Meet Madeleine Costa of Succeeding Small
Digital Marketing Agency For Small Businesses
Small business digital marketing can often seem overwhelming—but Madeleine Costa, founder and CEO of Succeeding Small, is here to guide entrepreneurs toward clarity, growth, and impact. With nearly a decade of experience in SEO, web design, paid advertising, and more, Madeleine is a trusted voice in helping small businesses gain visibility, build systems, and thrive online. Here’s how SucceedingSmall.co is elevating small business success through digital marketing.
Episode 5 – Succeeding Small Audio Podcast
From Boutique to Digital Agency: Madeleine’s Journey
Madeleine grew up in an entrepreneurial family. At 16, she launched her own online boutique, learning retail and e‑commerce first-hand. Later, while studying English and Marketing in college, she combined creative writing with SEO—launching the Succeeding Small blog, a catalyst for her future agency Apple Podcasts+10.
After interning at a digital marketing agency, she realized SEO’s power to drive real results for local businesses. In 2017, SucceedingSmall.co was born, and today it’s a thriving six-figure firm with a dedicated team of seven.
How Succeeding Small Helps Small Businesses Shine
At its core, Succeeding Small is built around strategic simplicity. Here’s how they do it:
- SEO mastery: Crafting compelling content, technical optimization, and local SEO to help businesses rank and attract customers search after search .
- Web design: Building polished, high-converting websites that reflect each business’s brand and mission.
- Google Ads & PPC: Targeted ad campaigns to generate immediate and measurable leads.
- Branding & copywriting: Telling small business stories clearly, emotionally, and effectively.
- Social media: Growing engaged communities across platforms.
- Systems & operations: Through their podcast and consulting, they help business owners scale by documenting processes and building strong SOPs
Succeeding Small Portfolio
Lessons from the Podcast & Interview
Madeleine shares her top insights for small business brands:
- Fail forward – Mistakes are learning opportunities. Her philosophy? “Every time I hit a hard moment… If yes, I keep going. If not, I pivot.”
- Hire intentionally – Stop “casual hiring” and build deliberate processes. Matching talent to your mission fosters long-term growth Succeeding Small.
- Set systems early – Implement standards (SOPs) for repeatable success—and greater freedom to scale.
- Keep your spark alive – Passion fuels perseverance. If the work still brings joy, keep building. If not, allow yourself to pivot.
Award-Winning Approach & Community Impact
Succeeding Small has earned top honors—including the Colorado Springs Business Journal’s Silver Award for Best Web & Mobile Development, and Madeleine herself was named Pikes Peak Young Entrepreneur of the Year But for Madeleine, the real trophy is supporting hundreds of small business owners with digital strategies that convert.
Essential Tips for Small Business Digital Marketing
From Madeleine and SucceedingSmall.co’s playbook:
- Invest in SEO now – Organic visibility compounds over time.
- Start with a polished website – Your online storefront reflects your brand and credibility.
- Run smart paid ads – Targeted PPC can boost visibility fast.
- Build SOPs early – Systems free up bandwidth to focus on growth.
- Hire with intention – Onboard team members who share your mission.
- Fail forward – Don’t give up; pivot based on learnings.
Why Small Businesses Need Madeleine’s Approach
In a crowded digital marketplace, small brands must do more than show up—they need to connect, convert, and scale. Madeleine’s blend of creative storytelling, technical SEO, strategic advertising, and operational systems equips small businesses with everything they need to win online.
Final Takeaway
SucceedingSmall.co isn’t just an agency—it’s a partner in small business transformation. With Madeleine Costa at the helm, the message is clear: digital marketing isn’t just for big players. Through SEO, savvy ads, branding, and systems, small businesses can—and should—compete confidently online.
To learn more about her strategies, check out the Succeeding Small Podcast, explore their blog, or book a strategy call through SucceedingSmall.co.
