Small Business Marketing & Growth in Richmond, Virginia

I'm Denali Roberts Willis, founder of Willis Growth Studio, and I help established Richmond small businesses grow. Not just their follower count. Their business.

I didn't learn this from a textbook. I started my first business at 13 and spent years owning and operating restaurants in the Richmond region. I've managed the teams, the customers, the revenue and the marketing, and I've seen firsthand how a community reacts when a local business grows, struggles or closes. That's the lens I bring to every Richmond business I work with.

Growth looks different for every Richmond business

A restaurant doesn't grow the same way as a realtor or a boutique. Some businesses need more visibility. Some need better follow-up on the inquiries they already get. Some need the systems behind the scenes so the owner can stop doing everything. I look at the whole business and build a plan around four things:

  • Marketing: social media management, original photo and video content, Squarespace websites, email and paid ads.

  • Outreach: partnerships with other local businesses, community groups, and getting your name in front of the right people in Richmond.

  • Operations: simple systems and SOPs for how your sales, marketing and follow-up actually work.

  • Strategy: what growth should look like for your business right now, at your budget.

Why local matters

Social media is a tool, not a savior. In Richmond, word of mouth and real relationships still win, and your marketing should support that, not replace it. I'm here, I know the market, and I can be on-site to create content for your business.

One client per niche

I work with one business in a specific industry and market at a time. If you're a Richmond business, I'm not also marketing your direct competitor down the street.

Richmond FAQ

  • No. I'm based in the Richmond area and work across Greater Richmond, including Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Powhatan and Goochland and surrounding Richmond-area counties, and I take select clients beyond the area and remote.

  • Yes. For Richmond-area clients I can plan and shoot photo and video at your business.

  • Pricing is customized to each client and scope of work. Services are a la carte, so you only pay for what your business needs.

Ready to talk about what growth looks like for your business? Call or text (804) 517-6361 or email denali@willisgrowthstudio.com.

Let's talk →