Build Your Marketing Muscles - Small Business Marketing Strategies

Making Your Marketing More Effective

Wondering how to get more sales for your small business? If you’ve been posting on social media, sending emails, and keeping your website up to date—but you’re still not seeing sales—you’re not alone.In this episode, I share practical strategies to boost sales for your small business by improving your website, email marketing, and social media. Key Takeaways Sales often stall when your messaging is outdated, unclear, or aimed at the wrong audience. Consistency matters, but curiosity and experimentation are what help you find what really works. Let's talk about how to use social media, email marketing, and your website to increase your sales!  Interested in working together? Start with my intake form here.Learn more about the Build Your Marketing Muscles membership group.More ways to connect:Website: www.gwenmontoya.comTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@gmontoyapdxYouTube: www.youtube.com/gwenmontoyaInstagram: www.instagram.com/gmontoyapdx

Staying Focused in Your Business When Everything is Changing

If you've been relying on one platform or feeling discouraged by dropping engagement, you'll find ideas to help you refocus your marketing efforts, build resilience, and create a strategy that keeps working (now and in the future).In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why staying focused in your business means learning to adapt How to shift your marketing strategy when platforms or algorithms stop working Why relying on one social media platform is risky (and what to do instead) How to choose where to show up next, based on your audience's habits The role analytics play in helping you stay grounded and strategic How providing an excellent customer experience can be your secret marketing weapon What to do when your offers no longer resonate with your audienceHow to move forward with confidence, even when marketing feels uncertain Interested in working together? Start with my intake form here.Learn more about the Build Your Marketing Muscles membership group.More ways to connect:Website: www.gwenmontoya.comTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@gmontoyapdxYouTube: www.youtube.com/gwenmontoyaInstagram: www.instagram.com/gmontoyapdx

Nurturing Your Email List: Simple Shifts for Better Results

In this episode, we’re diving into how to make your existing email list more effective, and why it might be time to move email marketing up a notch on your to-do list. If you already have a list, an opt-in, and maybe even some automations running, this episode is for you. I’m sharing practical ways to evaluate what’s working, fix what isn’t, and make sure your emails are actually doing the job of connecting with your audience.As a marketing strategist, I believe email marketing is one of the most powerful (yet often underused) tools small business owners have—and it’s time to start giving it the attention it deserves.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why email marketing deserves more of your attention than it’s probably gettingHow email compares to social media when it comes to reach and engagementWhat metrics actually matter—and what they can tell you about your audienceHow to adjust your link strategy to increase clicks and reduce overwhelmWhy mobile-friendly, bite-sized emails can boost your results️ When to break up long digests into smaller, more focused emailsThe value of showing up consistently for the people who’ve already raised their hand to hear from youWho This Episode Is For:✔️ You already have an email list✔️ You’ve set up an opt-in or automation✔️ You’re ready to optimize what’s already in place🚫 If you’re brand new to email marketing, start with setting up your list first (I recommend MailerLite as a great beginner-friendly platform with a solid free plan—this is not sponsored, just a helpful tip!)Takeaway:Your email list is full of people who have already said yes to hearing from you. Let’s make sure you’re giving them something worth opening, clicking, and engaging with—without overwhelming yourself or your subscribers. Interested in working together? Start with my intake form here.Learn more about the Build Your Marketing Muscles membership group.More ways to connect:Website: www.gwenmontoya.comTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@gmontoyapdxYouTube: www.youtube.com/gwenmontoyaInstagram: www.instagram.com/gmontoyapdx

Burn It Down or Build It Up? What to Do When You Want to Quit

Let's talk about a topic that many business owners experience but rarely talk about—feeling like giving up. Running a small business is tough, and at times, you might feel like throwing in the towel. But before you make any drastic decisions, I have some questions and ideas that might help you gain clarity on the next steps.Whether you’re facing burnout, attracting the wrong clients, or simply feeling uninspired, this episode is here to remind you that you’re not alone—and that there are ways to move forward with confidence. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why feeling like giving up is more common than you thinkThe biggest reasons small business owners reach a breaking pointHow burnout and exhaustion impact your business mindsetThe role of audience misalignment in business frustrationHow shifting your perspective can help you regain enthusiasmPractical strategies to assess whether you need a break, a pivot, or a fresh start Key Takeaways:Burnout & Exhaustion – Even if you love what you do, running a business can be relentless. Recognizing burnout is the first step in addressing it.Attracting the Wrong Audience – If your business no longer aligns with your ideal clients, it can drain your energy and motivation.Desire for a Shift – Many business owners reach a point where they crave change but feel stuck on how to pivot effectively.The Importance of Perspective – Sometimes a fresh perspective, a break, or strategic tweaks can reignite your passion for your business.You’re Not Alone – Many entrepreneurs have been in your shoes, and there’s a path forward—whether that means a reset or a reimagining of your business. Interested in working together? Start with my intake form here.Learn more about the Build Your Marketing Muscles membership group.More ways to connect:Website: www.gwenmontoya.comTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@gmontoyapdxYouTube: www.youtube.com/gwenmontoyaInstagram: www.instagram.com/gmontoyapdx

30-Day YouTube Challenge – What I Learned & What Happened Next

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:✅ Why I gave myself this challenge (and why it pushed me outside my comfort zone)✅ The rules I set for myself to stay on track and avoid decision paralysis✅ The biggest hurdles I faced (hello, thumbnail struggles!)✅ The tools I used to streamline the process—TubeBuddy, Canva, and more✅ What happened months later—was it worth it? Did it change my approach to YouTube?Why I Took on This ChallengeI’ve been helping clients optimize their YouTube channels since 2015, but I had never committed to creating consistent public content for my own channel. I knew that by challenging myself to produce 30 videos in 30 days, I would accelerate my learning curve, push past hesitation, and build a system that worked.The Rules I Set for Myself🎯 30 videos in 30 days – no minimum length requirement🎯 Follow best practices (SEO, thumbnails, descriptions)🎯 Stick with the first thumbnail template I picked – no mid-challenge redesigns!🎯 Upload consistently but not necessarily dailyOne of my biggest challenges? Thumbnails. I knew that if I spent too much time deciding on designs, I’d get stuck in perfectionism, so I forced myself to choose a template quickly and stick with it.What I Learned🔹 Pushing myself to create regularly helped me improve quickly🔹 Committing to a challenge removed overthinking and hesitation🔹 Sometimes, "done" is better than "perfect"—iteration is key!🔹 Even with the best-laid plans, unexpected obstacles will happen (and that’s okay!)Final Thoughts & What’s NextMonths later, I’ve updated my thumbnails and refined my content strategy. This experiment gave me clarity, confidence, and a system for YouTube content creation that I wouldn’t have learned otherwise.Have you ever challenged yourself to try something new in your marketing? I’d love to hear about it! Interested in working together? Start with my intake form here.Learn more about the Build Your Marketing Muscles membership group.More ways to connect:Website: www.gwenmontoya.comTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@gmontoyapdxYouTube: www.youtube.com/gwenmontoyaInstagram: www.instagram.com/gmontoyapdx