The Small Business
Marketing Gym
TLDR: Your Digital Marketing Personal Trainer
A monthly coaching membership
for micro‑business owners who want marketing support without the agency price tag.
Welcome to The Small Business Marketing Gym.
We treat digital marketing like strength training.
You don’t walk into a gym and expect to bench press 200 pounds on day one. You work with a trainer who gives you a plan, watches your form, and keeps you accountable. Over time, you build strength.
The SMB Gym is the same—but for your digital presence.
You show up. I coach. You build the skills.
No fluff. No hidden retainers. No pressure to spend money on tools you don’t need.
We start with free tools, and you only pay for upgraded tools if you decide.
If marketing feels like a second job you didn’t sign up for…
You’re not alone.
You started your business because you’re great at what you do—teaching yoga, running a therapy practice, fixing cars, serving amazing food, running a small shop.
You didn’t start it because you love Instagram algorithms or keyword research. But somewhere along the way, “marketing” became a massive weight. You know you *should* do it, but:
- You don’t have time
- You’re nervous about looking “salesy”
- You tried a few things and nothing seemed to work
- You’re not even sure what “working” would look like
- You’re tired of paying for tools and courses that collect dust
Ignoring marketing leaves money on the table and makes you invisible. But it doesn’t have to be a full‑time job.
You just need a trainer, someone who will meet with you, give you actionable steps that can be immediately implemented at your speed, on your time.
FAQ’s
"They've helped us think about our [business] and our products, how we represent ourselves and the things we can do to present ourselves more attractively."
Mark - Tumbling Creek Cider Company
What do i get with a
Membership
Everything you need to build consistent marketing habits.
Two 1‑hour coaching sessions per month | One‑on‑one virtual sessions with me, scheduled at your pace.
10 Canva‑based templates | Professionally designed, easy to customize. New templates added quarterly.
Clear to‑do list after every session | No wondering “what’s next.” You leave with a simple, actionable plan.
Free monthly group training | 1‑hour virtual session with other members. Bring questions, learn together.
Subscription to [3Min.Read] | A micro-marketing newsletter for busy business owners.
Month‑to‑month. Cancel anytime. No contracts.
Investment - $147 / month
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We designed this to be low‑pressure and high‑impact. Sessions will start where you need to start. Are you brand new? Great, we’ll start at the beginning.
Are you well into your business but hit a plateau? No problem, lets run the data and find your next steps in reaching your customer.
Before Your First Session
You’ll fill out a quick self‑assessment: what’s working, what’s confusing, and what you want to accomplish. This helps us use every minute wisely.
Prerequisite: Please have your usernames and passwords ready for any digital platforms you already use (Google account, social media, website, etc.). If you don’t have anything yet, that’s fine—we’ll start from scratch.
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We meet, review your self‑assessment, and build your personal marketing plan.
You’ll walk away with a template to‑do list that breaks your next steps into manageable chunks.
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This is where you share your screen and I coach you through the action.
Want to create your first Canva graphic? I’ll guide you. Setting up your Google Business Profile? I’ll talk you through it step by step.
You learn by doing. I’m there to spot you.
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Absolutely. That’s actually a perfect place to start. We’ll use your first session to map out what you need first—usually a Google Business Profile and a simple Canva template for your first posts.
We begin with free tools, and I’ll walk you through each step so you feel confident, not overwhelmed. You don’t need to bring anything except your willingness to learn.
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No contracts, ever. Your membership is month‑to‑month, and you can cancel anytime with no fees or penalties. If you miss a session, just reschedule. Sessions are flexible as long as they fit within your active month.
Life happens, and we work around your schedule.
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An agency does the work for you (and often charges a premium for it). A course gives you information but no one to hold your hand or answer your specific questions.
The Local Business Gym is a coaching membership: I teach you how to do the work yourself, so you build skills that last. Y
You get live, personalized support without the agency price tag or the isolation of a self‑paced course.
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Not at all. I’ve spent 15 years as a teacher—I’m used to breaking things down until they make sense. Whether you’ve never touched Canva or you’re nervous about setting up a Google Business Profile, we go at your pace.
The only “tech” requirement is being able to share your screen during our second session (I’ll help you with that too).
Add‑Ons
Get Extra Support When You Need It
All add‑ons are available à la carte to members. (Non‑members can purchase them at a 20% premium.)
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30‑min video audit of your website, social media, Google Business Profile, and analytics. You get a recorded walkthrough with clear next steps. |
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30‑min session + a written one‑page marketing plan. We clarify your goals, audience, and the most effective channels for you. |
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30‑min session to nail your voice, visuals, and key messaging. You leave with a simple brand guide. |
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Five custom‑designed, branded graphics delivered in Canva (or as high‑res images). You provide the copy, or we give you copy templates. |
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A professionally designed, mobile‑responsive one‑page site. Includes setup of up to 3 sections (e.g., services, about, contact). Domain and Squarespace subscription are your direct costs—we help you choose the right plan. |
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Group Training (drop‑in) | $47 | 1‑hour virtual session with other business owners. Free for members.
Why The Local Business Gym?
We’re not an agency. We’re not a course factory. We’re a coaching membership built for micro‑business owners who want to stay in control of their money and their business.
We Keep Your Money in Your Community
When you spend less on overpriced marketing services, you keep more money in your pocket. And when you spend it locally—on your family, your staff, your neighbors—you strengthen the community around you.
We Start with Free Tools
No one needs to spend hundreds on software they barely understand. We begin with tools like Canva, Google Business Profile, and ChatGPT (free version). If a paid tool makes sense later, I’ll give you the pros, cons, and exact costs—so you decide.
We Teach You to Fish
I don’t write your captions for you. I don’t design your graphics behind the scenes. Instead, I coach you through doing it yourself. That way, you build skills that last, and you never feel trapped paying someone else to do what you can now handle.
Meet Your Trainer
Co-Founders and Past Employees of the Month
Jay West
Hi, I’m Jay (He/Him)
I’m a business owner from a long line of entrepreneurs. Before I started my small business, I spent 15 years as a teacher—so I know how to break things down until they actually make sense. I’ve also been doing digital marketing in some form for 25 years, and I hold a PMP certification, which means I bring structure to the chaos.
I built The Small Business Digital Marketing Gym because I kept meeting micro‑business owners who were exhausted by marketing. They either felt guilty for not doing it, or they paid someone a fortune and ended up with a website they didn’t understand.
I believe that when small businesses—especially LGBTQIA+ businesses—are visible and profitable, we build collective political power. Our success is our community’s success.
Let’s get started.