Free and Low-Cost Actions Every Business Should Complete

Foundation & Credibility

☐ Create a business name, logo, and consistent branding

☐ Establish brand colors, fonts, and style guides

☐ Set up a professional email address

☐ Create a simple website (one-page is fine to start)

☐ Add Google Analytics to website

☐ Create a Google Business Profile through Google Business Profile

☐ Add business hours, services, photos, and description

☐ Verify your Google Business Profile

☐ Add your website link, phone number, and social media links

☐ Create a Facebook Business Page through Facebook Business

☐ Create an Instagram Business Account

☐ Create a LinkedIn Company Page (for B2B businesses)

☐ Claim listings on free directories (Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps, etc.)

☐ Use the same business name, address, and phone number everywhere

Customer Reviews

☐ Ask every happy customer for a Google review

☐ Respond to every review

☐ Thank customers publicly when appropriate

☐ Create a simple review request text message

☐ Create a QR code that links directly to your review page

☐ Display review requests on invoices, business cards, and signs

Social Media

☐ Follow local businesses, organizations, and community leaders

☐ Like and comment on other local business posts

☐ Share community events and local happenings

☐ Post at least 2–3 times per week

☐ Schedule posts in advance

☐ Share customer success stories

☐ Share before-and-after photos

☐ Share behind-the-scenes content

☐ Share frequently asked questions

☐ Share educational tips related to your industry

☐ Join local Facebook groups

☐ Identify which groups allow business posts

☐ Follow group posting rules

☐ Participate in conversations without always selling

Networking & Partnerships

☐ Join your local Chamber of Commerce

☐ Attend free networking events and make it a goal to meet one person

☐ Attend ribbon cuttings

☐ Attend local festivals and community events

☐ Build relationships with complementary businesses

☐ Create referral partnerships

☐ Exchange flyers or business cards with partners

☐ Offer joint promotions

☐ Participate in co-op advertising opportunities

☐ Volunteer at community events

☐ Sponsor a local nonprofit when affordable

☐ Find businesses that serve the same customers but are not competitors

Customer Management

☐ Keep all customer information in one place

☐ Use a simple CRM

☐ Track leads and referrals

☐ Track estimates and proposals

☐ Follow up with every lead

☐ Create a list of past customers

☐ Record customer notes and preferences

☐ Create follow-up reminders

☐ Send thank-you messages after jobs

☐ Create a reactivation list of old customers

Marketing

☐ Have business cards available

☐ Create a digital business card

☐ Add QR codes to marketing materials

☐ Collect customer email addresses

☐ Build a simple email list

☐ Send occasional newsletters

☐ Create flyers or postcards

☐ Track where new customers come from

☐ Use photos of completed work

☐ Ask customers how they found you

☐ Create a referral program

☐ Create a "frequently asked questions" page

☐ Create simple offers or promotions

☐ Keep marketing materials consistent

Content Creation

☐ Take photos regularly

☐ Take short videos regularly

☐ Create a library of content

☐ Save testimonials

☐ Write answers to common customer questions

☐ Turn customer questions into social media posts

☐ Create seasonal content

☐ Repurpose one piece of content across multiple platforms

☐ Showcase community involvement

Local Visibility

☐ Attend local meetings and events

☐ Introduce yourself to neighboring businesses

☐ Leave business cards at approved locations

☐ Join local business associations

☐ Participate in local online groups

☐ Submit business information to community calendars

☐ Participate in local publications and newsletters

☐ Support local fundraisers and charities

☐ Write an article for the news paper about your industry without selling

Business Operations

☐ Create simple pricing sheets

☐ Create estimate templates

☐ Create invoice templates

☐ Create standard customer communication templates

☐ Create appointment reminders

☐ Create a customer follow-up process

☐ Track income and expenses

☐ Set aside money for taxes

☐ Keep licenses and insurance current

☐ Back up customer data

Monthly Habits

☐ Add new photos to Google Business Profile

☐ Request reviews from recent customers

☐ Review website information for accuracy

☐ Check social media messages

☐ Follow up with past customers

☐ Attend at least one networking event

☐ Reach out to one new referral partner

☐ Review marketing results

☐ Update service offerings if needed

☐ Clean up customer database

☐ Thank referral sources

Weekly Habits

☐ Make 5–10 new business connections

☐ Post on social media

☐ Follow up with leads

☐ Follow up with customers

☐ Ask for reviews

☐ Engage in local groups

☐ Check website forms and contact methods

☐ Review upcoming community events

☐ Look for partnership opportunities

☐ Track marketing activities

This checklist covers most of the activities that consistently help local service businesses, contractors, real estate agents, notaries, insurance agents, restaurants, retail stores, and home service companies grow without spending a lot of money. The biggest mistake most small businesses make is not consistently doing the free items above. Consistency usually beats expensive advertising.

Need Help Implementing Any of This?

Most small business owners know they should be doing these things, but finding the time to actually set everything up and keep it running is often the challenge.

If you need help with any of the items on this checklist, contact SunLuma Business Solutions.

We can help with:

• CRM setup and organization
• Website creation and updates
• Google Business Profile setup and optimization
• Facebook and social media setup
• Social media scheduling and content posting
• Review generation systems
• Email and text message marketing
• Appointment scheduling systems
• Lead tracking and follow-up automation
• Customer databases and contact management
• Online forms and lead capture pages
• QR codes and digital business cards
• Workflow and business automation
• Missed-call text back systems
• Reputation management
• Basic marketing support and virtual assistance

Whether you want a simple do-it-yourself solution or someone to handle the setup and maintenance for you, we can help you save time, stay organized, and focus on running your business.

Contact SunLuma Business Solutions to learn more about affordable options for local small businesses with done for you plans for as low as $45 per week, saving you thousands a year and giving you access to personalized marketing help.