My name is Kris O’Connor, and I work with small business owners who want clarity and confidence in their marketing decisions. especially when it comes to local SEO for Plano.  I’m not an agency owner, and I didn’t learn business from theory or dashboards. I’m a former small business owner who spent 14 years building and running a service-based business from the ground up.

Kris O’Connor Marketing Gems was created as a support platform for business owners who are tired of marketing that sounds good. But doesn’t reflect how their business actually operates. Everything I do is shaped by firsthand experience — not trends, not templates, and not empty promises.

Most small business owners I work with are excellent at what they do. They understand their product or service, take pride in their work, and care deeply about their customers.

What they often struggle with is marketing — not because they’re incapable, but because marketing is rarely their primary skill set.

Too often, marketing is handed off to an agency or an employee who doesn’t truly understand the business. The result is generic messaging, inaccurate representation, and frustration over money spent without clear results. I work differently because I understand the pressure of wearing all the hats and making decisions that directly affect your livelihood.

I don’t approach marketing as a separate function. I approach it as part of the business — because that’s what it is.

Before starting Kris O’Connor Marketing Gems, I spent 14 years helping build a service-based business from zero to $1.6 million in revenue. I handled everything except the physical installation work. That meant answering phones, managing customers, building systems, hiring and managing employees, handling marketing, and solving problems daily.

That experience taught me how closely marketing is tied to operations, reputation, and trust. It also taught me what doesn’t work — chasing shiny objects, relying on vague promises, and outsourcing decisions to people who don’t understand the business from the inside.

Today, I only recommend strategies I would have used myself as an owner.

One of the most common problems I see in small business marketing is a lack of understanding. Agencies often don’t ask enough questions. Employees responsible for marketing may not fully understand the services being offered or the standards the business operates under.

I once worked with a fence company that only installed cedar fencing. The marketing team responsible for their content never took the time to understand that detail and repeatedly used images and messaging related to pine fencing instead. It seemed minor, but it misrepresented the business and created confusion with customers.

Marketing should accurately reflect reality. If it doesn’t, it damages trust before a customer ever picks up the phone.

My role is to understand your business first, then help you communicate it clearly and honestly online.

I focus on the foundational elements that support long-term growth for small businesses, especially service-based and brick-and-mortar companies. My work centers on Google Business Profile optimization, local SEO, and WordPress website builds and rebuilds designed to support visibility, trust, and clarity.

I don’t believe in doing everything at once. I believe in doing the right things in the right order, based on what your business actually needs.

Most website projects typically fall in the $3,000–$5,000 range, while other services vary depending on goals and level of involvement. I’ll always explain what I recommend and why.

If something doesn’t make sense for your business, I’ll tell you.

I work best with small business owners who want to understand what’s happening with their marketing and feel confident in their decisions again. Most of my clients run businesses with fewer than ten employees and are deeply involved in day-to-day operations.

I’m probably not the right fit if you’re looking for free advice, shortcuts, or someone to chase the latest marketing trend. I don’t sell hype, and I don’t make guarantees I can’t control. What I do offer is experience, clarity, and straightforward communication.

I’m based in Plano, Texas, and I primarily work with small businesses throughout Plano and the DFW area. Local marketing works best when it’s rooted in real communities and an understanding of how local businesses actually operate.

My approach to local SEO, Google Business Profiles, and website strategy is grounded in helping businesses show up accurately, consistently, and confidently where their customers are searching.

If you’re a small business owner who wants to stop chasing shiny objects and finally understand what’s happening with your marketing, I’m happy to have a conversation. No pressure, no scripts, and no sales tactics — just an honest discussion about what makes sense for your business.

You can also find me on LinkedIn.