If much of your business comes from local customers, then
local marketing should be a priority. Even on a limited budget, targeted local
marketing initiatives can be some of the best ways to maximize your marketing
dollars. Here are five marketing ideas to
increase your local presence:
Online Business Listings
Make it easy for people to find you by listing your business
with Google My Business. Then you're
sure to be located when people search for you on Google Search or Maps. According to ComScore, 78% of local mobile
searches resulted in a offline purchase(usually within a few hours). Appearing
in a local search can have a direct impact on your business.
In addition to Google, be sure you're listed in all of the
other significant online directories including Yahoo, Bing, Yelp and
YellowPages (to name a few). Make sure your business listings are complete,
correct and consistent on all these major sites.
Also, join your local chamber of commerce to ensure that
your business is included in their online directory.
Facebook Local
Advertising
Local ads can help you reach
your nearby target audiences. Hyper
local Facebook advertising is an easy and affordable way to get in front of
people in your neighborhood, city or county. Facebook ads ask you to simply enter
your business address and the area you want to reach around your business. Your
ad featuring a photo and message will be routed to people in that vicinity. Your
ad will show up in the Facebook newsfeed of people near your business at any
time, on any device.
Ask for Reviews
Let your fans sing your praises- they're your best local advertisement.
According to BrightLocal, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as
personal recommendations. Encourage happy customers to review you on sites like
Yelp, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!Local or Angie's List.
Participate in
Community Events
Local events can be a worthwhile way to meet potential
customers and introduce them to your business offerings.Be sure that your
target audience will be in attendance at any events you commit to. Plan
out your marketing strategy ahead of
time and ensure proper event staffing, brochures, product samples, ways to capture leads and take payment.
Connect with Local
Journalists
If you regularly read the local newspapers, you're probably
familiar with the reporters that cover your city or industry. Make an effort to form professional relationships
with these journalists and they may end up reporting positive things about your
business. Start by following local reporters on social media including Twitter.
Comment on their articles, Retweet or Share their posts/articles and ask
questions. If you periodically provide
these journalists with credible, helpful or newsworthy information, you're
likely to see the fruits of your labor.
What free or paid methods do you implement in your local
marketing efforts? Please share below.
