Ways You Can Market Your Business Locally

While possessing a brand that will be recognized globally is sure a fantastic goal, it is hardly realistic for most small and medium-sized businesses. Despite the growing popularity of e-commerce and the new heights of connectedness in today’s business world, the fact of the matter is that a great many businesses still rely much more heavily on local customers than international traffic. If local customers are a valuable asset to your business, too, devoting special attention to marketing your business locally is highly recommended. However, what should you focus on to reach the best results? Here are some local marketing tactics to back you up.

Tap into local SEO

Digital marketing is an important element in local marketing. Fine-tuning your local SEO will ensure that your business is not invisible in front of those that are looking. Create profiles for your business on local directories and Google My Business. Fill in your data accurately so Google will know that your business is legitimate and will be more likely to recommend you to those doing local searches. Be sure to equip your pages with reviews so new customers will turn to you with trust.

Go traditional

A new business can boost awareness of its presence to local customers instantly by something as simple as a flyer campaign. Print high-quality flyers for your opening day and let the special discount draw in every passer-by who was handed the flyer. These pieces of paper can pass through many hands and they will hardly put a strain on your budget, so there is no reason not to use them.

Consider cross-promotion

If your goal is to get in touch with your community, turning to those who have already achieved this is a good idea. Contact other local businesses in the area that are somewhat related to your industry but are not your competition and you might be able to come up with a plan that benefits both of you. You may leave your fliers at each other’s front desks, or you may agree to promote each other in your email newsletters. This gives both of you access to the other’s established customer base.

Leverage social media

Social media is just as important for reaching your local audience as it is for promoting yourself globally. However, there are a few ways you can ensure that your profile will pique the interest of local social media users in particular. Be sure to join local groups and promote yourself there. The content you create and post on social media should also be relevant locally. Make it shareable and your reach will multiply with every local user sharing your post to their own feed.

Sponsor events

One of the best local marketing strategies no business should disregard is sponsorship. The way it works is quite simple. Whenever there is a locally significant event, you can chip in for an advertisement opportunity in return. However, it’s much more effective than simply paying for an ad for several reasons. Firstly, if you choose an event that is, in some way, related to your industry, your ad will be in front of a relevant audience who might already have some interest in your offer. Secondly, you get to support your local community, which will boost your image and create new connections.

Make the most of trade shows

Trade shows, conventions, networking events, markets, and other industry-related events that give you an opportunity to be present physically are all amazing for raising awareness about your business in front of a local audience. However, you do have to make sure that your presence at such events, where competition is abundant, will leave a memorable impression. Even a small business will look professional with high-quality print materials like banners and a striking media wall. The latter is also a perfect backdrop that will ensure that your logo is on every single picture taken at your stall!

Organize events

Besides sponsoring events, another good way to let locals know about your presence and encourage them to drop by is by organizing events from time to time. You don’t have to think about anything super grand. Simple collaboration with another local small business can create enough buzz for you to see a positive ROI. For instance, if you have a café or restaurant, letting an artist hold a workshop on your premises is a great way to get involved. Book signings, makeup courses, knitting workshops, presentations, and anything of the sort can come.

Get on their good side

If you already have an established online presence but you want to boost the local word-of-mouth, doing something extra for your local audience is sure to put you on their good side. Think about promotions like local discount codes or free shipping to local customers. Every customer loves to see the words “free shipping,” so you may score a few in-person recommendations from them to their friends when they get excited about your promotion.

Local customers may be closer physically, but sometimes, they can be hard to reach. Use the aforementioned strategies to make sure your business is known by locals and will get a sure foothold in your community.