Why I Love Working with Small, Family, and Local Businesses

There’s something meaningful about working with small, family, and local businesses. For me, it’s not just about keeping websites updated or creating content—it’s about supporting real people who care deeply about what they do. These businesses are the heart of their communities, and I feel lucky to help them show up well in the digital space.

What I love most is the connection. When I work with a small business, I’m not just another vendor in their inbox. I get to understand their story, their goals, and what makes their work special. Some of the clients I’ve supported include a nonprofit music education and community program, a family-run service business that’s been around for over 20 years, and a solo entrepreneur running a small local brand. Each one brings something different, but all of them care deeply about how they show up online.

Over time, I’ve taught myself the tools and skills needed to meet those clients’ real-world needs—because they trusted me to figure it out and show up with creativity and care. I’ve organically grown an Instagram following to 2,100, managed a Facebook page with 3,000 followers, and sent a Mailchimp newsletter with an 80% open and click rate. I’ve used Canva to design graphics, reel covers, and branded content, and I’ve edited videos with thoughtful transitions and spot-checked photos to make sure everything looks polished. Every one of those things was learned on the job—not as a technical expert, but as a real person who’s here to help.

One thing I’ve learned is that small and family businesses often don’t need someone full-time—they need someone they can call on when the need arises. Someone with ideas, but not an overbearing personality. Someone with practical tech and design skills, but who’s self-taught and flexible. Someone who understands that digital needs can be unpredictable and ever-changing. I’ve built KBMS to be just that: a reliable presence who can step in, find solutions, and support you when it matters most—without the overhead or pressure of a full-time hire.

That’s what KBMS is all about. Not being the most high-tech or having the flashiest tools—but being dependable, communicative, and tuned in to what smaller and family-run businesses really need. And that’s exactly the kind of support I love to give.