Brand Digital Marketing Public Relations
Great website, but not many calls. How our Redlands marketing company got them back in the game.
Posted by Maria Anderson
No Ball, No Game: Great website, but not many calls. How our Redlands marketing company got them back in the game.
As a Redlands marketing company, we recently worked with a local business that had a great website in place — but no marketing to drive phone calls.
It reminded us of football: no matter how strong the team is, you can’t play without a ball. And in business, marketing is the ball, and without it, you can’t get in the game, let along score.
It sounds simple, but it’s something many small businesses overlook — especially when times are tough. There’s a common belief that “if we build the website, they will come.”
But the reality is: If you build it — and promote it — they will come.
Analysing the problem
So, we took a closer look at what was happening behind the scenes by reviewing their Google Analytics 4 data. It didn’t take long to uncover why the phone wasn’t ringing.
Yes, website traffic was low — but some strong foundations were already in place:
- There was a healthy balance of traffic from direct, organic search, social media, and referrals
- The key action pages, including Key Services, Book a Job, and Request a Quote, were working well
- The Request a Quote page had even generated a few leads
The issue? The client wasn’t doing any marketing apart from car signage — so not enough people were searching for or finding their business to generate consistent enquiries.
Remember: no ball, no game — and no marketing, no growth.
They had great car signage — which we’d previously organised — and that was driving some phone calls. But overall, their digital visibility was weak.
- They had a Google Business profile, but they weren’t posting on it
- They had just one review, which hadn’t been responded to
- There was no social media, blog content or local networking activities.
In football terms? The website was playing solo with no team around it.
You can’t expect your website to do all the heavy lifting — it needs support.
Nine Critical Ingredients for Running a Successful Business
Just like every football team needs all its players on the field, every business needs the right mix to succeed. Marketing is one of those key players, but too often, it’s the one left on the bench.
As an award-winning business, here’s our take on the nine critical ingredients for long-term success:
- Clear vision and purpose – Know where you’re headed
- Strong leadership – Lead with focus and direction
- A great product or service – Deliver consistent value
- Treat your team well – Build a strong, supportive culture
- Exceptional customer care – Build trust beyond transactions
- Financial discipline – Manage your money wisely and make data-driven decisions
- Consistent marketing and sales – Show up regularly where your customers are
- Operational efficiency – Streamline systems and processes to scale effectively
- Adaptability and continuous improvement – Evolve with your market and always look for ways to improve
Yet, when marketing comes up, we often hear:
“We don’t have a budget for that.”
But that misses the point.
If you want to build a sustainable business, marketing isn’t optional — it’s essential. It’s not about doing everything; it’s about choosing a few smart strategies you can afford and commit to doing consistently.
Because if you skip marketing, it’s like leaving your goalie off the team — and still expecting to win the game.
Marketing Isn’t a One-Off Strategy : It’s Layered Like a Game Plan
How a Redlands marketing company gets the phones ringing
Marketing works best when it’s built like a football strategy — start with the basics and add new plays as you build confidence and results. Just like players improve over time, businesses grow by building layered marketing strategies.
For many Redlands small businesses, trying to do everything at once can be overwhelming. That’s why our approach focuses on affordable, consistent action — building momentum layer by layer.
Step-by-Step Strategy for Growth
Strategy 1: Google Business
We started with Google Business — a powerful tool for boosting local visibility. The listing had already been set up and initial citations were in place. So we helped the client:
- Learn how to use Google Business effectively
- Set a goal to grow reviews from 1 to 20+ (Google values quality and quantity)
- Respond to all reviews to build trust
- Post weekly with keyword-rich content
- Add affordable local citations to improve SEO
Strategy 2: Facebook Setup
Next, we introduced Facebook — once they were confident managing Google Business.
Many small businesses unintentionally set up Facebook incorrectly, risking account access to lost emails or hacks. So we:
- Created a Meta Portfolio and Meta Business Page
- We set up one Admin in the business (either their marketer or IT person as a backup in the event they lose control of their page, which happens). The rest of people are then set up at a lower level access for security. This is best practice to protect their account and brand.
We supported them with one of the three options:
- A Social Media Playbook
- A mentoring session on content and engagement or
- Full management of their social media
Strategy 3: Blogs and SEO Content
Once they have consistent traffic from Google Business and Facebook, we’ll start writing local SEO blogs. Even one blog per quarter, focused on the Redlands area services, helps:
- Create content that ranks in Google
- Gives fresh material to post on social and Google Business
- Drives more relevant traffic and enquiries
Why Your Marketing Strategy Must be Tailored
As a digital marketing specialist, we know every business is different. That’s why we never offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Each digital marketing strategy is tailored to:
- Your business goals
- Your market and competitors
- Your ideal customers
- Your budget
- What you can realistically commit to — week in, week out
Because consistency always beats short bursts of effort— every time.
Marketing is Like Football.
You can’t play football without a ball.
And you can’t grow a business without marketing.
You don’t need to be everywhere — but you do need to show up consistently. Whether that’s on Google Business, Facebook, your blog, or networking in your local community, it’s about building the right mix that works together to grow your visibility and sales.
That’s the Sustainable Marketing difference. We help Redlands small businesses to grow with strategies that are practical, affordable, and proven to work.
Need help from a Redlands marketing company to get the phones ringing and grow a sustainable business?
Call us today on 07 3446 5837 or email us here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maria Anderson is the Founder & Managing Director of Sustainable Marketing Services, a multi-award-winning Brisbane marketing agency known for integrating brand, marketing, digital, PR, and social to deliver measurable, sustainable growth.
A data-driven strategist with over 25 years’ experience, Maria is a Certified Practising Marketer (Australian Marketing Institute) with a Bachelor of Business (Marketing and Public Relations) and Diplomas in Sustainability and Financial Services. She helps businesses launch, grow, and protect their brands through results-focused, sustainable marketing strategies.