The Most Underrated Marketing Strategy in Wisconsin? Just Show Up.

Something instantly clicks when you run into someone in person and they say "I saw your video."

Not "How have you been?" Not "how was the Packers Tailgate party?" Just, “I saw your video." And you have to stop and think... which one? 🤔 The Feltz Fun Farm video that posted this week or the DNL Recreation reel from last Wednesday? Or the one I posted from my car a few weeks ago? The one that hit 142k views?

That moment, that "which video was it?" pause, is what happens when you've been showing up consistently enough that your presence starts working even when you're not in the room.

And that's exactly what May felt like.

Let me give you a specific example.

Mini Rapids, the indoor mini golf course here in Wisconsin Rapids that I proudly sponsor, decided to do another round of sponsor spotlights on their Facebook page. A simple image post. No ad spend. Just genuine shoutouts to the businesses they work with.

When they posted about Wisco Branding, here's what they said:

"One thing we really appreciate is the personal touch they bring to every project. They take the time to work with you, understand your needs, and create something that actually fits your business — not just a one-size-fits-all package. Even better, their pricing is based on what you need, making quality branding affordable for businesses of all sizes. We love supporting local businesses that truly care about their customers."

That post got 7,500 views and 71 interactions. And Wisco Branding gained 28 new followers.

Here's what makes that number meaningful: Mini Rapids posted shoutouts for all of their sponsors. And what I love most about that - it wasn't just good for Wisco Branding. A rising tide lifts all boats. 🛥️ 

When one local business shows up authentically, it draws attention to the whole community around them. Fellow Mini Rapids sponsors like DNL Recreation and WAM Ink, that spotlight helped them too. 

No ad budget. No boosting. Just a real relationship between local businesses showing up for each other.

But the online piece is only half the story…

On May 12th I packed up the Wisco Branding booth and headed to the PCBC Business Expo in Stevens Point. Vegas themed, photo props, scavenger hunt cards, and all. Spent the afternoon making connections, hearing about what businesses in Portage County are working through, and being reminded why showing up in person still matters in a world that tells you everything can be done from behind a screen.

Having real conversations with real people who now know the Wisco Branding story. And that's how it starts.

Here's the lesson I want you to take from May: Your community is your best marketing team. But only if you show up for them in return.

That means sponsoring the local mini golf course. Attending the business expo. Showing up at a ribbon cutting. Being in the room. Being in the feed. Being the business that people think of when they're sitting at a booth or scrolling on a Tuesday afternoon.

The businesses winning right now in Central Wisconsin aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest ad budgets. They're the ones people have actually met. The ones they've seen in a reel. The ones they recognize because they keep showing up, both online and in person, in a way that feels authentic, real and genuine.

So here's your challenge for June: Pick ONE way to show up both in person AND online in your community. Sponsor something. Attend something. Shout out another local business genuinely and watch what happens. You don't have to do everything, you just have to show up.

Because here's what I know for sure after this month: showing up in your community, online AND in person, is the most underrated marketing strategy in Wisconsin right now. 🧀

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Written by Steph Schmid, founder of Wisco Branding.

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