Digital Marketing: 7 Essentials Every New Business Needs

Sydney Burright • March 20, 2026

Let’s be real: in 2026, if your business isn’t online, it basically doesn’t exist. When people hear about a new brand, the first thing they do is stalk the website or look for the Google reviews or check out their social media.


We recently presented the 7 Marketing Essentials Every New Business Needs to contestants at The Fremont Pitch It Contest and students at Midland University and we want to share our insight with everyone. Whether you're just starting out or leveling up your current set up, here is your starter pack for digital success.

#1 : The Mini Brand Kit

First impressions are everything. You don't need a 100-page brand book, but you do need to have a basic guide. A mini brant kit keeps everything looking cohesive so you don't look like a "DIY" project. Making sure you have a clean logo, 3-5 colors, a couple of fonts that work well together, and a "voice" (how you talk to your customers and followers online).

#2 : A Website

Think of your website as your digital HQ. It needs to tell people exactly what you do and how they can buy from you without making them hunt for it. Make sure it looks amazing on a phone as well. Most of your traffic is going to be scrolling while they're on the go, so if it's glitchy on mobile, or it has a bad layout, you've already lost them.

#3 : Google Business Profile

If you want to show up when people search for "best ___ near me," you need this. It's what gets you on the map (literally). It shows your hours, your location, and those important 5 star ratings.

#4 : Social Media Presence

Don't feel like you have to be a professional TikTok star. Pick the platform where your target audience actually are: Instagram/TikTok are perfect for visual brands and catching eyes, Facebook is still the best for a local community vibe, and LinkedIn is where to go if you are doing B2B or professional networking.

#5 : Professional Email & Domain

Nothing kills a sale faster than a business email that ends in @gmail.com. Getting a custom domain is a small move that makes you look 10x more professional and trustworthy.

#6 : Reviews & Hype

Social proof is the ultimate currency. People trust other people more than they trust ads. Encourage your customers to leave a review, it builds your reputation and helps you rank higher in search results.

#7 : Tracking The Stats

You don't need to be a math genius, but you should know if your marketing is actually working. Basic tracking tells you where your customers are coming from and which buttons on your website that they are clicking on. If you don't track it, you're just guessing.

Ready to Launch

Setting this all up can feel like a lot, but you don't have to do it alone. Whether it's building out a site that actually converts or handling the technical tracking stuff, we’re here to help!

Let's be real: in 2026, if your business isn't online, it basically doesn't exist. When people hear about a new brand, the first thing they do is stalk the website or look for Google reviews or check out their social media.


We are going to break down the 7 Marketing Essentials every new business needs to actually look like a real business and get noticed. Whether you are just starting out or trying to update your current business, here is your starter pack for digital success.

Share

Man in foil hat points upward beside bold “10K WEBSITE” and “NO CODING” text on orange background
By Brayden Will • October 27, 2026
As a designer I try and educate myself on recent design trends and things going on in that world as much as possible. Through my education and experience I have spent a lot of time on designing and building websites, never in my experience has it gone well without someone opening a code editor.  Today, new AI tools can write code, lay out pages, and make a “working” website faster than I can pick a font. The world likes to say that AI is coming for people’s jobs in this area specifically targeted at web/UX designers. To me it’s not the tool that I worry about, it’s the people abusing the system that are. Over the last few months, I’ve noticed and defined two types of people that are worth looking out for.
Hands holding smartphones in a circle on a table, with colorful app icons floating above each screen.
By Performance Digital • October 20, 2026
Social media and the internet have been part of everyday life for years, but the way people use these platforms continues to change. As social platforms have added more features, integrations, search capabilities, and shopping tools, they have also changed how businesses reach customers, and how customers move through the marketing funnel. The traditional marketing funnel is usually viewed as a fairly straightforward journey: someone becomes aware of a business, develops interest, considers their options, and eventually converts. Today, that journey is much less linear.
Text reading “How to Handle Negative Comments Without Damaging Your Brand” beside a thumbs-down icon
By Performance Digital • October 13, 2026
Every brand with a comment section will eventually get a bad one. What separates a one-off complaint from a lasting reputation hit isn’t the criticism itself. It’s what your brand does next. A single unhappy comment rarely sinks a brand. A slow, defensive, or tone-deaf reply is what turns it into a story. The good news? Handling criticism well is a skill, not a personality trait. It comes down to a few repeatable habits.
Billboard reading “THE BILLBOARD TEST” on a gray sign against a blue sky.
By Performance Digital • October 6, 2026
Learn why short headlines, minimal copy, and clear visual hierarchy can improve display ad and landing page performance and help drive more clicks.
Robot elephant in a modern office, surrounded by coworkers watching it attentively
September 23, 2026
A practical look at where AI helps marketers and where human judgement still matters.
Three AI Generated event flyers: boba tea sale, neon concert night, and big pizza sale
By Performance Digital • September 15, 2026
There's an instinct among certain business owners to keep up with the latest marketing trends, and right now, the trend is AI flyers. They're scattered across social media and aside from sales and promotions, can communicate a lot about what or who a brand is. The instinct is understandable, and for many business owners, a quick solution that can potentially elevate their brand is exactly what they need. The low barrier to entry seems attractive to someone who's already strapped for time and may not be able to afford a professional designer on a weekly basis, but here are a few things to consider and ask yourself before putting one of these flyers together.