Ready to grow a new business without draining your wallet? We break down five free, high-impact moves that build a clear brand, boost visibility, and turn real-world connections into steady referrals. Shelby McFarland, the marketing broker behind Marketing Happy Hour, lays out a lean playbook you can execute right now and refine as you scale.
We start by building a brand foundation that actually guides decisions: simple logo and colors, consistent voice, and a mission that shows customers what you stand for. From there, we claim the essentials—domain, Google Business Profile, and social handles—with an eye on clarity and search discoverability. Shelby shares why consistent naming matters, how to fill profiles so they rank, and what images and keywords help your pages get found without ads.
Content becomes your proof of reliability. You’ll hear how to create a weekly cadence you can sustain, pick formats that reduce stress, and publish posts that teach, answer questions, and highlight wins. Then we move offline to the rooms where trust is built: chambers, leads groups, and events. Learn how to make networking intentional with clear asks, thoughtful follow-up, and one-to-one meetings that turn contacts into referral partners across cities and even countries.
To keep your momentum, Shelby points you to a free bank of 55 marketing ideas and introduces the BOSS mindset—Bold, Opportunistic, Strong, and Service-minded—as a filter for every choice you make. If you’re launching in 2026 and feeling the pressure to do everything, this guide shows you where to focus your time so your message is clear, your presence is consistent, and your service drives word-of-mouth. Subscribe, share with a founder friend, and leave a review telling us which free tactic you’ll try first.
