Your resident Showit brand and web designer. I've helped dozens of creatives stand out online and create a sustainable digital presence.
I’m a huge advocate for organic marketing for entrepreneurs. I even named my weekly newsletter the Slow Growth Club!
I think it’s an underrated organic marketing strategy. We think we need to hustle and expect to see instant results.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather put intentional effort into marketing strategies that will pay off over time.
These techniques are a slow burn, but way more sustainable.
Key Takeaways:
Slow business growth is choosing long-term, sustainable marketing techniques over rapid scaling.
Too often, I’ve heard stories of businesses that grew way too fast and couldn’t maintain the demand.
On the other hand, they believed that pursuing rapid growth was the only way to be successful, but that led to burnout.
Slow growth is all about embracing patience, depth of work, and quality.
What does that look like?
I’ve used slow growth strategies from the beginning of my business, and I wouldn’t change a thing!
I credit slow growth to the success of my business. I think if I had tried to grow too quickly without putting the proper systems in place, I would have burned out and resented the business I built.
You might think slow growth means you’re playing small and not dreaming big.
It’s actually the opposite! Slow growth is about intentionally choosing a slower pace to build something right for you.
You’re creating space for clarity and alignment with what you truly want.
Here are some other benefits of a slow organic marketing strategy:
Can you say this about your business right now? If not, you may need to look into slow growth strategies.
I know there are tons of organic marketing platforms out there. It can be overwhelming to know which ones to invest time in!
These are the five platforms I use to grow my business intentionally.
Pinterest is a search engine that can bring new organic traffic to your website 24/7.
It doesn’t deliver instant results, but your efforts compound over time (which is basically the definition of slow growth!)
It’s a sustainable growth strategy for your business because:
Here’s how you can get started on Pinterest!
Video content continues to move up in popularity, and YouTube is the OG platform for videos.
It has the potential to expose millions of people to your business. And even if they don’t end up being clients, maybe they know someone who could benefit from your services.
The more visibility you can get online, the better your chances of constantly booking new clients.
Oh look, another search-based platform! Are you getting the idea, friend? 😉
SEO is something business owners know they need, but sometimes put off doing because they don’t know where to start, and it’s confusing.
I get it! I was in your shoes before I took SEO on Tap from Duo Collective (highly recommend, by the way! Use code VINES to get $50 off!)
SEO takes time to see results, but it’s one of the best ways to bring new traffic to your website.
Optimizing your website with keywords and SEO metadata tells Google when to show your pages in search results.
And when your content aligns with what someone is searching for, you’ll learn new traffic (and potentially a new client!)
Even if you don’t know much about SEO, here are five tips you can implement right away to start earning new search traffic!
How can you increase your search rankings? Blogging!
I know this can seem like an old-school organic marketing strategy, but it works!
Each blog you publish is a new opportunity to be featured in search results.
Your main pages focus on the high-level of what you offer.
Blogs can get a little more granular into exactly what you do and your expertise.
I started blogging consistently in 2024 and have seen incredible results! I even got my first Google inquiry after blogging for a few months.
Again, it takes time, but it’s worth the effort.
Still wondering if it’s worth it? Here’s the real ROI of starting a blog.
Podcasts are also booming in popularity. Everyone is busy, and listening to audio on the go is perfect!
Podcasts allow you to connect with your audience in a more personal way. They can hear your voice, opinions, and advice. It makes them feel more connected to you.
You might also interview other outside experts, which allows you to build your network that way.
Podcasts are also an amazing starting point for repurposing content. Capture video while you’re recording the episode and post it on YouTube. Write long-form show notes and post them as blogs!
Overall, podcasts are a great way to help your audience get to know you and improve your SEO.
Listen to my guest episodes right here!
Maybe you’re starting to be convinced that you need to focus on organic marketing over instant results.
Let’s make sure you go about it sustainably so you see the best results!
Take advantage of times when you feel creative and make time to do that.
Nothing is worse than forcing creativity because you have to meet a deadline.
Make space for those creative juices to flow.
And schedule time for rest and reflection. This is JUST as important as completing client projects.
Your business can’t operate effectively when you’re exhausted, not feeling creative, and just over it.
Time blocking can help you make time for creativity, client work, and rest.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that more isn’t always better, or more profitable.
Depth of knowledge and truly giving the best value you can, even if that means charging more, is better than offering whatever you need to in order to book a client.
Book fewer projects, but complete them more deeply.
Maybe that means including a report of your work, or doing something extra, just because your client could benefit from it.
That could look like NOT working with just anyone, but choosing your clients carefully.
I understand that sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do to keep the lights on, but in my experience, sticking to what I’m best at and serving my clients as best I can always pays off.
This is something I’ve actively been working on!
Building community is an amazing, slow growth technique for your business. The more people know you, the more they want to support you.
Here are some ways to do that:
Even though we have online businesses, it’s all about connecting with people – online and in real life!
Business isn’t all about income and money.
It’s about supporting your clients and their goals and dreams.
Testimonials, repeat clients, and creative growth are just as impactful and important as profit.
Don’t get in the weeds of your financials. See how you’ve impacted people’s lives!
Investing in slow growth strategies means you might have some slow seasons.
Honestly, even if you don’t use slow growth techniques, you’ll have slow seasons.
It’s part of being a business owner!
It’s critical to stay motivated and optimistic about the future.
So if you’re in a slow season, remember that slow growth is all about investing in the future.
Here’s how you can do that:
Your efforts will pay off; it just might not be today.
Every creative can benefit from a slow growth organic marketing strategy. You’re in charge of your business.
You get to decide if you want to hustle until you’re burned out and frustrated, or if you want to start growing slowly but efficiently.
Slow doesn’t mean lazy or ineffective. It means intentional and long-term.
You’re investing in your future.
And your future looks bright ⭐
My services were built with slow growth in mind. Whether you need a website that attracts the right people, Pinterest support to reach a new audience, or branding that feels aligned with your values, I’m here and ready to support you.
Reach out today for an inquiry call to learn how I can help you set solid foundations for slow growth.
Nope! It’s actually way more common than you think.
We always hear about the people whose businesses explode overnight and think that’s the norm. It’s not!
Slow growth is more sustainable in the long run.
Absolutely! A lot of businesses that grow slowly are very profitable because they put strategies and systems in place to support their growth over time.
Personally, I think it’s right for everyone! But if you value deep work, personal connection, and creative freedom, it’s the perfect organic marketing strategy for you.
Some links across my website may be affiliate links, meaning I receive a portion of any sales made through them. I never recommend any product or service that I don't wholeheartedly believe in and use in my own business.
I love supporting you with free resources like this! Keep the creativity going and throw some caffeine my way if you want 😉
Each week I share design and marketing tips, a roundup of my favorite resources, and an inside look at entrepreneurship the slow way.
Vineyard creative co is a brand, web design and marketing agency serving creative service providers. Based in Cincinnati Ohio, serving clients worldwide.
weekly sustainable marketing tips, trends and heart-to-hearts from one creative to another