For Rebekah Werner, growing her business is never only about gaining clients. It’s about building trust, creating meaningful relationships, and helping other small businesses succeed.
Werner is the founder of Unita Marketing, a full-service marketing agency specializing in search engine optimization for small businesses in the service sector that are ready to scale. The agency also provides branding, web and print design, content development, paid advertising, email marketing, social media management, hosting, domain management, and Google Workspace support.
“Each client comes to us with a different, specific need, but what they all have in common is that they are looking to grow their business,” Werner said.
That growth-focused approach is paired with a commitment to highly personalized service. Werner started Unita Marketing because she wanted to take a more comprehensive approach to each client, serving a smaller number of businesses at a deeper level.
“We genuinely care about our clients’ success,” she said. “Because we don’t do contracts, our clients could walk away at any time. While other agencies may have a year to replace you, we hustle from the first month to do everything we can to grow your business. We look at it as earning our clients’ trust through actions, not contracts.”
That philosophy has shaped the company’s growth. What began as a plan to remain a solo business has developed into a team of four, including Werner’s husband, daughter, and a longtime family friend. Her goal is not to build a large media conglomerate, but to grow sustainably while maintaining the level of service that defines the company.
“We want to help more businesses and affect more change for more companies,” she said. “But we are not going to cut corners or scale back the level of service.”
For Werner, Wake Forest has played an essential role in that journey.
Born and raised in Raleigh, she has deep roots in the area. Her parents were high school sweethearts, and her family’s history in the region stretches back generations. As Raleigh continued to grow, however, Werner found that building business relationships there could sometimes feel overwhelming. Her experience in Wake Forest felt different.
“When I became involved with the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, it felt welcoming, comfortable, and supportive,” she said. “It wasn’t about forcing business. It was about making a connection and recognizing that we all have something to offer one another.”
Her introduction to the Wake Forest business community began through a local connection who invited her to the Chamber’s monthly “Coffee Club” event. When she arrived, she was welcomed by Chamber Ambassador Sheri Roberson, who immediately began introducing her to others.
“The way you are brought into a community is very important,” Werner said. “She made me feel like, ‘We are so glad you are here, and here are all the people I know.’ It was warm and kind, and people were making connections for me left and right. I dove in headfirst because of that.”
Werner became an active member of the Chamber and began working from The Loading Dock - Wake Forest. She describes the coworking space as an extension of the relationships she was already building.
“It is basically networking while you are working,” she said.
Those relationships have become the foundation of her business. Most of Unita Marketing’s clients and opportunities have come through Wake Forest connections, and many of the companies the agency serves are located within the community. Werner also has become known as someone other business owners can contact when they need a recommendation, an introduction, or a trusted local resource.
“I talk to a lot more small business owners than the average person, and connecting people is one of my strengths,” she said.
Werner’s connection to Wake Forest Founders lso came through the community. Barbara Walsh, one of her clients and a graduate of the program, recommended that she apply.
Werner had already built a strong referral network through the Chamber, but she found that Wake Forest Founders offered a different type of support. Rather than concentrating primarily on networking, the program encouraged participants to examine their businesses from the ground up.
“It was, ‘Let’s help you grow your business from an infrastructure lens,’” she said. “We took a deep dive into the foundation, mission statement, logo, operations, and how the business was being represented. It helped us look at the business holistically.”
The experience helped Werner streamline Unita Marketing’s operations, improve profitability, and communicate more effectively with prospective clients, existing clients, and her team. She found the peer-to-peer feedback on communication strategies especially valuable.
Although marketing is her area of expertise, Werner said each participant brought a different skill set to the table.
“I was able to help my teammates, but they were also able to help me,” she said. “Everyone brought their own strengths, so everyone became stronger because of it. There was no pressure to gain business from one another. It was about fixing what was broken and improving the business.”
Her advice to other entrepreneurs considering the program is simple.
“What are you waiting for?” she said. “There is no grade and nothing to be afraid of. It is just a group of people trying to help you get better. I am so glad I did it.”
Werner’s commitment to small business extends beyond her client work. She considers herself a champion of shopping locally and encourages others to pause before automatically turning to a national retailer or large service provider.
“Stop and think before you go to the big-box store or order from Amazon,” she said. “Think about how it feels to walk into a local business and support someone who has put their blood, sweat, and tears into building it.”
She believes Wake Forest is particularly well positioned to support that mindset because of its strong network of tradespeople, service providers, retailers, and entrepreneurs.
“There are so many strong trades and services in this community,” she said. “You can meet people face to face and receive that personal touch. Wake Forest still has a small-town feel, which is incredible considering how much it has grown.”
That sense of place remains important to Werner. While Unita Marketing serves clients across the country, she prefers relationships that allow her to sit across the table from the people she serves. She also hopes the company’s continued growth will eventually allow her to add more Wake Forest-based team members.
The agency is now investing in new technology to improve its SEO audits, reporting platforms, and ability to help clients navigate both traditional search engine optimization and emerging generative engine (AI) optimization. For Werner, however, technology remains a tool in service of the same larger mission: helping small businesses grow, succeed, and remain part of their communities.
Jason Cannon, President of the Wake Forest Business and Industry Partnership (WFBIP) sees companies like Unita Marketing as important contributors to Wake Forest’s broader economic health.
“Rebekah’s work creates a ripple effect throughout Wake Forest. When a local marketing firm helps another business attract customers, grow sustainably, and remain part of our community, the benefit extends far beyond a single company. Strong local businesses create jobs, support families, invest in other organizations, and contribute to the overall vitality of Wake Forest. That is what makes this kind of entrepreneurship so valuable.”
Werner’s story demonstrates how those ripple effects begin: one introduction, one referral, and one genuine relationship at a time.
Her business has grown because Wake Forest welcomed her, connected her with others, and gave her opportunities to contribute. In turn, Unita Marketing is helping other businesses strengthen their foundations, find new customers, and build staying power of their own.
For Werner, that is what a healthy business community should look like.
“We all refer one another, support one another, and create opportunities,” she said. “Everyone has something to offer.”
