8 Tips On How To Advertise Your Business Locally

Struggling to get your brand noticed in your local community? The most effective way to advertise your business locally includes a mixture of online and offline techniques, building trust and respect to stand out from your competitors.
Before you read ahead, you’ll need to consider who you’re advertising to and why. Typically, not every advertising solution will be relevant to your business, so make a mental note of who your target audience are and why they may need your product or service.
Confident you have your target audience down to a T? Read on to learn our 8 tips on how to advertise your business locally, both online and more traditionally.

How to promote your business locally online

As a small local business, the internet can seem incredibly competitive, dominated by larger, well-known companies with fierce brand awareness. You’ll be pleasantly surprised, then, to hear that around 46% of all searches on Google are looking for local information and businesses just like yours.
Here are 4 tips on how to promote your business locally in a digital world to get yourself found before larger competitors:

1. Claim and verify your Google My Business listing

Have you ever used Google Maps to find a nearby restaurant, shop or business? Of course you have. This invaluable (and free!) feature is achieved by creating a Google My Business (GMB) listing, giving you the ability to put your business directly in front of local customers whenever they need it most.

Claiming and verifying your GMB listing also means you can edit the knowledge panel which appears on the right-hand side of the search results when someone searches your business name. Here, you can add features such as opening times, a business description, key services and FAQs to show off all your business has to offer.
You’ll also be able to reply to customer reviews, a goldmine of free customer-generated advertising for your business. Don’t forget, negative reviews can be transformed into positive advertising if dealt with correctly.

2. Get your brand seen on social media

Social media is a great way to attract new customers and engage with your existing customer base. Try using social media to share behind the scenes content, exclusive offers and upcoming events to build trust and a buzz within the local community.
There are a few social media channels to consider, so you’ll need to think about which platforms your target audience are most likely to be using:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• YouTube

3. Build local listings and online directories

Building online directories is an easy way to grow your online presence and get your name out there. Most online directories do not charge you to claim a listing, enabling you to make sure all the important details are correct and up to date without having to spend a penny.
A good example of an online directory is Yell.com, however make sure to focus on directories targeting your local area or city to promote your business locally. Take a look at your local news outlets which often have a business directory on their website, making it extremely relevant for your company.

4. Appear in local searches with local SEO

Make sure to optimise your website for local SEO. Essentially, this means making sure your website is targeting local customers who are searching the internet for services that you provide.
For example, if you’re a local cake making business, you’ll want to appear at the top of the search engine results page when someone in your area searches for “cake makers near me”. Give that a quick search, and you’ll find a mix of local businesses and directories, so pairing these two strategies together can be a powerful way to dominate the local digital landscape.

How to promote your business in the local community

Although the world is becoming increasingly digital, traditional offline advertising is still as powerful as ever for local businesses. In fact, promoting your business within the local community can help your brand stand out against larger, nation-wide competitors.
Let’s take a look at 4 ways to advertise your business more traditionally:

5. Speak to the community with print advertising

Print advertising can be an effective way to promote your business as you’re able to choose exactly where your advert is placed, both in terms of publication and position, ideal for targeting a particular type of customer.
Common placements include flyers, brochures, magazines, local newspapers and even billboards. By combining multiple placements, such as a newspaper listing and flyering, local customers won’t be able to get your business out of their heads!
You’ll also often find that print readers are more engaged, taking the time to read and digest the information, so they’re more likely to be receptive to your message than readers scanning their mobile device.

6. Sponsor a local team or group

Give back to the local community by sponsoring a local sports team, group or society. Not only will your name and branding be seen at every football game, for example, but you’ll also gain a positive reputation in your area spread by word of mouth.
Ultimately, your business will gain trust and respect if you take the time to build positive relationships with local residents.

7. Get creative with signage

Nothing is quite as effective as ensuring your brand logo or name is visible to the local community. Whether this is at an event or making sure your name is on show to passers-by on a busy weekend, great visual signage can catch their attention, inspire their interest and convert them into loyal customers.
Signage can include posters, A-boards, vehicle branding or, if you’re out and about, a custom printed gazebo to proudly display your message and offering.

8. Host or attend local events

Whether it is directly related to your business or not, getting involved in local events puts your business right in front of potential new customers and gets people talking about your brand.
Look out for local fairs, community events, charity days, markets or trade shows and make sure to take lots of high-quality photos and videos for your social media platforms. Even better, ask attendees to post their own photos for free, customer-generated advertising!
Most importantly, if you attend any event, make sure your setup is professional, eye-catching and memorable. Investing in a custom printed gazebo to capture customers’ attention is a great way to make an impact and a feature which can be used again and again to show brand consistency within the local community.