As a business owner, you’ll undoubtedly have other local companies you’re competing with. Ideally, you want to stand out from your competitors and relate to local customers and become part of the community. That’s where local marketing initiatives come in.
Promoting your business locally increases your brand awareness and optimizes lead generation. We’ve provided five powerful local marketing strategies that will set you apart from competitors.
Table of Contents
1. Draw Attention to Local Listings
Google is the number one search engine consumers use when searching for a business online. Consumers are more likely to be aware of your business when it appears in local listings. You can sign up for Google My Business to start promoting your company locally to achieve this.
The advantage of signing up for Google My Business is that it’s 100% free, perfect for start-up businesses on a budget. Additionally, you can include all your company’s relevant information, such as:
– Your website address
– Contact number
– Physical address
– Photos of your business
– Services and products
Another benefit of listing your business on Google is that you have the opportunity to be one of the first businesses that appear in search engine results. In addition, information about your organization will appear to local customers on Google Maps and Google Shopping.
2. Optimize Your Content for Local Search
You need to optimize your content by using relevant keywords for your business to appear on the first page of Google. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for local searches because, without it, search engines won’t know where to place your content on the internet.
When writing any piece of content, whether it’s a blog or information on your website or business listings, you must include keywords relevant to your products and services.
Include geo-specific keywords, especially when creating ads. These keywords focus on targeting consumers in your location and will lead customers to see local businesses nearby and, therefore, easier to reach. . Here are examples of geo-specific keywords:
– Grocery shops in Texas
– Melbourne aromatherapy
– New York nail salon services
3. Create a Geofencing Campaign
Consider using geofencing settings while launching a mobile advertising campaign to target specific local audiences.
Geofencing is a geo-targeting feature that allows targeting audiences within a certain radius, usually starting from 100 meters. Thus, it’s so valuable for local businesses, as you can show the ad to the potentially interested user who is passing by your shop right now.
The benefits of geofencing for local businesses are the following:
– Ability to precisely target your content
– Geofencing is cost-effective which is suitable for start-ups on a budget
– You can serve ads through thousands of apps
– Serve ads to the audience after they leave the geofence
4. Use Social Media to Spread the Word
People use Facebook and LinkedIn to find local businesses they can connect with. Engagements boost your social media business profile and increase your visibility on the platforms, especially to local consumers.
Ideally, you want to strategize on how to increase your engagements by encouraging visitors to like, share, and comment on posts. Another way you can increase your engagements is by encouraging users to leave reviews about your business. To achieve this, consider offering your current local customers a discount if they write a review about their experience with your company on social media.
5. Collaboration with Local Media
Another way to attract leads is through local media such as newspapers and magazines. Work with journalists to write articles about your business. Include interviews and photographs of your corporation. By collaborating with local media, you can attract the attention of local customers.
Conclusion
Advertising campaigns with geofencing, SEO, and business listings are the most powerful ways to promote your company locally. Working with local media is another way to attract quality leads in your area. To assist you, use the strategies mentioned in this article so you can stay ahead of your competitors and become a powerful player in your niche.