While traditional marketing has a place in the digital age, your local business should also have a strong online presence. Over 97% of people seeking information about a local company will begin online. It might be unrealistic to outspend your competitors on a national or international level; however, you can ramp up spending in a specific, targeted location.
What is Local Digital Marketing?
In local digital marketing, you reach out to people within a specific radius of your business. Local online marketing strategies help you spend your money more effectively on promotional and advertising campaigns. Your best chance of attracting customers are ones that are in a close proximity to your business, so there’s no need to advertise across the country. Your local marketing online strategy will ensure you reach the optimal demographic.
The right strategies and tactics help you build customer relationships right in your backyard — and as a local business, that’s your primary concern. Don’t have a ton of money to spend on marketing? No worries! You don’t need an exorbitant budget to market locally – you just have to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck and strategically planning your campaigns. In addition, your advertisements shouldn’t overshadow your role as a local business owner.
Keep Your Google My Business Listing Consistent and Optimized
As a small business, you’ll need an optimized Google My Business listing for a successful local online marketing campaign. In order to do this, you’ll want to ensure your business shows up in a local SEO 3-pack. The 3-pack is the first three listings that appear when searching for terms like “near me” or “in my location.” In order to appear here, you must complete your profile on Google My Business. Start by accurately filling in your business’s information and submitting it. Ensure it’s consistent across the web and on sites such as Yelp, Travel Advisor, and even your website. You can include:
- Business address
- Business working hours
- All working contact information
Optimize Your Site for Local SEO Services
You’ll find organic listings below the local SEO 3-pack, where you will also appear. You can even take up two spots by using appropriate localized language when describing your company on your website. It’s also important to learn what local customers search for on Google. You can use tools like Google Search Console, Google Trends, and Google Analytics to find which local terms to include.
Don’t forget to input your address, name, and phone number on your website. To improve your ranking, include these details on your menu, contact, and location pages. When adjusting your website for localization, you should ensure it suits your target market. Include:
- A payment method that suits the locals’ needs.
- An organized website layout with enough room for several languages.
- Imagery that genuinely reflects the market.
- Frequent mentions of your community.
You can further strengthen your business by visiting your Chamber of Commerce and finding out what other local companies are within your area. If the companies allow for local business promotion, ask if they can link to your website. You’ll rank higher if you also get links from businesses nearby.
Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
Once you have optimized your website for local users, you must address if your site is mobile-friendly. In fact, did you know that more than half of all website traffic in today’s world comes from smartphones?
Most often, customers are searching for stores, restaurants, or other local businesses using their mobile phones. So, a mobile-friendly site needs to be navigable for a great user experience. In order to do this you’ll want to use big, legible fonts and make the buttons large enough to click. Don’t be a victim of Google’s mobile algorithm updates!
Get More Clicks Through Customer Reviews
There is no guarantee that someone will visit your website by simply looking at your business listing, but customer reviews can improve click-through rates. Ask your customers to provide honest reviews after they purchase from you. A higher number of reviews generally leads to more clicks. As positive reviews come in, you will attract more visitors and increase your revenue. And don’t forget that managing unhappy customers is also essential. Figure out the problem and fix it immediately.
There are many other localized sites besides Google. Please don’t rely on it alone. Yelp and TripAdvisor are famous worldwide, so ensure your listing appears on these sites too.
Putting a Local Digital Marketing Strategy In Action
Consumers like to support local businesses that they know, like, and trust. Local online marketing solutions help you gain visibility, rank higher, and increase conversion rates. Your local business will also have a better position within your local community with local SEO services. Invest in local marketing and watch your business grow. Reach out to Zero Gravity Marketing’s digital marketing experts if you need assistance!
