I grew up in Boise, Idaho and while it may be known as the “City of Trees” in fashionable circles, Boise is also quite famous for something far more fun…the “Big Jud Challenge.” Big Jud’s is a local burger joint known for their massive hamburgers and fresh cut fries (this is Idaho, after all!). The most famous menu item is the Big Jud Special which features a one-pound burger that is basically the size of your head. But Big Jud’s doesn’t stop there. Nope. They take it one step further and offer up a two-pound burger paired with two pounds of fries…and if you eat it in under 30 minutes, you land on the wall of fame as one of the elite who conquer the “Big Jud Challenge.”

I have never attempted the challenge, but I have watched countless friends try. It looks delicious, but also overwhelming. The only way to go about it is one bite at a time.

So why am I talking about two-pound burgers when I promised quick marketing wins? Simple! The same way the Big Jud Challenge feels insurmountable to me is the same way that marketing mountain can feel… overwhelming. And the way we get there – whether we are talking burgers or your marketing mix – is one step (or bite) at a time.

When it feels like there isn’t enough time in the day, when the holidays are kicking your butt, when you aren’t sure where to start, when peak season chaos is overwhelming you, here are 10 quick wins to kickstart your marketing mojo.

Note: proceed with caution. This isn’t meant to be a list to add pressure to an already overwhelmed situation. Pick one. Just one!

These are quick wins intended to give you that little boost of accomplishment and get you moving again. Remember…one step at a time!

1. Update your Google Business Profile

Add a photo. Check your hours (or update them for an upcoming holiday or seasonal shift). Update your description to fit the time of year. Respond to a review. Even a few little updates can make your profile feel fresh and updated…it signals to your customers (and Google) that you are a live, active business. As my kids would say (courtesy of Peppa Pig), “easy peasy lemon squeezy.”

2. Post a Behind-the-Scenes Story

I admit, there are times I feel a bit paralyzed when it comes to social media. Even with a strategy in place, there are off days where you just don’t feel inspired. But there is so much pressure to post! First of all, it is 100% fine to take a break from social media – whether that be a day, a week, a month. But when you WANT to post, but need something quick and easy, grab a few photos or some vertical video of your everyday, your behind the scenes. Post it to your stories. Don’t even stress about a formal post with a witty caption. Just post! These are the imperfect, authentic moments that are highly likely to resonate with your customer base…and even attract new ones!

3. Take a 10-Minute Photo Challenge

Building up a bank of b-roll and stock images are my life goals. Sometimes it feels like I am constantly behind on the visuals – for social media, for my website, for collateral. So a few months ago I started challenging myself to a 10-minute photo challenge a few times a week. As a service-based business, this can get a little tricky for me, but I set a timer and start snapping anything and everything in my office, outside my window, the project I am working on, and if I am feeling inspired, record a few candid b-roll video clips of my work. If you have a brick-and-mortar, start snapping shots of anything an everything…products, people, processes, behind-the-scenes. Service-based? Follow my lead and just start capturing moments! Half of it will be junk (or at least fodder for a good laugh later). But the other half is gold. I find that my 10 minutes often inspires new ideas for my next session. Before you know it, you will have more visual content than you know what to do with!

4. Pin a High-Performing Post

On Instagram, you have the option to pin up to six posts…three on your content tab (the squares of everything you share) and three on your reels tab (which is a separate tab just for your video content). This is a great way to highlight key pieces of content – and introduction to your business, how-tos, product descriptions, and (you guessed it) high performing content. For an easy win, update what you have pinned. Find those high performing posts by clicking over to your Professional Dashboard (you need to have a creator or business account for this). Scroll through the “Content You’ve Shared” section and look at your analytics to find the content that stands out. Pin those!

5. Update One Page on Your Website

Sometimes website updates can feel really daunting, especially if it has been a while since you touched your site. There is no rule that says you have to update everything or nothing – take it one page at a time. If you have to choose which page to start with, open up your Google Analytics and navigate to the “Pages and Screens” section (find that by going to Reports > Engagement > Pages and Screens). Look at the top hit page. Update that one first. Or if that top page is current, move to the second most visited page. Work your way down the line as time allows.

6. Spend 15 Minutes Engaging on Your Socials

It is easy to get so wrapped up in figuring out what to post that will resonate with your followers and grow your business, that we forget social media is meant to be SOCIAL. It isn’t a one-way street. Posting is great, but don’t dismiss the power of engagement BY YOU with others. If you are feeling uninspired today, set your time for 15 minutes and engage in an authentic way. A standard rule of thumb is to spend 5 minutes in stories liking and commenting on anything that catches your eye. Spend 5 minutes responding to any comments on your own posts and respond to DMs OR, if you are all caught up, scroll through your followers and comment on their posts. Finally, spend 5 minutes engaging with accounts you may not follow (or accounts who don’t follow you). But what does that even mean?! It means go to your competitor and leave a positive comment on one of their posts with some camaraderie. It means leaving comments on big, big accounts you love (I am slightly obsessed with the National Parks Service account ). It could be spending time seeking out fellow local businesses and following them – and shooting them a quick DM (direct message) with something you love about their product/service/vibe.

This is your time to go forth and be social!

7. Post a Customer Testimonial (or ask for one!)

Social proof is really powerful. And it tends to be something we don’t share often enough. I know I struggle with posting this kind of content – it somehow feels egotistical to me. But I am learning that it isn’t ego, it is a fantastic sales tool. People trust an honest review from a total stranger more than they trust a sales pitch from a business. So share those reviews! Share those “thank you” emails or comments or messages.

Lacking this kind of content? Take 5 minutes each day to ASK for it. Send an email to a client asking for feedback. Design a short Google survey with a QR code at your point-of-sale and ask for reviews. Heck, ask one customer a day how their experience was…then write it down to share later!

8. Repurpose a Popular Piece of Content

Remember up in #4 when we pinned a high-performing post? Take that same piece of content and reimagine it. Maybe it was a reel that did well – can you turn that into a carousel post or single slide (like a quote or quick tip)? If it was a carousel, can you turn the text on that slide into a reel by adding some b-roll to the background and adding text to the video? Don’t overthink it. And no, it won’t be redundant. On average, only 2-5% of your total followers actually see any given post. So repeat, repeat, repeat. It isn’t annoying, it is smart!

9. Reach Out to a Fellow Business Owner

Partnerships are magic. When the inspiration isn’t flowing freely, phone a friend. We all have business buddies…this is your sign to reach out and see what a bit of collaboration might generate. Who could be a natural partner for a seasonal promotion, a bundle, an event? This quick win isn’t about coming up with the final idea  – it is about taking that first step to see what’s possible. Send the email, stop in, schedule a chat over coffee. The win is the outreach. The catalyst for the conversation that will get the wheels turning!

10. Take 10 Minutes to Set Goals (1 for today, 1 for this month, 1 for this quarter)

Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed, my brain tends to rapid-fire. I can’t grasp on to any single task that can move me forward through the chaos. When that happens (and it happens far to often that I would like!), I try and stop to think about my end goal. My goal for the day, my goal for a project, my goal for the month or quarter. Whatever that goal is, it helps me see the end game and then I can work backward in a logical way that breaks that rapid-fire overwhelm. When I know where I want to go, I can focus on outlining the steps I need to take to get there.

Give it a try! Goals aren’t just for the new year (or new fiscal year). They are applicable any time you need to reset and find a clear path through the fog of juggling business ownership and the life you started this business to support.