10 Small Biz Marketing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Launching a project is super exciting, but getting your first customers through the door (physically or digitally) is a big challenge. Marketing is often the difference between a brilliant idea that thrives and one that ends up collecting dust. Too many early-stage businesses fall into common marketing traps that kill growth before it even begins.

So let’s start strong! Here are the top marketing mistakes Canadian entrepreneurs and small businesses make, and how to avoid them. 

1. Skipping market research

Many businesses assume they already know who their customers are and what they want. Without data, this leads to poor messaging, irrelevant features, or wasted ad spend.

How to avoid it...

• Talk to real potential customers: surveys, interviews, online communities.
• Identify your target audience’s pain points and motivations.
• Study competitors to see what’s working (and what’s missing).
• Use SEO tools like Google Trends or rankingCoach to learn what people are actually searching for.

Even basic insights can reshape your positioning and dramatically improve conversions.

Quick example: You're a restaurant owner and you choose a menu based on trends you saw on TikTok, but a quick neighborhood survey might reveal that people actually want fast weekday meals or traditional comfort food. A small adjustment early on can save months of frustration.

Read all 10 in the full article here.

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