Online business development relies heavily on establishing a strong customer base. Local advertising is one of the ways that small businesses grow by promoting their products and services.
Typically, most people depend on local searches to learn about the small local businesses nearest to them. It is thus important for small businesses and companies to establish their online presence at the first chance they get. If you are looking to learn how to advertise a local business, you have come to the right place. Here are the top eight ideas for advertising your small business. Let's go and find what works for you!
1. Opt for "Google My Business"
By setting up the advertising tool "Google My Business" (GMB), you can increase the chances of your business being found by local interested parties. GMB can help determine how your company appears on various Google platforms such as Google Search, Google Maps, and Google's Knowledge Panel.
The questions and answers section of your GMB profile can help increase customer confidence by highlighting the significant features of your company. Many people also post pictures related to their business to help authenticate its overall image, and encourage engagement with its customer base.
2. Make Effective Use of Local Listings
According to recent statistics, around 46 percent of all Google searches have a local intent, searching for a local business. It is not hard to judge the essential need to use local business listings to promote your company. If your business is mentioned on the websites that publish the top local listings, it will be accessible to more people.
Moreover, it is important that you regularly update the contact details of your business on local listings to ensure potential customers are able to connect with you effectively. Relevant contact information includes phone numbers, email and postal addresses, etc.
3. Advertise via Google Ads
Using Google Ads can really help boost the popularity of your small business. A good PPC campaign can be made effective by enabling location extensions on this advertising medium. The local search ads can help familiarize people nearby to your business, and make them more likely to employ its services or use its products.
Google Ads are a cost-effective way to get you qualified leads from the local audience. You would only have to pay if you receive "clicks" by the target audience, helping you save money during your advertising campaign.
4. Learn more about Local Content and Trends
One of the most important things about effective advertising is knowing your crowd, and understanding their thinking. To stand apart from your competition, it is helpful to design the content of your business, basing it upon local trends. Successful advertising campaigns are those which address local concerns in their businesses. For example, small businesses which promote the use of eco-friendly materials will be received more favorably by customers who have grown up thinking about the environmental ramifications of pollution.
By understanding local thinking, and catering to the requirements of a region, your business will gain popularity as a socially aware and responsible company. Moreover, the actions of your company would have a ripple effect, influencing greater social awareness. By following in your lead, others in the community may consider you an expert in the field.
5. Advertise Local Deals and Promotions
A great way to promote the products and services of your business to locals is making them more accessible to the public. By running local promotions and offers regularly, you could help your business stand apart from competitors and help the community become familiar with the merits. Exciting deals and discounts include, but are not limited to the following boons.
- Buy One Get One Free promotions
- Half-price sales
- Referral discounts
- Free samples
- Social media giveaways and contests
- Cashback deals and promotions
- Coupons and vouchers
- Free returns and shipping (for online orders)
These local deals and promotions tend to generate much excitement for customers, and encourage buying behavior. People benefiting from the deals will be more likely to share the details of the business to others in their circle, thus increasing the popularity of the business itself.
6. Entice Locals via Loyalty Programs
A big way to advertise the products and services of your business to locals is to make the use of loyalty cards. By giving rewards to people for their loyalty such as doubling or tripling their points for a selected time, or even having special discounts for those who own a loyalty card can encourage buying behavior.
Loyalty cards have proven to be an effective way to encourage customers to come back in hopes of getting to use the rewards.
7. Get Featured on Local News Sites and Print Advertising
It is interesting to note that there are various ways to promote your small business in local media. Whether you are making use of local news sites or even in print, the key to promoting your company is consistent advertising. Different mediums cater to different age groups, thus it is important that you tailor your business's advertisement so that it reaches all kinds of people.
Some people spend more time perusing local news sites, while others use print media. Thus it is a good idea to advertise on both mediums for maximum outreach.
8. Host an Event Related to your Business
A terrific way to expand your business is to host an event that is related to it. Events can include festivals, workshops, parties, charity events, anniversary sales, etc. These are memorable and exciting things that would help the public become familiar with your business and engage with it.
An Overview
As you have seen, expanding and growing your small business can be extremely rewarding, especially if you know what to do. Certain steps, such as advertising through Google Ads or setting up a "Google My Business" can help establish your company's online presence.
Many small companies enlist the help of various digital marketing companies such as WebPerfex, which can help bring your small business into the spotlight. Hope this helps!
