Sean takes it a level deeper by walking Marla through a hyperlocal micro influencer strategy that most small business owners have never even considered. Instead of guessing who might be a good partner or waiting for the right person to find her, he explains how to search specific towns and neighborhoods directly on Instagram, identify who the local micro influencers actually are in that geographic pocket, and reach out with a simple, low risk offer, a free spray tan in exchange for content and a tag. It sounds almost too simple, but the strategic logic underneath it is exactly what growth marketers charge thousands of dollars to teach, and Sean lays it out in plain, actionable language anyone running a local business could apply by the end of the day.
This is not just about racking up likes or vanity metrics. Sean explains why this specific approach raises brand visibility in a tightly defined geographic area, which matters enormously for any business that depends on local clientele, whether that is a spray tan artist, a real estate agent, an insurance advisor, or a boutique fitness studio. Real estate and insurance professionals watching this will immediately recognize the parallel to their own farm areas and local sphere of influence, because the same logic that gets Marla in front of new spray tan clients is exactly what gets an agent in front of new buyers and sellers in a specific zip code. The principle transfers directly, only the product changes.
What makes this tip even more valuable is the relationship layer underneath the marketing tactic. Sean points out that this is not just a transactional exchange of a free tan for a post, it is a genuine way to connect and collaborate with people who are already trusted voices in a community. Those relationships can open doors well beyond a single Instagram post, creating an ongoing pipeline of warm introductions to the exact audience that follows these local influencers, an audience that is already primed and geographically positioned to become future customers. For Marla specifically, that means the daughters, moms, and social circles of every micro influencer she partners with become a natural extension of her client base, all without spending a single dollar on paid advertising.
This clip is a masterclass for any small business owner who feels stuck relying purely on word of mouth and organic growth without a repeatable system behind it. It shows exactly how to turn a limited marketing budget into a scalable, hyperlocal growth engine by leveraging existing trust instead of trying to build brand awareness from zero. Whether you run a service business, work in sales, or are simply trying to figure out how to grow a following that actually converts into paying customers, this five minute conversation between Sean and Marla is worth watching more than once.
Watch the full episode of Bricks and Risk for more from Marla Sacchetta on building And So It Glows from the ground up, the economics of running a mobile spray tan business, the surprising science behind a great spray tan, and even more marketing and growth strategy from Sean and Tim. Find Marla and And So It Glows on Instagram : @andsoitglows, on Facebook at Andsoitglows, and online at andsoitglows.net.
Bricks and Risk is a podcast about real estate, insurance, and small business growth, hosted by Sean Mooney and Tim Garrity, unpacking the strategy, mindset, and hard-earned lessons behind building a business from the ground up, one honest conversation, one industry, and one growth tactic at a time. New episodes drop regularly, and this Instagram growth tip is just one small piece of the practical, real world advice you will find throughout the full show, alongside candid conversations about pricing, scaling, client relationships, and the everyday realities of running your own business.