Small businesses will always benefit from local marketing. It offers the chance to push services and products to home-based customers and, if carried out effectively, can elevate the business.
Working out how best to become known in your local area is key for a small business to achieve success. So, what is the best way to market a business locally?
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Reach out to local businesses
Connection is key. This applies to every different kind of business conceivable. While reaching out nationally is also important, developing relationships with local users, customers and suppliers is invaluable. Expand your network, both online and offline and work out ways you can team up with other local businesses to reciprocate marketing and spreading the word.
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Take part in events
Even if your business is primarily online, it’s vital to get out there and build relationships by participating in local and community events. They don’t have to relate to your specific industry, product or service. Its’ about introducing yourself both to other businesses and potential customers in a relaxed environment. This presents plenty of opportunity for a naturally flowing conversation, rather than a sales pitch.
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Ask customers and clients what they think
Straight after someone buys something from you, signs up to a service or otherwise engages with your business, encourage them to share their thoughts. This could be on social media challenges, on your website or a specific review site. Word of mouth is always the best way to successfully grow a business, particularly at a local level.
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Set up specific meetups
A meetup can focus on your core service area and is often a great way to increase your network. Try using meetup.com and host events in your local area. You don’t know where it could lead, from new customers to larger companies reaching out to your start-up.
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Organise charity events
Whether you intend to go multinational one day or stay local, getting involved in your area is always a smart move. It’s vital to foster and nurture local connections, from all sectors. Organising and attending charity events is a great way to get your name known, meet people who could be influential, and raise money too. Awareness of your business will automatically be raised.
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Consider a ‘Happy Hour’ networking event
Networking can be considered quite dull by some. Try coming at it from a different angle and organise an after-office hours event where business owners, employees and executives can all get together, relax with a few drinks and get to know each other. This can give opportunities to build strong business relationships in a more relaxed way.
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Use local Groupon
Groupon can be a very positive resource to help market a business in your local area. It’s an efficient, low-cost way to get your business name out there and attract customers with bargain prices. Most of the fees are covered when the customer buys your product and service.
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Effectively use local social media groups
There are lots about across many different platforms. Form your own group on Facebook or Linked in to share information about what you offer and invite two-way communication with other businesses in your sector and across the local area. This kind of ‘grass roots’ marketing can be very helpful at a relatively low cost. It also opens an immediate communication channel between you as a new business and potential customers.
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Post targeted advertising on Facebook
A simple, effective and instant strategy is targeted advertising across platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. You must carry out extensive research on your potential customers first, so that you target effectively. The more information you have on the demographic you’re aiming to attract, the more specific you can make your advertising. After a few goes at testing, you should be able to tailor the perfect messaging to help you reach a local audience.
About Turner Little
Founded in 1998 in Yorkshire, UK, Turner Little is a specialist UK and offshore company formation, banking and corporate services provider. Our services include company formation, UK and offshore banking, asset protection, credit correction/repair, trademarking and trusts. Other services include Internet services, mail forwarding, wills and probate. Turner Little’s vision is to offer the best possible service, together with market leading products.
