18 min 23 sec

See You on the Internet: Building Your Small Business with Digital Marketing

By Avery Swartz

See You on the Internet provides small business owners with a clear, jargon-free roadmap for building a digital presence, from mastering SEO and social media to launching effective email and advertising campaigns.

Table of Content

In the modern era, the old saying ‘if you build it, they will come’ has been replaced by a much more digital reality. Today, the mantra is more like: ‘if they can’t find you on their phone, you don’t exist.’ For many small business owners, this shift represents a massive opportunity, yet it often comes with a paralyzing sense of overwhelm. We are told we need a website, an email list, a presence on five different social networks, and a budget for online ads—all while trying to actually run the business we love.

But here’s the shift in perspective you’ve been looking for: digital marketing isn’t about being everywhere or mastering every technical glitch. It’s about creating a strategy that serves your specific business goals. It’s about reaching the right people at the right time without wasting your most precious resource—your time. In this exploration of Avery Swartz’s guide, we are going to demystify the digital world.

We’ll start by looking at how you can claim your own corner of the internet and build a foundation that you actually own. From there, we’ll dive into the nuances of website design, making sure your digital storefront is welcoming to everyone. We’ll untangle the mystery of search engines, find out which social media platforms are worth your energy, and see why the ‘old-fashioned’ tool of email marketing is still a powerhouse for growth. Finally, we’ll look at how to spend your advertising dollars wisely and how to use data to prove that your hard work is actually paying off. This is your roadmap to going from being invisible to being indispensable online.

Discover why owning your domain and choosing the right hosting service are the foundational steps to a professional and secure online presence.

Explore the essentials of building a mobile-friendly, accessible website that speaks directly to your target audience’s needs and emotions.

Learn the balance between on-page optimization and building off-page authority to help your business climb the search engine rankings.

Discover how to choose the right platforms for your brand and balance social engagement with promotional content using the 80/20 rule.

Unlock the power of email marketing by focusing on value-driven content and using A/B testing to refine your message.

Demystify the world of paid ads by learning how to target the right audience and test your way to a high return on investment.

Go beyond ‘vanity metrics’ and learn how to use tools like Google Analytics to track the data that actually moves the needle for your business.

As we wrap up this journey through the digital landscape, the most important takeaway is that technology is simply a tool to facilitate human connection. Whether it’s through a well-designed website, a thoughtful email, or a helpful social media post, your goal is to be there for your customers when they need you. You don’t need a massive marketing department or a degree in computer science to succeed; you just need a clear strategy and the willingness to learn.

Remember the throughline: every digital action should serve a business goal. Don’t chase trends for the sake of trends. Instead, focus on building your ‘digital real estate’ on a solid foundation, making your content accessible and valuable, and using data to guide your growth.

A great first step is to start building relationships outside of your own platforms. Look for communities, bloggers, or fellow business owners who share your target audience but aren’t direct competitors. Offer to share your expertise on their platforms in exchange for a link back to your site. This not only improves your SEO but also introduces you to a wider audience through a trusted voice. The digital world is vast, but it’s also more connected than ever. By showing up consistently and authentically, you’ll ensure that when people look for your services, they’ll see you on the internet—and they’ll like what they find. Keep experimenting, keep measuring, and most importantly, keep your customers at the heart of everything you do.

About this book

What is this book about?

For many entrepreneurs, the digital landscape feels like a vast, intimidating frontier filled with technical hurdles and ever-changing rules. See You on the Internet acts as a strategic compass, breaking down the complexities of digital marketing into manageable, actionable steps. It moves beyond the simple 'how-to' by explaining the 'why' behind online success, ensuring that every digital effort aligns with actual business objectives. Readers will discover how to claim their piece of internet real estate, build a website that serves as a high-performing employee, and navigate the social media landscape without getting lost in the noise. By the end, the promise is clear: you will have the tools and confidence to grow your brand, reach more customers, and measure your progress with precision using data that actually matters.

Book Information

Rating:

Genra:

Entrepreneurship & Startups, Marketing & Sales

Topics:

Copywriting, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Sales

Publisher:

Page Two Books, Incorporated

Language:

English

Publishing date:

March 10, 2020

Lenght:

18 min 23 sec

About the Author

Avery Swartz

Avery Swartz is a highly respected digital marketing consultant, tech writer, and public speaker. Recognized as one of the Top 50 Women in Marketing by Search Engine Journal, she has dedicated her career to making technology accessible. She is the founder and CEO of Camp Tech, a leading organization that provides practical digital marketing training for small businesses and non-profits across Canada.

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings at a glance

4

Overall score based on 170 ratings.

What people think

Listeners find this book to be a straightforward and functional guide for small business owners seeking to establish a professional digital marketing plan. Additionally, they value the plain language and organized method used to explain key subjects like SEO, social media, and web security. They also point out the author's skill in simplifying intricate ideas, with one listener observing the advice is "evergreen" and remains relevant as a company scales. While some listeners feel the material is better suited for conventional business structures than creative industries, most agree it provides a reliable basis for mastering the current digital world.

Top reviews

Sven

Finally got around to finishing this guide, and it is easily one of the most pragmatic marketing books on my shelf. Swartz writes with the clarity of a seasoned tech host, stripping away all the jargon that usually makes my head spin. Frankly, the advice here is evergreen; whether you are building your first site or trying to scale an existing brand, the framework provided is incredibly robust. I particularly loved the tóm tắt sections at the end of each chapter because they allow for quick reviews when you're in a rush. If you want to grow without breaking the bank, start here. This is exactly what the modern online landscape requires for success.

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Aurora

Wow. Avery Swartz has somehow managed to organize the 'lost library' of digital marketing into a single, cohesive handbook that anyone can understand. I’ve heard so many people talk about marketing like it’s some ancient mystery, but this book proves that with a solid plan, anyone can navigate the Internet successfully. Not gonna lie, I expected another fluffy business book, but this is packed with actual substance. The focus on evergreen strategies ensures that the advice won't be obsolete by next year. It’s like having a professional consultant in your pocket. Truly a generous resource for the modern entrepreneur.

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Wan

Ever wonder why some businesses just seem to 'get' the internet while the rest of us are left guessing? This book explains exactly why, offering a framework that demystifies every corner of the digital world from email lists to advertising. After hearing Swartz speak on a tech segment, I knew her approach would be no-nonsense, and she delivered exactly that. Every business needs this kind of clarity. It isn't just about being seen; it’s about being seen by the right people at the right time. This is a five-star resource for anyone serious about building a professional online presence that actually converts. Swartz’s ability to explain the 'why' behind the 'how' is what sets this apart from all the other marketing garbage available online today. It’s practical, deep, and surprisingly easy to follow for such a broad topic.

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Tawee

As a small business owner who feels constantly drowned by the ever-changing digital landscape, this book was a literal breath of fresh air. Avery Swartz manages to take complex topics like SEO and website security and break them down into a manageable, professional roadmap. In my experience, I was terrified of starting my email list, but the step-by-step instructions made it feel achievable. Some of the technical sections regarding back-end security felt a bit dry, yet the overall structure kept me moving forward. I finally understand how to align my digital goals with my actual business needs. It’s a solid foundational resource that I’ll be keeping on my desk for a long time. Definitely worth the read if you're feeling lost in the tech woods.

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Aiden

Truth is, finding a marketing book that doesn't feel like a sales pitch for a specific software platform is surprisingly difficult. Swartz avoids that trap by focusing on foundational principles that help you choose the right metrics for your specific business goals. Most owners jump straight into social media without a plan, but this book forces you to step back and build a website-centric strategy first. The language is accessible, and the tone is encouraging without being overly sugary. I wish there was a bit more on the TikTok era, but the core advice on engagement and community is timeless and scales well as a company grows.

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Sirinat

Picked this up on a library whim and ended up buying a permanent copy for my office because the advice is just that practical. Swartz has a gift for explaining things in a way that feels like a conversation over coffee rather than a lecture from a tech giant. Look, you don't need a massive budget to make an impact; you just need a better strategy. The chapters are broken down into bite-sized pieces with excellent summaries that make the content easy to digest. I did notice some minor editing quirks in the layout, but the value of the information far outweighs any minor presentation issues. Highly recommended for the digital-curious.

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Samira

After hearing so many horror stories about small businesses getting scammed by 'marketing gurus,' it’s refreshing to find a guide that is this honest and grounded. The book walks you through the entire expedition of digital marketing, from making a goal to measuring the final data. I particularly appreciated the sections on website security, a topic most marketing books completely ignore but is vital for survival. It’s a very pragmatic, all-encompassing guide. While some of the social media advice feels like it’s catching up to the current trends, the fundamental strategy remains rock-solid for anyone starting from scratch.

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Num

Look, if you are a small business owner who is overwhelmed by options, this book solves that problem perfectly by providing a clear, step-by-step framework that prioritizes business needs over flashy trends. Gotta say, the way Swartz explains SEO makes it feel much less like a dark art and more like a standard business process. The advice scales well as you grow, making it a great long-term reference. It’s a bit dry in the middle sections, but the practical value is undeniable. If you are ready to get professional about your online presence and stop throwing money at random ads, grab this book and follow the plan.

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Amelia

The chapter on SEO was quite enlightening, but I found myself struggling to stay awake during the more technical bits about web architecture. To be fair, the book is incredibly well-organized and provides a very clear digital marketing plan for newcomers. However, the formatting in the physical copy I received felt a bit off in terms of spacing, which made it harder to read than it should have been. It covers everything from social media to analytics in a way that feels 'official' and structured. It's a good introductory text, but it didn't quite have that 'hook' to keep me glued to the pages from start to finish. Useful, but a bit of a slog in parts.

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Layla

Not what I expected for my specific needs as an independent artist working in a very niche creative field. Personally, the advice felt heavily geared toward 'official' traditional businesses with bigger teams or standard service models. While the technical explanations are clear, I didn't find the examples particularly relevant to the way the art market operates today. It’s a very professional roadmap, sure, but it lacks the nuance required for creative freelancers who don't fit the corporate mold. If you’re a standard small biz owner, you’ll love it, but for us creative types, it feels a little bit distant and impersonal.

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