5 Local Marketing Strategies To Combine With Social Media

Local marketing is a must for businesses that serve a specific community. Without local marketing tactics, it can be challenging for local businesses to gain a competitive edge. Local marketing often combines a variety of online and offline strategies, but in today’s digital business environment, the stronger your business’ digital presence the better.

This makes combining local marketing strategies with social media a must for location-based businesses. Why? Many local consumers turn to social media to find local businesses.

“Enlisting social media channels to direct consumers to a business’ local landing page is a recipe for marketing success,” John Bertino, CEO of The Agency Guy, said about local landing pages. “Social media gives businesses direct access to mobile users, and 80 percent of location-based mobile searches lead to a purchase. Give consumers a place to land.”

How can you make local marketing and social media a winning combination for your business? The following may prove useful, so let’s dive right in!

1. Amp Up Community Engagement

Getting community engagement for your local business can be a big win for generating more customers. What better way to drive more engagement than combining marketing strategies with social media.

What does this entail exactly? First, you need to have a social media page, preferably Facebook, because many local communities utilize Facebook to find out what is going on around town.

Next, have a community appreciation event that you can post on Facebook for several weeks prior to the event. And post about the event often. Create a local landing page for the event on your website that social media users can go to for more event information.

2. Leverage Google My Business

Google My Business is a local marketing strategy that aligns with social media. Many business owners don’t know that their Google My Business pages can be used the same way as social media networks like Facebook and Instagram.

First, set up your local business listing via Google My Business. This is actually pretty easy, only taking an hour of your time. Be sure to optimize your local Google listing by including business address, phone number, hours of operation, a detailed business description, images, and more.

Next, post on Google My Business daily, sharing unique stories, business discounts, events, and more. These posts will pop up in people’s Google searches for specific things.

3. Make SEO A Priority To Boost Online Business Awareness

Making it easy for online users in the local community to find your business is a must when it comes to local marketing strategies. Search engine optimization (SEO), was once a stand alone strategy, but in today’s digital world, SEO and marketing go hand-in-hand.

Ensure your website is optimized for local search, and link your local landing pages to your business’ social media pages. And link your social media pages to your local landing pages. This creates a web of online presence that helps the community find your business online.

4. Partner With Other Local Businesses

Partnering with other local businesses is essential to growing your business and maintaining success. How can this be done without a lot of legwork? Social media. Follow other local businesses on social media, and ask them to follow your business back.

And take it a step further, posting about other local businesses and the events they are having. If the local grocery is having a sale and they post it on social media. Share the event on your social media to nurture the local business relationship. They will most likely begin posting your social media content in exchange.

5. Compile A Robust List Of Reviews And Testimonials

Reviews and testimonials mean a lot to consumers. It falls along the same lines as having influencers promote your business, products, and/or services. Encourage customers to leave a review and testimonial for your business on social media and your local Google listing.

The more great reviews, the more confidence other community members will have to visit your business and buy from you. The only thing is to be sure you are providing exceptional customer service. If not, this local marketing strategy using social media can backfire.

In Conclusion . . . 

Local marketing strategies don’t need to be the cut and dry norm. Yes, traditional marketing strategies like email marketing and local guerrilla marketing work. However, we live in a digital era where social media is everything.

By combining your local marketing strategies with social media, you are increasing your business’ ability to reach more people, and thus leading to more sales. How are you using social media to grow your local business?