Top 5 Local Marketing Ideas for Businesses

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In the US, there’s over 33.2 million small businesses open and operating according to the US Chamber of Commerce. As a local business it can be hard to gain customers especially if your competitor is doing a great job on their local marketing campaigns. 

When vying for customers it’s important you set up a local marketing campaign that’s specifically targeted to draw in more clients. If you’re not sure where to start, this article will guide you on the top three local marketing ideas you can use for your business. Let’s get started. 

1. EDDM: Every Door Direct Mail 

EDDM is a service provided by a local postal service allowing businesses to send neighborhood mailers, promotional flyers or material to households without the need for a specific address. EDDM has many benefits for local businesses when it comes to marketing. These include: 

• Cost-effective: This type of marketing is cost-effective because it reaches a larger portion of your local community.

• Personalized marketing: You can personalize your marketing material to target local demographics. You can also add special deals, promotions, and other offerings to help improve engagement and get foot traffic through the door.  
• Easy to distribute: Since you work with a local postal service when the mail is delivered, the postman will actively add a flier to each mailbox as they go. This means you don’t have to do anything about distributing them. 

EDDM is a great way to get your business known in the local community and gain more sales. 

2. Local SEO

According to Forbes, one out of three businesses don’t have a website. Your website is a key focus when you want to market yourself locally. Many businesses don’t optimize their website for local SEO, and this in turn can lead your competitors to steal your potential clients. Some ways you can optimize your website for local searches include, but isn’t limited to: 

• Keyword optimization: Using keyword tools, you can find specific keywords related to your town or city. For example if you live in Washington DC and you own an Indian restaurant, some keywords to look for could be ‘Indian restaurants Washington DC’, and ‘Indian Takeaway Washington DC’. When looking at keywords, it’s important to check their search volume. Search volume means how many searches those keywords get per month. You want to target keywords that have medium to high search volume but also a low competition level (this means how many other businesses are using those keywords for their own marketing). Keyword research is essential to help you rank on Google and other search engines. 
• Google Business profile: Your Google Business profile is how people find out more about you. If you search for a business, the right side of the page should show some pictures of the business, reviews, addresses, operating hours, and other detailed information. An optimized Google Business profile allows people to see you’re a professional business operating in the local area and makes you easier to find. 
• Mobile optimization: Make sure your website is optimized for mobile searches. Mobile phones are used daily to search for items. If your site isn’t mobile responsive your website can be hard to view on a small device. You also run the risk of losing customers to your competitors. 

Local SEO encompasses a lot more than what’s mentioned, so if you’re looking to optimize your website, it’s important to find a professional marketing consultant to help. 

3. Radio Advertising

If there’s a local radio station in your town, it’s a good idea to utilize radio advertising. Radio advertising has many benefits because: 

• It reaches everyone who is listening to the radio at that specific moment. 
• It reaches a diverse audience that may be interested in your services. 
• It can be cost-effective for struggling businesses. 
• Your ads are in full focus when played on the radio. 

Radio advertising isn’t used as often as it should. By trying it out for a month or two, you can gauge whether or not it’s a good choice for your long-term business. 

4. Implement a Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs are designed to reward customers for their repeat business. This means to get reward points or discounts, they’ll continue to shop with you instead of your competitors. Depending on your business, you can set up loyalty programs in the form of simple punch cards or digital programs that track purchases for each individual. Some ways to make your loyalty program successful include: 

• Keep the program simple and easy for customers to understand and use.
• Offer meaningful rewards to your customers, such as discounts, free products, or exclusive access to events. 
• Promote the loyalty program through in-store signage, social media, email marketing, flyers, and EDDM. 

A customer likes nothing more than being rewarded for shopping with you. Another program you could implement is a referral program. This is a type of word-of-mouth advertising which gives something back to the person who referred you. Maybe you could offer exclusive deals or discounts on your referrals as well. 

5. Engage in Community Events

Hosting or engaging in community events is a great way to get your name out there. Sponsoring an event and giving away promotional items for free allows your business to become known within the local community. 

Whether it’s a charity run, school fundraiser, local fair, or sponsoring a sports event, all these events are a great way to let you talk to the community and show them you’re involved. Some ways to make it successful are: 

• Choose events that align with your brand values and target audience.
• Use social media to promote yourself and sponsor the event before it happens.
• Collect contact information for follow-up marketing efforts, such as email newsletters or special offers.

Engaging with the community is a great way to market and advertise yourself locally. Don’t be afraid to attend multiple events to get your name out there.

Endnote

Marketing your business locally doesn’t have to be difficult. By taking the time to understand some of the best local marketing strategies you have the potential to really highlight your business and bring awareness to the community that you’re a great choice to buy from.