Setting marketing goals for your small business can feel like throwing darts in the dark. While large corporations might aim for millions of followers or global reach, local businesses need a more grounded approach. Here’s a practical guide to setting achievable marketing goals that can drive real growth for your business in 2025.

Start with Your Business Fundamentals

Before diving into specific marketing objectives, take a step back and consider:

Your Current Position

• Review your 2024 performance
• Identify what worked and what didn’t
• Assess your available resources (time, budget, skills)
• Understand your market position compared to local competitors

Your Business Objectives

• Define clear revenue targets
• Identify key growth areas
• Determine your capacity for new customers
• Consider any planned business changes (new products, services, or locations)

The SMART Framework for Small Business Marketing

While SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) might seem like business jargon, they’re especially valuable for small businesses. Here’s how to apply this framework practically:

Specific: Instead of “increase social media presence,” try “gain 50 new local Facebook followers per month from our target geographic area.”

Measurable: Focus on metrics that matter for your business:

• Website visits from local searches
• Contact form submissions
• Phone calls from Google Business Profile
• Email newsletter sign-ups
• Social media engagement rate

Achievable: Consider your resources and local market size. For example:

• A 20% increase in website traffic might be realistic
• Doubling your customer base in three months probably isn’t

Relevant: Every goal should connect to revenue or business growth:

• Will more social media followers actually help your business?
• Could those resources be better spent on email marketing to existing customers?
• Does this goal align with your target customer’s behavior?

Time-bound: Break annual goals into quarterly and monthly targets to maintain momentum and allow for adjustments.

Sample Marketing Goals for Small Businesses

Here are examples of realistic marketing goals for different types of local businesses:

For a Retail Store:

• Increase foot traffic from Google Business Profile by 15% in Q1 2025
• Generate 25 customer reviews across Google and Facebook by March 2025
• Achieve a 10% conversion rate on local search appearances

For a Service Business:

• Increase contact form submissions by 25% by June 2025
• Maintain a 4.8+ rating across all review platforms
• Generate 30 qualified leads per month from the website

For a Restaurant:

• Increase online orders by 20% in the first half of 2025
• Build an email list of 500 local customers by year-end
• Achieve 1,000 followers on Instagram with a 5% engagement rate

Tracking and Adjusting Your Goals

Setting goals is just the beginning. Success requires:

Regular Monitoring

• Set up proper tracking tools
• Review metrics monthly
• Document what drives changes in performance

Flexible Adaptation

• Adjust goals based on early results
• Account for seasonal changes
• Respond to market conditions

Resource Allocation

• Focus budget on highest-performing channels
• Invest time in sustainable, long-term growth
• Know when to seek expert help

When to Seek Professional Guidance

Sometimes, achieving your marketing goals requires expert support. Consider working with a digital marketing professional when:

• You’re not sure which metrics matter most
• You need help setting up proper tracking
• Your goals aren’t delivering expected results
• You want to scale your success

Nonna Digital Marketing specializes in helping small businesses set and achieve realistic marketing goals. Through careful planning, strategic implementation, and regular monitoring, your business can achieve meaningful growth in 2025.

Ready to Set Your 2025 Marketing Goals?

Contact Nonna Digital Marketing for a consultation to discuss your business objectives and create a customized plan for achieving your marketing goals in 2025.

This article is part of the “New Year, New Strategies” series, providing practical digital marketing guidance for small businesses. Stay tuned for more insights from your local digital marketing experts at Nonna Digital Marketing.