Today we’d like to introduce you to April Barnard.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to own and operate several businesses, including a construction company with my dad, a candle shop, and a hosting and web design company. Each experience taught me something different about business ownership, customer service, marketing, and the challenges entrepreneurs face every day.
Alongside running my own businesses, I built a career in marketing, sales, business development, and event planning. Working with a variety of companies gave me a front-row seat to what helps businesses grow and what often holds them back.
In 2017, I launched Marketing with April with a mission to help small businesses get found and grow. About a year later, family circumstances required me to put the business on hold. Then, at 50 years old, I decided to take a leap of faith and start again.
Today, I help business owners build a stronger digital presence through websites, SEO, Google Business Profiles, automation, and strategic marketing systems. I’m passionate about helping businesses simplify their marketing, attract the right customers, and create sustainable growth. After 2 years, I have grown my business into a 6-figure marketing agency that focuses on working with faith based business owners.
Looking back, every business I’ve owned and every role I’ve held helped shape the work I do today. Those experiences gave me a unique understanding of entrepreneurship and a genuine passion for helping other business owners succeed.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not.
I started Marketing with April in 2017 because I am passionate about helping small businesses grow and be found online. About two years in, life had other plans. Family circumstances required my attention, and I made the difficult decision to put my business on hold.
Walking away from something I had worked hard to build wasn’t easy. There were moments of frustration, uncertainty, and doubt about whether I would ever have the opportunity to start again.
Then, at 50 years old, I decided to take a leap of faith and relaunch my business.
Starting over wasn’t simple. The marketing industry had changed, technology had evolved, and I was rebuilding from the ground up. There were times I questioned myself. There were long days, sleepless nights, and plenty of trial and error. Like many entrepreneurs, I wore every hat imaginable: sales, marketing, customer service, bookkeeping, and business development, all while being a wife, a mother of three, and now a proud GiGi to seven amazing grandchildren.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that success isn’t about working harder. It’s about having the right foundation, the right systems, and the right strategy. I know what it feels like to pour your heart into a business and still struggle to get noticed. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by all the marketing options and wonder where to focus your energy.
Those experiences are exactly why I do what I do today.
The struggles taught me resilience. They taught me patience. Most importantly, they taught me how to help other business owners avoid some of the mistakes and roadblocks I faced along the way.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change the journey. Every challenge shaped who I am today. It gave me a deeper appreciation for business owners who are working hard to build something meaningful, and it fuels my passion for helping them create businesses that get found, grow profitably, and support the life they want to live.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Over the years, I’ve found a niche working with home service companies, trailer manufacturers and dealers, automotive businesses, roofing contractors, and restaurants. I understand the unique challenges these industries face because I’ve spent years helping owners navigate everything from visibility and lead generation to customer retention and business. I’m passionate about helping businesses improve their online visibility, create a strong brand and tell their stories through every aspect of thier business. I believe the best business in town doesn’t always win; the business that gets found and leaves a lasting impression often does. That’s why I focus heavily on local SEO, Google Business Profiles, websites that convert, and marketing strategies that generate real results.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the businesses I’ve helped grow—it’s the impact I’ve made in my community. I have a heart for bringing people together for a cause. Over the years, I’ve organized and promoted fundraising events that have helped raise thousands of dollars for organizations such as CASA, Blue Santa, and local children and families in need. Whether it’s a business launch, community event, fundraiser, or networking event, I love creating opportunities that connect people and make a difference.
What sets me apart is that I don’t believe marketing starts with software, social media, or advertising. It starts with understanding the business owner, their stories, their goals, and the people they serve. I focus on strategy first and tools second. Every business has a story worth telling, and I enjoy helping owners find the message that connects with their audience.
I also bring real-world experience to the table. I relaunched my business at 50 years old after putting it on hold due to family circumstances. That experience taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of never giving up on a dream. As a wife of 27 years, mother of three, and proud GiGi to seven grandchildren, I understand that success isn’t just about building a business—it’s about building a life and legacy you’re proud of.
At the end of the day, my mission is simple: help good businesses get found, grow with confidence, and create a lasting impact in both their businesses and their communities.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I believe we’re going to see one of the biggest shifts in marketing we’ve ever experienced, and a lot of it will be driven by artificial intelligence and the way people search for information online.
AI is already changing how businesses create content, respond to customers, analyze data, and automate processes. I don’t believe AI will replace marketers, but I do believe it will replace marketers and business owners who refuse to adapt. The businesses that learn how to leverage AI to improve efficiency while maintaining a human connection will have a significant advantage.
I also believe we’re moving into a world where your digital presence becomes even more important than it is today. For years, businesses focused heavily on social media, but many forgot they don’t actually own those platforms. I see a major shift back toward owned assets like websites, email lists, customer databases, and especially Google Business Profiles.
Google continues to evolve, and businesses that invest in local SEO, online reviews, accurate listings, quality content, and a strong website foundation will be the ones that win. As AI-powered search becomes more common, businesses will need to establish authority, trust, and credibility online if they want to be recommended by search engines and AI platforms.
Video will continue to dominate. Customers want to know who they’re buying from before they ever pick up the phone. Businesses that tell their story, showcase their expertise, and build trust through video will stand out in crowded markets.
What excites me most is that technology is making sophisticated marketing tools accessible to small businesses. Ten years ago, many of the automation and AI tools available today were only affordable for large corporations. Now, even small local businesses can create automated follow-up systems, AI-powered customer service, personalized marketing campaigns, and powerful lead generation strategies.
At the same time, I think the human side of business will become even more valuable. As AI-generated content becomes more common, authenticity, relationships, community involvement, and genuine storytelling will be what separates great brands from forgettable ones.
The businesses that will thrive aren’t necessarily the biggest businesses. They’ll be the businesses that embrace technology, stay visible online, build trust with their audience, and never lose sight of the fact that people still buy from people.
That’s why my focus remains the same: helping businesses build a strong digital foundation, get found online, and create marketing systems that combine the power of AI with the authenticity of human connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marketingwithapril.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/marketingwithapril
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/marketingwithapril
- Twitter: https://x.com/marketwithapril
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@marketingwithapril
