Advertising for local businesses is tricky. There are so many different ways to reach potential customers, and each one has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
To help you decide where to advertise your local business, we’ve put together a guide of the best places to do so. Take a look and see what might work best for you.
We will go over each one in depth so that you can make an informed decision about where to spend your advertising budget.
Facebook Advertising
Facebook has become a place for adults to share photos and their feelings on things. It’s far from the days it used to be, where people used it to just update their statuses.
That’s why Facebook advertising is such a powerful tool for local businesses. You can target your ads to people who live in a certain area, who are interested in certain topics, and more.
When you have an audience that is more likely to spend money like this, you are more likely to make a return on your investment with Facebook advertising.
Below we will go over the very best ways to utilize Facebook marketing:
Create a Page:
The first step to take is creating a business page. This will allow you to post updates, events, and promotional offers that your target audience can see. Make sure to include relevant information like your website, contact information, and hours of operation.
Boost Your Posts:
You can use Facebook’s “boost post” feature to make sure your updates are seen by more people. When you have a post that you want to get more exposure, you can pay to have it appear higher in people’s newsfeeds.
This is a great way to promote sales, events, or new products/services.
Create an Ad:
If you want to get even more specific with your targeting, you can create an ad. Facebook allows you to target people based on interests, demographics, and behaviors. You can create a brand video and then use that to create your ad.
This is a great way to get in front of people who might not have heard of your business before.
Local Facebook Groups:
There are likely local Facebook groups for your city or town. These can be a great way to reach potential customers.
You can join these groups and then interact with the members. Make sure to be helpful and not spammy. If you provide value, people will be more likely to check out your business.
Instagram Marketing
This is essentially the same as Facebook advertising, but on Instagram. You can create a business profile, boost your posts, and run ads.
With Instagram you can utilize peoples followers a bit more by using Influencer marketing.
Influencer Marketing
Lets pretend you’re a restaurant. You can find someone in the town you’re in with a lot of followers who is an influencer and then you can pay them to take a photo at your restaurant or try one of your dishes and then post it to their story or feed.
This is an incredibly effective way to get in front of potential customers.
And because people follow influencers to get recommendations on things, you’re more likely to convert them into a paying customer.
Utilizing Instagram Stories
You can also utilize Instagram stories to get in front of potential customers.
You can run ads on Instagram stories or you can do something called a ‘swipe up’.
A ‘swipe up’ is when you have an influencer post a photo or video of your product/service on their story and then include a call to action that leads to your product.
Use Locations
Another great way to get in front of potential customers on Instagram is to use location tags.
You can do this by tagging your business location in your posts or stories. When people search for that location, your business will come up.
This is the main way you can find popular accounts in your area as well.
TikTok Marketing
It may seem as if TikTok is for a more broad audience, but that’s not the case. When you go on TikTok you may come across influencers exploring certain areas. If you search the town in the search box that your business is in, you may come across videos of people exploring that area. They go to different restaurants, boutiques, unique places, and so on.
Reaching out to these influencers to take a trip over to your business and show off the unique aspects of it could really help increase traffic and conversions for your business.
It’s also important to note that a lot of people on TikTok are young adults who have money and are looking to spend it.
Email List
An email list is a good way to show off new products or get opinons from customers on things like new product ideas.
You can use an email list to send out surveys, promotional offers, or just update your customers on what’s going on with the business.
You can also use the email list to cross-promote your social media accounts or website.
Yelp and Yellow Pages
If you’re a local business, you should absolutely be on Yelp and the Yellow Pages.
Most people look up local businesses on Yelp before they go to them. So it’s important to have a good profile, photos, and reviews. You can also include your website link, address, and phone number.
The Yellow Pages is essentially the same thing, but it’s a bit more old-school.
Many people still use the Yellow Pages when they’re looking for local businesses. So it’s important to have a good listing here as well. You can include your website, address, and phone number.
Google My Business
Google My Business is another great way to get in front of potential customers.
You can list your business on Google My Business for free. You just need to create a profile and then verify your business. Once you’re verified, you can start ranking in Google Maps.
This is great because when people are searching for businesses in their area, yours will come up. You can include all of your business information and it will allow customer to write reviews and feedback.
Local Ads
Often overlooked because of the dominance of digital marketing, but you can’t neglect local ads.
You can still place ads in the local paper, billboards, and on local TV and radio stations. These can be very effective if targeted correctly.
You can also place ads on buses or any public transportation in your town.
This is a great way to get in front of potential customers who are already out and about. And it’s especially effective if you’re running a sale or promotion.
Go To Local Events
If you’re a restaurant and your town has a farmers market, go set up a booth there.
You can hand out menus, samples, or promotional items. You can also set up a table with information about your business.
This is a great way to get in front of potential customers who are already interested in what you have to offer.
Partner With Other Local Businesses
If you’re a local business, you should absolutely be partnering with other local businesses.
This is a great way to get in front of potential customers who may not have heard of your business before.
For example, if you’re a restaurant you can partner with a local winery and do a wine dinner. Or if you’re a clothing store you can partner with a local salon and do a fashion show.
These are just some ideas, but there are endless possibilities when it comes to partnering with other businesses.
LinkedIn is a great way to connect with other businesses and potential customers.
You can use LinkedIn to post updates about your business, new products, or even blog articles. You can also use LinkedIn to connect with other businesses in your industry.
Google Ads
Google Ads is a great way to get in front of potential customers who are already searching for what you have to offer.
You can create ads that target specific keywords or even specific locations. You can also set your budget so you don’t overspend.
Website SEO
Website SEO is important for any business, but it’s especially important for local businesses.
This is because you want to make sure you’re appearing in search results for your town or city. You can do this by including your location in your titles and tags, as well as in your website content.
Other Frequently Asked Questions About Marketing Your Business
Where can I post my services for free?
There are a number of websites and platforms where you can post your services for free. These include classified ads websites, social media platforms, and business directories. Although we mentioned using ads on different social media platforms you can also create posts that don’t cost any money. Paid promotion will allow you to target a specific audience though.
What is the most effective type of promotion?
We don’t believe there’s one specific one that will put you over the top. Some may be more effective for your specific business but a multifaceted approach is key. You should consider using a combination of digital and traditional marketing techniques to reach the widest audience possible.
Can You do my own marketing?
If you have the time, energy, and knowledge then absolutely! We would recommend hiring a marketing agency or specialist if you’re feeling overwhelmed though. They will be able to help you create and execute a marketing plan that’s tailored to your business and goals.
How Can You Get Customers To Return Using Social Media?
You don’t only have to use social media in order to lure the customer in, but you can also use social media as a customer retention tool as well. For every customer that comes in you can give them an opportunity to get 15% off by posting your product on their story and tagging your page. This will give you free promotion and a potential return customer.
What Do You Need In Order For These Marketing Strategies To Be Successful?
The biggest thing is a unique product that not many people are offering. This can be in the form of a unique service, or even just a twist on a traditional product. For example if you’re a pizza place, creating a different pizza that will get someones attention will help.
If you can’t do that, make sure your product is high quality and priced competitively.
Lastly, don’t forget about customer service! Ensuring that your customers have a positive experience with your business is essential for returning customers. You can have all the customers in the world, but they won’t come back if you’re not
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many ways you can market your local business online.
Digital marketing is always changing, so make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest trends.
By utilizing these strategies, you’ll be able to reach more potential customers and grow your business.
What other digital marketing strategies have you used to grow your local business? Let us know in the comments below!
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