Case Study: From Behind the Donut Shop to “Best of Local”: The 3-Step System Any Louisiana Business Can Use to Scale Online
When we first started our local business, every single customer came from word of mouth.
People loved the results, and we were great at what we did, but our growth had flatlined. We were stuck working in the business just to keep things running instead of working on the business to make it grow.
One day, someone told me something I’ll never forget:
“You can be the best in the world at what you do and still go broke if nobody knows who you are.”
It hit me hard because it was exactly what was happening.
Some months, referrals kept us busy. Other months, we were staring at an empty calendar, wondering where the next lead would come from and how much longer we could keep going like this.
From $21K to $54K in 30 Days
At the time, I owned a small personal training gym tucked behind a donut shop.
We weren’t just competing with other local gym, we were up against:
National brands with million-dollar ad budgets
Franchise gyms with shiny new equipment
Planet Fitness charging $9.99 a month and giving away pizza
We couldn’t win on price.
We couldn’t win on facilities.
We couldn't win on pizza.
But we could win on service and results.
By focusing on relationships with our members, delivering a high-quality experience, and making sure our happy customers shared their results, we launched what I now call the Database Reactivation Play — a strategy baked into Step 3 of the system I’m about to share.
That one move took us from $21,000 in one month to $54,000 the very next month.
Here's the video where I explain how we did it.
How We Beat the Big Guys
Instead of trying to outspend the competition, we doubled down on local marketing strategies that any Louisiana business can use today:
Leverage Our Customer Base — asking for online reviews, referrals, and public testimonials to boost local search rankings.
Multiply Word-of-Mouth Online — turning client success stories into social proof on Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business Profile.
Be the Obvious Choice — when someone searched for personal training in our city, our reputation, trust signals, and results made the decision easy.
The result?
We won Best of Local and built a trusted brand without competing on price or buying expensive TV or radio ads.
The 3-Step System for Louisiana Small Business Growth
Today at Digital Acadiana, we use this same framework to help Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and Acadiana-area businesses grow their visibility and sales online without wasting money on ads before they’re ready.
1. Dial in Your Visibility
When someone Googles “[your service] near me”, you must show up as the clear, trustworthy choice.
Optimize your Google Business Profile with keywords, photos, and up-to-date info
Showcase 5-star reviews from happy customers
Keep your social media active with content that builds credibility
2. Turn Attention into Customers
Having people find you is only half the battle — you need systems that turn them into paying clients.
Automate lead follow-up so no inquiry gets missed
Offer easy ways to book or buy online
Track every lead so you know exactly what’s working
3. Multiply Your Word-of-Mouth Online
This is the game-changer — the same method we used to hit that $54K month.
Reactivate your past customers with offers or updates
Encourage clients to post about their results and tag your business
Repurpose their stories into ads, website testimonials, and social content
When you have these three steps in place, you’re not just hoping people talk about you — you’re building a predictable local marketing system that makes you the go-to choice in your market.
It worked for our little gym behind a donut shop.
It works for Louisiana businesses today.
Ready to Become the Obvious Choice in Your Market?
If you’re ready to see how this 3-step system can work for your Louisiana business, let’s talk.
Contact us here and we’ll set up a time to discuss your goals, your market, and the fastest path to scaling your visibility and sales online.
