Local Business Spotlight: Do North Marketing
For the past seven years, Melissa Dressely, owner of Do North Marketing in Grand Marais, has helped small businesses improve their marketing strategies to broaden their reach and drive growth.
“We provide ‘help you do it’ and ‘do it for you’ marketing services for small businesses,” Dressely said.
Do North Marketing specializes in helping business owners craft consistent brand messaging, email marketing, and social media content.
Dressely said small business owners wear many hats, and with the numerous responsibilities, marketing and social media may not be a particular area of experience or focus.
“They’re not worrying about that they don’t have time to do the marketing. So that’s where we come in and help,” Dressely said.
Dressely works with a small team of freelancers as part of her Do North Marketing business to help business owners with targeted marketing tasks. “It just depends on what the business owner needs,” she said.
Another aspect of Dressely’s business is the annually published North Shore Explorer. The North Shore visitor guide has been published for over 30 years and is distributed approximately 100,000 copies around Minnesota and the North Shore annually. Dressely purchased North Shore Explorer, formerly North Shore Visitor, in 2019.
“It’s a very popular visitor guide that helps people discover the best things to see and do in Duluth and along the North Shore,” Dressely said.
Melissa Dressely – North Shore Explorer | Photo by Melissa Dressely
In addition to a physical printed copy of the guide, the North Shore Explorer is shared online. Visitors to the North Shore can find recommended hiking trails, activities to do, and lodging.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Melissa Dressely, owner of Do North Marketing, for the latest edition of the Local Business Spotlight. Audio from the feature is below.
The Local Business Spotlight highlights our local business community’s economic strength and innovation. This feature is brought to you in partnership with Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce.
Kalli Hawkins May 3, 2025
