get found.
It simply looks different than it did years ago. Today it is about accurate information, clear service and location signals, real customer reviews, helpful content, and making your business easy to understand for both people and search systems.
The most common mistake is spending too much time on the ten percent.
New platforms and tools feel productive, but they cannot replace a strong foundation. When the basics are ignored, marketing becomes inconsistent and frustrating.
Optimize your Google Business Profile, collect consistent reviews, and publish location-relevant content that matches what people search.
If your marketing isn’t producing clear visibility, engagement, or leads, you may be under-investing or investing in the wrong areas. A well-structured strategy should show momentum within 60–90 days.
Yes, but it’s harder, slower, and more expensive in the long run. A well-built strategy saves time, money, and a ton of trial-and-error. Pepper helps small businesses get that clarity without the overwhelm.