How Sandstone Storage Streamlined Their Online Presence with a Freelance Digital Marketing Pro

Making a Shift: Sandstone Storage and the Need for Digital Direction

Sandstone Storage, a mid-sized self-storage facility chain operating across several towns in the Midwest, had always relied on traditional methods to fill their units. Word-of-mouth had served them well over the years, as had community bulletin boards, direct mail postcards, and the occasional newspaper ad. Their facilities were clean, secure, and conveniently located—customers who found them typically stayed loyal. But as new competitors began to move into the area, Sandstone started noticing a shift.

People weren’t driving around town looking for “Storage Available” signs anymore. They were pulling out their phones and searching online instead. And when they did, it wasn’t Sandstone’s name that showed up first. Their newer rivals had invested in digital visibility—appearing on the first page of search engines, running paid ads, and collecting glowing online reviews. Even though Sandstone had a strong reputation in the community, they were getting buried online.

Their leadership team held a strategy meeting to discuss their next move. They debated whether to bring in a full-time marketing hire, but the overhead didn’t make sense for where the business was financially. What they needed was someone who could jump in, assess the gaps, and implement a plan quickly—but without the long-term commitment of a new employee or the high price tag of a traditional agency.

That’s when they started exploring freelance options. A colleague mentioned ZapMyWork, a platform known for connecting businesses with qualified freelancers across a range of specialties. Intrigued by the idea of hiring someone with a flexible schedule and targeted skills, the team browsed the site. They found several digital marketing freelancers with strong track records working with service-based and local businesses. After reviewing proposals and having a few conversations, they selected a freelancer who understood their industry and was ready to get to work.

The decision turned out to be a turning point. Instead of scrambling to compete with better-funded rivals, Sandstone took a strategic, cost-effective route. They were able to stay nimble, adapt their approach, and get their online presence in shape—without blowing the budget.

What They Needed Help With

Their goals were clear—but turning those goals into action required outside guidance. Sandstone Storage knew where they wanted to be, but they weren’t entirely sure how to get there. Their internal team had done what they could—tweaking the website, running a few basic ads, and updating business hours on Google—but the results were inconsistent. They needed someone who could take a step back, look at the big picture, and create a plan that would actually move the needle.

Here’s what they were hoping to accomplish:

• Build a solid SEO foundation for their website
  Their website had been put together years ago and, while functional, it wasn’t optimized for how people search online today. They wanted someone who could help them identify the right keywords, update the structure of their site, and improve how they ranked in local search results.

• Launch targeted Google Ads campaigns
  Paid search was uncharted territory for them. They had tried boosting a few posts in the past but hadn’t seen much return. This time, they wanted a professional approach—ads tailored to their customer base, optimized to appear for high-intent searches like “climate-controlled storage near me” or “secure RV storage.”

• Refresh their local search profiles
  Their listings on Google, Bing, and various directories were out of sync. Some locations showed incorrect hours, others had outdated photos, and they weren’t responding to customer reviews consistently. They needed someone who could clean all that up and manage it going forward.

• Clarify their messaging for online visitors
  The copy on their website didn’t reflect who they were anymore. It was too generic and didn’t highlight the key features that mattered most to customers—24/7 access, flexible lease terms, on-site security. They wanted to update their content to be more customer-focused and conversion-friendly.

• Track marketing performance to inform future strategy
  Finally, they needed a better way to understand what was working and what wasn’t. Their existing setup lacked clear tracking. They wanted dashboards, reports, and regular updates that could help guide future decisions with real data.

With a clear project brief in hand, they posted their job on ZapMyWork, outlining everything they needed—no fluff, just a straightforward list of deliverables. Within a day, they started receiving responses from freelance digital marketers.

One freelancer in particular stood out. She had a track record of working with service-based, locally focused businesses—everything from locksmiths to car washes. What set her apart was her ability to break things down into manageable steps and explain her process in plain language. No jargon. No hard sell. Just someone who knew how to diagnose a problem and roll up her sleeves to fix it.

After a quick video call to talk through the details, Sandstone hired her and got started right away. From that point forward, the company finally had a clear digital path forward—and someone who knew how to walk them through it, one step at a time.

The Services Delivered

The freelancer didn’t believe in cookie-cutter solutions—and thankfully, that’s exactly what Sandstone Storage needed. Rather than jumping straight into campaign setup or keyword stuffing, she started with something that’s often overlooked: listening.

She took the time to understand the ins and outs of Sandstone’s business—how demand changed with the seasons, which locations saw more foot traffic, and what types of customers they typically served. Some sites catered to college students looking for short-term storage over the summer. Others were more suburban, with long-term renters storing RVs, boats, or extra furniture. Each site had its own rhythm, and the marketing plan needed to reflect that.

After a few conversations with the Sandstone team, some market research, and a review of the existing site and analytics, she mapped out a digital plan tailored specifically to them.

Here’s how she broke it down:

1. SEO Overhaul

The first thing she noticed was the website’s weak search visibility. Sandstone wasn’t showing up in the top results for even the most basic local searches.

To fix this, she:

• Ran a thorough keyword audit by reviewing what direct competitors were ranking for and what local residents were actually typing into Google.

• Cleaned up all on-page SEO elements—page titles, meta descriptions, header tags, and internal links. Every update was designed to make the site more understandable to search engines and more user-friendly for actual visitors.

• Suggested structural improvements to streamline the navigation and make the website easier to browse, especially on mobile devices.

• Created a blog content calendar, packed with helpful topics like “How to choose the right size storage unit,” “Tips for storing your belongings during a move,” and “What to know about climate-controlled storage.” These posts helped answer real questions while also targeting valuable long-tail keywords.

2. Paid Advertising

Next, she set up Google Ads campaigns that didn’t waste a dollar.

• She targeted location-based searches, using phrases like “cheap storage in Springfield” or “RV storage with camera security.”

• Every campaign was carefully structured with separate ad groups for each type of service (standard units, climate-controlled, vehicle storage, etc.).

• She ran A/B tests on ad headlines and descriptions, experimenting with different messages like “First Month Free” versus “24/7 Access—Reserve Now.”

• Bid adjustments were applied based on device type, time of day, and ZIP codes—ensuring the most ad dollars were spent when and where customers were most likely to convert.

Over time, she fine-tuned the campaigns to reduce the cost-per-click and increase the click-through rate, giving Sandstone real value for their ad spend.

3. Local Presence Management

Sandstone’s online listings were all over the place—some outdated, some duplicated, and many without photos. This was a quick win.

The freelancer:

• Claimed and cleaned up Google Business Profiles for every location, making sure names, phone numbers, hours, and maps were accurate and consistent across the board.

• Added fresh, high-quality photos of the facilities, including unit interiors, entrance gates, and even the keypad security system—visuals that help potential customers feel confident about booking.

• Encouraged reviews by drafting follow-up messages customers could receive after move-in, kindly asking them to leave feedback.

• Responded to existing reviews—the good, the bad, and the neutral—to show that the business was engaged and customer-focused.

These updates significantly improved how Sandstone appeared in local search results, especially on mobile.

4. Analytics & Tracking

Finally, she made sure that everything they were doing could be measured.

• She installed Google Analytics 4 and connected it with Google Ads and Search Console, giving a full view of website traffic, ad performance, and organic search queries.

• A custom dashboard was created in Google Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio), showing metrics like:

  • Daily and weekly site visits

  • Conversion sources (phone calls, contact form submissions, online reservations)

  • Most-viewed pages

  • Top-performing keywords

• These insights helped Sandstone understand what was driving results—and what wasn’t. If a certain blog post or ad wasn’t performing well, they could pivot quickly instead of waiting months to see the impact.

Together, these steps gave Sandstone more than just a digital presence—they finally had a system. A reliable way to attract new customers, communicate their value clearly, and make informed marketing decisions with confidence.

The Payoff: Real Results in Just Three Months

Within just a few months of launching their new digital marketing efforts, Sandstone Storage started seeing a real difference—one they could quantify, not just feel. The changes weren’t just surface-level improvements; they showed up in hard numbers and customer behavior.

Here’s what stood out most:

• Organic traffic rose by 60>#/strong###
  Before hiring the freelancer, most of their website visits came from people typing in the company name directly—people who already knew about Sandstone. But with the SEO updates in place, they started attracting visitors who had never heard of them before. Searches like “secure storage in [city]” and “winter storage for RVs” began leading to their site. The boost in visibility meant more people were finding them without needing an ad click.

• Phone inquiries from the website doubled
  The website wasn’t just getting more visitors—it was actually converting better. With clearer messaging, better calls-to-action, and a mobile-friendly layout, people were staying on the site longer and reaching out. The front office staff noticed the difference immediately. Calls were coming in more frequently, and many of them started with, “I saw you online…”

• Online reservations for units increased by 40>#/strong###
  The integration of online booking tools combined with improved landing pages helped drive more immediate action. Rather than having to call or stop by to reserve a unit, customers could book right from their phones in under five minutes. The convenience led to a noticeable uptick in self-service bookings, especially on weekends and after-hours.

• Ad spend efficiency improved, reducing cost-per-click by 25>#/strong###
  Paid advertising often gets expensive fast if it’s not managed carefully—but that wasn’t the case here. The freelancer monitored and adjusted the campaigns regularly, focusing budget where it actually performed. By weeding out low-performing keywords and optimizing the ads over time, she brought down the average cost-per-click while increasing the click-through rate. More traffic for less money? That was a win across the board.

Why ZapMyWork Made the Process Easy

One of the biggest wins for Sandstone Storage wasn’t just the marketing success—it was how smooth the hiring experience turned out to be. Their leadership team had worried that working with a freelancer might mean endless emails, unclear rates, or a long back-and-forth before anything got started. But that wasn’t the case at all.

Using ZapMyWork, they were able to skip the headaches that typically come with traditional hiring. There were no drawn-out job listings, no stacks of resumes to sort through, and no need for multiple interviews. Instead, they were able to zero in on qualified professionals who already had the right skills—and who were ready to dive in.

Here’s what stood out to them during the process:

• A variety of freelance digital marketers with relevant experience
  They didn’t have to settle for someone who sort of knew what they were doing. ZapMyWork’s platform let them view detailed freelancer profiles, including client reviews, previous work samples, and specific service offerings. This helped them feel confident they were choosing someone who had experience with similar types of businesses, not just generic marketing background.

• Transparent pricing and easy communication tools
  One of their concerns going in was managing the budget. With freelancers on ZapMyWork, rates were listed upfront, and there were no surprise fees. They could set milestones, agree on deliverables, and track everything in one place. Plus, the built-in messaging system made it easy to ask questions or make small adjustments along the way, without losing time or momentum.

• Flexibility to scale the project up or down depending on their needs
  This was a huge plus. At certain times of the year—like summer move-in season or end-of-year cleanouts—Sandstone needed more marketing support. At slower times, they could scale back without any awkward transitions or renegotiated contracts. Working with a freelancer gave them breathing room to manage both workload and cost more effectively.

But above all…

• They got real results without overcomplicating the process
  No jargon, no bloated proposals, no unnecessary steps. Their freelancer focused on what mattered—bringing in leads, tightening up the brand’s online presence, and making it easy for customers to find and book with Sandstone. It wasn’t just efficient; it felt like working with someone who was part of their team, even if only temporarily.

For Sandstone, the decision to go freelance wasn’t just smart—it was practical. And now, when new marketing needs come up, they already know where to go.

A Smarter Way to Get Things Done

For businesses like Sandstone Storage, hiring help doesn’t have to mean posting job ads, running interviews, onboarding a full-time employee, and hoping it all works out. That model works for some, but not for everyone—especially when you're trying to keep operations lean and costs predictable.

What Sandstone discovered is that you can make serious progress without building an entire department. You just need someone who knows what they’re doing, understands your industry, and can plug in where you need them most. And that’s exactly what platforms like ZapMyWork are designed for.

With just a few clicks, businesses can tap into a wide pool of digital marketing professionals—people who’ve done this kind of work before and know how to roll up their sleeves. Whether it’s SEO, paid ads, social media strategy, or local listings cleanup, you can find freelancers who know the ropes and deliver solid results.

The beauty of hiring this way?

• It’s fast – No waiting weeks to get started.

• It’s focused – You define the scope, and they deliver.

• It’s flexible – Need help just for a campaign? Great. Want to keep someone on for monthly support? Also doable.

• It’s budget-friendly – Pay for what you need, not what you don’t.

If you're a business owner looking at your website and wondering why it’s not bringing in more leads… or if you’ve been pouring money into ads with little return… or if you're just overwhelmed by all the marketing options out there—it might be time to bring in someone who knows how to cut through the noise.

This is your sign to start small, stay smart, and get the help that fits.
With ZapMyWork, you’re not committing to a huge overhead or a long-term contract. You’re simply giving your business the chance to compete where it matters most—online.

So whether you run a storage company like Sandstone or something entirely different, one thing is clear: the right digital marketing freelancer can make a big difference. And finding that person? It’s easier than ever.