For many local small businesses, marketing online can seem scary or too costly. However, this doesn’t need to be the case! Read on for more information on the basics of local online marketing!
Google Business Profile
Every eligible local business needs a Google Business Profile! This free profile provided by Google acts as an online phonebook and shows key information about the business during relevant searches.
The search engine results page can display the Google Business Profile on the right side of the page in a long format, as part of local pack results along with competitors, or in map results. By verifying your Google Business Profile, you will be able to keep your business’s phone number, address, hours, and more updated and at the fingertips of searchers.
For more information on Google Business Profiles, take a look at “5 Myths About Google Business Profiles”. The article goes in-depth about what you should/shouldn’t do with your Google Business Profile!
Other Online Listings
In addition to Google Business Profile, ensuring that your name, address, phone number and other basic business information is correct in other online listings across the web is important. We recommend claiming your Bing Places, Yelp, and Apple Maps listings. Also, give serious consideration to enlisting the help of an online listing service to ensure that your business information is correct across the major listing distributors.
Social Media
Social media isn’t just for influencers and celebrities! Local businesses can also build a following and use social media to keep customers up-to-date on the latest. You can provide information on products, deals, and more.
Choosing the right platform for your business to be on just takes some research and understanding of who your target audience is. For example, business-to-business companies may want to post on LinkedIn, while a boutique would want to be on Instagram. For more details on the differences between social media platforms, check out this article on “Which Social Media Platforms Are Right For My Business?“
Social media is also used to run ads. These are great for small businesses because you can target the exact location(s) and demographics of your target audience!
Targeted Display Ads
Targeted Display Ads are the ads that show on the sides of various websites and seem to “follow” the user around the Internet. These ads can also be targeted to specific locations and demographics, so small businesses can reach exactly who they want to target.
One tactic that is handy with targeted display ads is geofencing which allows the advertiser to select a specific area in which they want to serve ads. The advertiser can set up an invisible “fence” around this location and anyone who visits that area will be served the ad!
If you’re a local small business, these tips should give you a start with your business’s online presence. And if you need some assistance with digital marketing, call the pros at The Digital People! With our wide range of tools and expertise, we look forward to helping your business succeed!
