With the online world having made it easier than ever to reach a worldwide audience, our eyes can often be on those who are far removed from us. However, especially for brands providing local products or services, you should ensure that you’re paying enough attention to those closest to you, too. Your local customers are the ones most likely to convert, so what can you do to make sure that you’re reaching them, in particular?
Tell Your Story With Local PR
Getting your story heard within your local community can help you not just draw attention, but build credibility as part of the community. When you have something newsworthy to share, pitching it to local newspapers, radio stations, TV outlets, and even locally based blogs can help your brand achieve relevance. Whether it’s a business milestone, charity partnership, or the launch of a new product or service, you should take what opportunity you can to shine a light on your business, giving it the brand familiarity that makes it more likely to stay in the minds of the local audience.
Harness The Power Of Paper
Although they are often de-emphasized in the digital-obsessed world, physical marketing materials like flyers, leaflets, and posters can be some of the most effective tools for targeting a local audience. Print out some quality leaflets that represent your brand in the best light and put them in places where your ideal customers spend time: coffee shops, community boards, gyms, or mailboxes. Use strong visuals, bold branding, and a clear call to action to make them effective. Adding some sense of urgency, such as with a limited-time offer or QR code, can stir up engagement and give you a better idea of how effectively they are targeting your audience.
Don’t Neglect Local SEO
The digital world can still be very beneficial to your local marketing efforts if you’re using it right. When people look for local businesses near them, they often use search queries like “best [service] me me” or “best [service] in location.” With effective local SEO practices, like building a location-tied business profile for your business and writing website content specifically for that location, you can ensure that your business appears first in Google when people make those kinds of searches, increasing your visibility and giving you the chance to convert more people.
Partner With Those In Your Community
Using the platform of other organizations and businesses can help you build yours and lead to the same benefits for them, as well. You can partner with complementary businesses for events, bundled promotions, or referral programs, as well as sponsor local school fundraisers, sports teams, or community festivals to get your name out there in a meaningful way. Aside from getting your name out there, these partnerships can build a sense of community investment that improves your relationship with local customers, builds word of mouth, and establishes trust.
Hopefully, the tips above remind you of the importance of having your voice heard locally rather than just focusing entirely on the broader reach that you can win online. Don’t miss the section of your market most likely to support you.