In the modern age, business and marketing have changed drastically in terms of how they operate. Companies can now put their products on the map for everyone to see thanks to the internet. With social media’s expansive reach, the entire globe becomes open to possibilities of advertising and operating your business.
There is however a certain drawback that people are now starting to face due to such exposure; with the field wide open for big companies, local businesses are starting to face trouble growing and operating. This can be problematic for the communities that they operate in, and for small business owners themselves. Fortunately, local business has its own set of advantages that they can capitalize on.
Here are a couple of things that local businesses can do to keep on flourishing;
Make Locally-Focused Content a Priority
Your audience exists within a certain sphere and is a lot more concerned with things that are closer to them geographically. Instead of driving to the other end of town for a phone repair, they would much rather have someone who is close by.
Creating content that talks about local concerns is a great way of standing out in your community and being considered a source of authority. When you begin to put stuff out that deals with what’s in your neighborhood, the results can look massive. You build trust with the people around you, and by addressing their concerns, you gain their loyalty. Address their pain points and you’ll see them warm up to you and help you out.
Post Ads Targeted to Your Region
Most social media platforms allow people to post ads using different parameters. The one that you should be focusing on the most is location and interests.
Try and maximize your reach within the local community by running ads in a certain area of influence. Customers nearby should be able to identify your business more and prefer going to you as opposed to others. The more you show people that you are within reach, the more likely they will want to tap you for your services.
Give Directions and Timings to Maximize Reach
Here’s a popular one – try placing a map on your website and offering your business timings so people can reach you easily. Doing so will help people track you down on a map and put a pin that leads them right to your doorstep.
It’s really simple to put a widget on your website that takes care of locating your workplace on the map. Most website services don’t require coding of any sort to achieve this, so if you aren’t doing it already, you’re missing out.
List Your Business on Google
Giving your business a home on Google has some great benefits overall. Not only will people be able to search for you more readily, but they can also spot you on the map, see pictures of your setup, and even rate you for others.
Listing on Google means that everything that a customer needs to know about your business is right;Â all they need to do is just a simple search. The fact that it can be done from any of their devices makes it all the better. Be sure to keep your information updated so searchers can always connect with you.
Make Phone Calls Your Main Call-to-Action on Ads
People need things to be as smooth, quick and snappy as possible in today’s world. Instead of offering to take them to your website, try getting them to call you to instantly connect with them.
Using a ‘Call Now’ button on your posts shows that you’re ready to answer any queries at any time. Since customers often have specific requirements, it’s best to give them that information immediately so they can make a decision. They will appreciate your quick service and will be more compelled to do business with you. After all, it’s much better to talk to someone than to fill out a lengthy form!
Offer More to Your Local Community
Since exist within a certain community, you should be convincing people that you are a part of them too. Try incentivizing your local customers with special packages, invitations to events, flash sales, or even simple discussions on the neighborhood when they pop in.
Telling people that you’re a part of the society that they identify with on a daily basis and showing them that you care for the things around you can do wonders. Build on the more humane element and connect with them as a neighbor. They will appreciate the candidness and would prefer coming to you for the added value of something other than just business. A little bit of thoughtfulness goes a long way.
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