Do This First: Marketing for Small Teams That Works

Welcome to the "Designers Show" by Chief Experts, where design isn't just an art—it's a profit center!

In this episode, Dan Baumann and Renee are joined by Joleen Emery of Big Raven Media for a practical, straight-talking conversation about marketing for small design teams, remodelers, builders, and Chief Architect users.

The episode focuses on what to do first when marketing feels overwhelming: build the foundation. Before chasing social media, AI tools, or complicated marketing tactics, small businesses need the basics working properly: a verified Google Business Profile, a clear website, steady review requests, lead tracking, follow-up workflows, and consistent visibility.

This conversation is especially useful for designers and remodelers who rely heavily on referrals but want a more dependable way to stay visible, attract better-fit clients, and keep leads from falling through the cracks.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Start with your Google Business Profile before worrying about social media.
Verify your profile, complete it, add photos, and post to it regularly.
Reviews need a real workflow, not a “hope they remember” approach.
Use a direct Google review link so clients do not have to search for where to leave feedback.
Respond to every review, including negative ones.
Social media is often brand awareness, not true lead generation.
Referrals are valuable, but they are not a complete marketing strategy.
Your website should explain who you are and what you do within seconds.
Track where leads come from so you know what is actually working.
Use AI only after the basics are in place.
Consistency beats start-stop marketing every time.

📌 Chapters with timestamps:

00:00 — Welcome to the Designers Show
03:14 — Introducing Joleen Emery of Big Raven Media
04:03 — Upcoming Chief Architect training in Denver
05:29 — Pro Academy updates and ongoing Chief Architect education
07:19 — Marketing topics for small design businesses
08:15 — Why “bad marketing” is often upside-down marketing
08:34 — Start with your Google Business Profile
09:02 — Where AI fits into marketing
10:32 — Managing your Google Business Profile through Google Maps
13:09 — Why reviews need a strategy
15:55 — Responding to reviews, even negative ones
17:37 — Posting regularly to your Google profile
20:49 — Choosing customer-focused keywords and search terms
27:17 — Social media as brand awareness versus lead generation
33:52 — Referrals and relationship marketing
34:34 — Yelp, Google, and social proof
37:43 — Looking trustworthy online
40:48 — Posting content when you have limited time
41:48 — Managing tire kickers with clearer positioning
46:30 — Tracking where leads come from
46:57 — Google Analytics versus Google Business Profile
49:48 — Follow-up systems and workflows
53:31 — Why organized lead follow-up matters
57:29 — Website clarity in ten seconds
58:13 — Referrals alone are not enough
58:30 — Building a consistent marketing plan
60:30 — Why ongoing marketing matters when referrals slow down

📌 Upcoming Events:

Chief Architect Training in Denver, Colorado
A four-day training format with two days of beginner/intermediate training and two days of intermediate/advanced training.
Chief Experts Pro Academy
Live sessions are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month, with multiple sessions covering Chief Architect, design, workflows, and related topics.

🌟Guest Bio:

Joleen Emery is with Big Raven Media and works with Chief Experts on marketing strategy, email content, business communication, and ongoing marketing execution. In this episode, she shares practical guidance for small businesses that need to market consistently without getting buried in unnecessary complexity.

Her advice centers on doing the foundational work first: setting up Google Business Profile, asking for reviews, improving website clarity, tracking leads, and building repeatable workflows that small teams can actually maintain.

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About the Co-Hosts:

Do This First: Marketing for Small Teams That Works - Designers Show #174