Free 14 Step Online Marketing Checklist for Laser Engraving Business

You don’t need a big budget to get a steady stream of orders. Here’s a zero-cost, step-by-step plan that’s simple, repeatable, and aimed at the people most likely to buy laser-engraved gifts.

1) Pick 2–3 “easy win” audiences (today)

Choose a few you can serve fast:

Weddings & anniversaries (cutting boards, charcuterie, guest books)
Pets (name tags, leash holders, memorials)
Lake/house/camp signs, cabin decor
Trades & teams (YETI-style tumbler engraving, tool nameplates)
Write one clear offer for each: what it is, price range, turnaround, and how to order.

2) Create a free “link hub” you can put everywhere (today)

If you have a website, make one simple page called /custom with: your 3 best sellers, price ranges, 4–8 photos, a “How to order” section, and a Get a Quote button (use a free Google Form if needed).
If you don’t want to touch your site right now, pin a Featured post on your Facebook Page or Profile with the same info. Also pin one post on Instagram and TikTok.

3) Set up the free foundations (1 hour)

Google Business Profile (free): add address or service area, hours, phone, 10 product tiles with photos and price ranges, and a short description.
Socials: Facebook Page, Instagram Business, TikTok, Pinterest Business, YouTube channel. Use the same handle and put your link hub in every bio.
Local reach: Facebook Marketplace + 10–20 local buy/sell/community groups (only those that allow sales). Nextdoor Business page if it’s active in your area.

4) Make one “content kit” per product (repeat weekly)

Shoot on your phone in vertical (9:16):

5–10 sec: blank item → engraving start
5–10 sec: mid-process close-up (the satisfying part)
3–5 photos: finished item, scale in hand, options, close texture
Post that same short video as TikTok / IG Reel / YouTube Short, then use the photos for Facebook, Pinterest, Marketplace.

Caption swipe:
“Just finished this personalized [ITEM] for a [OCCASION]. Local pickup in [TOWN] or shipping. Comment ENGRAVE and I’ll DM details.”

5) Weekly posting routine (copy this)

Mon: Reel/Short of a product + CTA “Comment ENGRAVE”
Tue: Facebook photo carousel in local groups (one group per day to avoid spam)
Wed: Pinterest Idea Pin with 5 photos that link to your hub
Thu: Instagram post + Stories “This or That?” poll to learn tastes
Fri: Google Business Post (photo + short offer)
Sat: Refresh a Facebook Marketplace listing (rotate photos)
Sun: Before/after video or “customer story” post

6) Marketplace post formula (free, repeatable)

Title: “Personalized [ITEM] – [OCCASION/USE] – [LOCAL PICKUP/SHIPPING]”
Photos: hero (clean background), in-hand for scale, options (fonts/graphics), close texture, process shot
Description: what it is, size/material, personalization options, turnaround, price range, how to order
CTA: “Message me the word COASTER with your idea and I’ll mock it up.”
Repost every 7–10 days; never blast 10 groups in one hour.

7) Simple SEO on your site (free)

One page per product: “Personalized cutting boards in [Your City/State] | Fast turnaround”
Use the exact phrase in the page title, first paragraph, image filenames, and alt text.
Add an FAQ to each page (care instructions, proof process, timing).
Link pages to each other (“Pairs great with our engraved coasters”).

8) Google Business Profile moves (5 minutes weekly)

Add a Post weekly with a photo + “Order at [your link] or call/text.”
Upload 3 new photos each week (process + finished work).
Ask every customer for a review:
“If you loved your board, a quick Google review helps a ton. Mention ‘engraved cutting board’ so others find it—thank you!”

9) Referrals & email (no software needed)

Create a Google Form: name, email, item, deadline, notes. Link it in bios.
Keep a simple spreadsheet of customers. Once a month, send a BCC email:
“New gift ideas for [season]. Past customers get 10% off with code THANKYOU10 (reply to use it).”
Referral deal: “Give $10 / Get $10.” Track with unique codes per person (sheet again).

10) Partnerships that cost $0 upfront

Realtors, wedding planners, Airbnb hosts, sports coaches—offer a co-branded gift they can roll into what they already sell.
Provide 3 photo examples and a one-page PDF rate sheet (you can export a Google Doc).

11) What to say (copy/paste templates)

Group intro post (use monthly):
“Hi neighbors! I make custom laser-engraved gifts (cutting boards, lake-house signs, tumblers). Local pickup in [TOWN] or ship. I can engrave names, logos, hand-written recipes. Comment ‘IDEA’ and I’ll suggest designs. Photo examples below.”

Review request (text/email):
“Hey [Name], thanks again for trusting me with your order! If you have 30 seconds, a quick Google review with a photo helps a bunch. Mention what I made (e.g., ‘engraved charcuterie board’) so others can find it. Appreciate you!”

DM reply for inquiries:
“Awesome idea! Here’s what I need: 1) item (board/tumbler/sign), 2) name/date/art, 3) deadline. I’ll send a proof within 24 hours and you can tweak anything. Most orders are ready in 3–5 days.”

Short-form video caption:
“From blank to personalized in under a minute. Local pickup in [TOWN] or shipping. Comment ENGRAVE for a mockup.”

12) 7-day kickoff sprint (do this once)

Day 1: Pick 3 offers. Build or pin your one-page link hub.
Day 2: Set up/refresh Google Business Profile + add 10 products.
Day 3: Shoot 20 short clips and 20 photos (two hours total).
Day 4: Create 3 Marketplace listings using the formula.
Day 5: Join 15 local groups; post your intro in 3 of them.
Day 6: Publish your first Reel/Short on all 3 platforms.
Day 7: Ask 5 past customers for reviews & 3 for referrals.

13) Real-life scenario (how this plays out)

Dan, 53, engraves lake-house signs, boards, and tumblers. He builds a simple link hub and posts one 18-second “blank → engraved reveal” video as a Reel/TikTok/Short. That same day he lists a “Personalized Camp Sign” on Marketplace with five photos. He joins three local groups and posts one carousel with a “Comment ENGRAVE” CTA. Two people comment; he DMs a proof template, closes one $85 order. By Friday he adds a Google Business Post and asks two past customers for reviews (both mention “engraved cutting board”). The reviews bump him into the local map pack for “engraved gifts near me,” and the next week he lands a realtor who orders five client gifts a month—no ad spend at all.

14) Guardrails (so you don’t waste time)

Follow group rules; one post per week per group is usually safe.
Rotate photos; don’t repeat the same caption everywhere on the same day.
Keep response time fast (set up quick-reply templates in your phone).
Track weekly: inquiries, orders, review count, and which posts drove them.