FREE, Actionable Marketing Ideas

What I love most from blogs and content are ACTIONABLE steps I can take, which is what we are going to do today. Most marketing ideas fail for one simple reason, there is no follow-up.

Businesses try something once, feel busy, and then move on without capturing the connection or building momentum. Warm Marketing flips that pattern. The action is only half the work. The real value comes from what you do after the action.

Here are three Warm Marketing moves you can do this week that cost almost nothing, build real visibility, and feed directly into your CRM so the effort compounds instead of disappearing.

Make a Simple Marketing Video With a Local Business Owner

My cornerstone product. This is one of the easiest and most effective Warm Marketing actions. Invite a local business owner to do a short, informal video with you. This is not a commercial and it does not need to be polished. One phone, three questions, five minutes.

Ask something human and specific, like what people misunderstand about their business, what they wish customers knew before calling, or why they decided to start the business in the first place. These conversations build trust quickly because they feel real, not scripted.

The follow-up is where this turns into leverage. Within 24 hours, send them the video, thank them publicly when you post it, and tag them wherever you share it. Then send one simple message asking if there is anyone else you should talk to next. That single question often turns one video into a chain of introductions.

In your CRM, add them as a contact, tag the interaction as a video collaboration, note the topic and date, and set a follow-up task for about 30 days later. The goal is not to sell them something; it is to stay connected and be a valuable connection for them.

Show a Local Business Some Love for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just the excuse, this idea works year-round. Go to a local business and ask one question on camera, what do you love most about your business?

That is it. Short answer, genuine response, no overthinking.

At the end of the video, have them name or tag the next local business you should spotlight (prepare them that this is the format and be ready to tag/mention the next business). Now the series grows naturally, without you having to cold outreach every time. You are letting the community guide the spotlight.

After posting, send them the clip, thank them, and tag them everywhere. Then reach out to the business they tagged and mention who sent you (even better, have the business owner do a warm handoff). That simple reference creates instant trust before you even meet.

In your CRM, add both businesses as contacts, tag them as part of a local love series, note who tagged whom, and set a task to follow up with the next business within 48 hours. This keeps the momentum moving without extra effort.

Run a Weekly Gift Card Giveaway With Local Business Owners

This is a simple collaboration that creates exposure for everyone involved. Partner with a local business to give away a small gift card. Ten dollars works, twenty works, whatever amount they are comfortable donating.

Create one clear social media prompt. Follow the local business, follow your page, and tag a friend in the comments. That is all. The business gets new eyes, you grow your audience, and the community gets something fun to engage with.

After the giveaway, publicly thank the business, announce and tag the winner, and then message the business with a quick recap of how it performed. Ask if they want to do it again or pass the opportunity to another business. That keeps the collaboration loop going.

In your CRM, add the business as a contact, tag them as a giveaway partner, note the gift card amount and engagement results, and set a follow-up task for 45 to 60 days later.

None of these actions require ad spend. None require fancy tools. All of them require intention, consistency, FUN, and follow-up. Warm Marketing saves money because it replaces paid reach with relationships and replaces scattered effort with structure.

If you try to do all three at once, you will likely do none of them well. Pick one. Execute it cleanly. Log it properly. That is how Warm Marketing turns hustle into leverage.

To have a quick chat about how your marketing plan is working, here is my calendar: https://calendly.com/livelocalteam/15-minute-marketing-analysis