Local Marketing

Have you noticed that when you search for a certain restaurant or store on your mobile device, the first results that pop up are usually stores within your local area? This powerful and convenient tool can be tapped into and used as part of a great marketing tactic. This is known as local marketing, and it is a great strategy for pulling in local customers and nearby consumers.

Studies have shown that nearly half of people who search for a store or business will actually visit that store or business on the same day. And those who do not visit the store will remember it in their minds for a later time. Local marketing focuses mainly on reaching local and loyal customers in a certain area, which is important for the longevity and brand awareness of the business.

The Main Details

Local marketing is a great online tool, but it of course has its limits. Since it is focused on gathering awareness from nearby audiences, it mainly seeks to advertise a local store, service, or restaurant. It will typically reach people who live within a 10-15 mile radius of the business.

There are a few useful tactics that people can use to market to a local audience using digital methods. Some are straightforward, while others are industry secrets that can help this marketing tactic become a successful one:

• Ensure that the business has all of their information posted online – It is proven that customers will search for the businesses’ number or website first, so make sure both, as well as the address and some photographs, are listed on search engine results.
• Allow the business to be interviewed by a local online magazine or blog, which will help increase buzz about the business and bring in positive reviews.
• Make sure the business is connected with several social media outlets, including Facebook, Google, and Twitter.
• Segment the local niches – Gain an understanding about what type of niche the business belongs to. This can help it target certain audience members when the time is right.

Tips for Developing a Local Marketing Campaign

If a local marketing campaign is the right fit for your physical store, service, or restaurant, there are several pieces of advice that can help your marketing campaign run smoothly. There are plenty of ways to create buzz around the community:

• Create sales, promotions, or coupons that can be delivered via email or social media platform
• Announce online that the business will host certain local community events
• Be enthusiastic about sponsoring a local team or club
• Promote community members and make special announcements on social media channels and blog posts, letting customers know that you are a supportive and active part of the community

Reaching out to the local community and gaining an inspiring online presence is the key to promoting a business and staying on top of the market. Although it may seem discouraging to know that local marketing may only reach people within a 10 mile radius, that is more than enough to drive up business and be a strong part of the community.