East of Tampa / Guides
Guides for local business owners
What actually works for a business out here, what it costs, and when to skip it. Written by the people who publish East of Tampa.
- 12 Local Marketing Ideas for Businesses in Brandon, Riverview and ValricoMost of these cost nothing but time. A few are things we sell, and we will say so when they come up. All of them work better out here than generic advice written for anywhere.
- Direct Mail (EDDM) vs Facebook Ads for Local BusinessesA postcard in every mailbox on a route, or an ad in every feed in a ZIP code. Both reach the same neighborhoods. Here is how they differ and which one we would test first.
- Do You Need a Website If You Have a Google Business Profile?Your Google profile gets you found. Your website is what closes the deal and what you actually own. Here is when one is enough and when you need both.
- Facebook Ads for Local Businesses: What the First Month Looks LikeHow to set a test budget from your own numbers, what to expect in the first 30 days, and the mistakes that waste most local ad spend.
- Facebook Ads vs Google Ads for a Local BusinessOne catches people who are already searching. The other puts you in front of people who were not looking yet. Here is how we decide which one an east Hillsborough business should start with.
- Google Business Profile Checklist for East Hillsborough BusinessesThe settings that decide whether you show up in the map results around Brandon, Riverview and Valrico, and the duplicate listing mistake that is easy to miss.
- Hiring a Marketing Agency vs a Freelancer vs Doing It YourselfWe are an agency, and we will still tell you that doing it yourself is the right call for a lot of small businesses out here. Here is how to tell which one you are.
- How to Advertise a Local Business in Brandon, FLEight real ways to get in front of customers in Brandon and the towns around it, what each one is good for, what it takes, and when to skip it.
- Newsletter Advertising vs Facebook Ads for Local BusinessesWe sell both, so we have no reason to pretend one always wins. Here is how we decide which one a Brandon or Riverview business should buy first.
- Sponsoring High School Sports in Hillsborough CountyFriday night is the one thing every family east of Tampa pays attention to. Here is what it actually means to put your business name on a school's coverage, and when it is the wrong buy.
Local hiring guides
- How to Choose a CPA in Valrico, FLCheck the license, ask who does the work, and find out whether they are around after April. Plus the Valrico CPA we partner with.
- How to Choose a Family Law Attorney in Brandon, FLCheck the Bar, prepare for the consultation, and ask who will handle your case day to day. Plus the Brandon law firm we partner with.
- How to Choose a House Cleaning Service in Valrico, FLRecurring or deep clean, what is on the checklist, and who brings the supplies. Plus the locally owned Valrico cleaning company we partner with.
- How to Choose a Listing Agent to Sell Your Home in Plant City, FLA real home value read, pricing a house with land, and what to ask before you list. Plus the east Hillsborough realtor we partner with.
- How to Choose a Pediatric Dentist in Lithia, FLWhat to ask before a first visit, how a practice handles a nervous kid, and what to look for on the tour. Plus the FishHawk Blvd practice we partner with.
- How to Choose a Pet Sitter or Dog Walker in Lithia, FLStart with a meet and greet, settle the keys and the vet plan, and ask what you will hear after each visit. Plus the Valrico pet care company we partner with.
- How to Choose a Plumber in Brandon, FLCheck the license, get it in writing, and find the leak before anyone starts cutting drywall. Plus the licensed Brandon plumbing company we partner with.
- How to Choose a Pressure Washing Company in Brandon, FLSoft wash or high pressure, whose water, licensed and insured, and how to read the reviews. Plus the veteran-owned Brandon company we partner with.
- How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Brandon, FLThe questions worth asking before you sign with anyone, whether you are buying your first house or wondering what yours is worth. Plus the Brandon realtor we partner with.
- How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in FishHawk, FLHOA costs, preserve lots, a bad August and how long a golf course house really sits. What to ask an agent before you buy or sell in FishHawk, especially if you are moving in from out of state.
- How to Choose a Water Damage Restoration Company in Riverview, FLStop the water, document everything, and ask how they will prove the house is dry. Plus the east Hillsborough restoration company we partner with.
- How to Choose an Airport and Cruise Port Car Service in Brandon, FLPickup timing, luggage, big families and what to confirm the night before. How to book a ride to the airport or the cruise port from east Hillsborough, plus the local car service we partner with.
- How to Choose an Orthodontist in Riverview, FLBraces or aligners, kids or adults, and what to ask at the consultation before anyone starts. Plus the Riverview practice we partner with.
- How to Choose Swim Lessons for Your Child in Lithia, FLWhat the lessons teach first, who is in the water with your child, and how to fit it around nap time. Plus the Lithia swim coach we partner with.
- How to Hire a Christmas Light Installer in FishHawk, FLBook early, ask who fixes a dark strand in December, and know what happens to the lights in January. Plus the Brandon holiday lighting company we partner with.
- How to Order a Custom Cake in Brandon, FLDate, servings, design and delivery: what a custom baker needs from you, and when to reach out. Plus the Brandon baker we partner with.
- How to Order Meat Delivery in Valrico, FLWhat to ask a local butcher before you order, how to plan a delivery around your freezer, and how to buy for a cookout. Plus the Valrico meat man we partner with.
- How to Order Pizza Catering for a Team Party in Brandon, FLHeadcount, timing, variety and who is picking it up: how to feed a team or an office without the last-minute scramble. Plus the Brandon pizza place we partner with.
- How to Plan a Bowling Birthday Party in Riverview, FLBumpers, ramps, glow bowling, pizza timing and a room to open presents in. How to plan a kids bowling party on the SouthShore side, plus the Riverview bowling center we partner with.
- How to Plan a Group or Company Bowling Night in Brandon, FLHeadcount, lane count, food, and how to keep a mixed group of strong and first-time bowlers having fun. How to plan a group night out in Brandon, plus the bowling center we partner with.
- Where to Buy Natural Soap in Lithia, FLWhat natural means on a label, how to read an ingredient list, and why buying in person helps. Plus the Lithia store we partner with.