8 Tips for Marketing Small Businesses Locally

 

Effective marketing is an art and must be done in a targeted manner. This applies to large and small companies; especially for small companies with a tight advertising budget, effective marketing can be all the more difficult.

But especially in our modern times, even small businesses use the Internet to carry out smart and effective advertising measures that increase the awareness of your company and help you to have more customers, even if you do not sell your service or products online.

While small companies, especially brick-and-mortar retailers, still invest a lot of money in newspaper advertising, these small companies strongly disregard online marketing, with a large part of the main target group staying here.

In addition to “not paying attention” to online marketing, there are many other mistakes that small businesses make every day in the field of online marketing.

Here are 8 tips to set yourself apart from your competitors and reach more customers.

1. Be represented online with your company

Especially in today’s world, where much takes place almost exclusively online and even television advertising is only characterized by online shops, and online price comparisons, this tip seems redundant, but many companies give away enormous potential because they are not properly positioned.

If you search locally on Google or inquire about certain retailers, you will notice that many still do not have their own websites or just have Facebook profiles, despite them considering it as “my website”.

Nowadays, a meaningful online presence is almost essential for survival in order to continue to exist, because today’s customer is spoiled and often first and foremost informs himself online about the company, the product and service offer and then makes the decision to buy in the store because the online presence helps to reduce concerns about the business and to gain trust.

2.  Offer your customers a variety of contact options

The times we live in are fast and often hectic. This is also a reason why people make fewer and fewer phone calls, but communicate with each other in text form with messengers, as this form of communication offers the practical advantage of postponing the conversation and answering when you feel like it.

You should also consider this aspect of modern communication as a company. In addition to the general contact route via telephone, also offer the possibility to contact via e-mail, Facebook Messenger, or even Whatsapp.

3. Be active locally on social media!

Social media offer small businesses with a local connection a wide range of opportunities to build their own community. Interact with local users, create local events, and create local content.

4. Locally related content on your website and blog

If you are specifically active locally with your company, it is advisable to give your website a local reference, so that Google is better informed that you are mainly active in your city, because apart from your contact details and the imprint, Google does not learn much about your local offer. For example, if you offer online marketing seminars in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Leichlingen, Leverkusen, or Langenfeld, you should make sure that the local reference is also named on the corresponding information page on your website or blog.

 

ALSO READ: How Artists Can Market Their NFT Art

 

5. Local events and promotions!

Every company has special offers from time to time. The important thing here is how you communicate this!
If you are currently running a discount promotion, you can use it as a “local event” on your blog or your offer section on your website or promote this promotion as an event on Facebook.

6. Encourage your customers to rate you

Word-of-mouth has always been important and will always be. The wonderful thing about today is that you can now leave recommendations digitally and for everyone to see. Encourage your customers to leave you nice reviews on Facebook, Google, Quandoo, and any other portal with rating options, because this way you attract more customers psychologically and also increase your general ranking on Google.

7. Link offline marketing with online marketing

Our world is becoming more and more online, but offline marketing should not be neglected either. Rather, you should link it to the field of online marketing!

Give your customers information about your online presence, show that you are active on Facebook, and point out your blog with great news.

8. Be creative, be different!

Give your business a face and distinct character and show that on your website, blog, and on your Social Media Channels! Acquire your own and special way in which you post and distribute Facebook & Instagram content, develop your own writing style and visually stand out from the “disgraceful” everyday monotony.

Conclusion

Effective marketing is not always easy. Rather, it is often associated with risks to decide on “the one right strategy” and costs and time expenditure are also incurred. But the efforts are worth it and it is also worthwhile to pursue these efforts aggressively.

Small local businesses in particular should not underestimate and ignore the opportunities offered by local marketing, especially in the field of Online Marketing.

If you create your own “Fire” Shaping online and offline will take you past your competitors with great success.

If you want to achieve more with your company and set yourself apart from your competitors, we are happy to assist you in all marketing matters and develop a concept with you and for you so that you can achieve your goals!