20 Ways to Market Your Business Locally | Rovva (2023)

No matter what stage of business you are in, marketing is essential. While many businesses turn to large scale marketing campaigns to attract a wide-ranging audience, this isn’t always possible or beneficial. For small businesses or start-ups, marketing your business locally is one of the best ways to establish your company in a particular locale.

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How to market your business locally

Location is important when it comes to business, and how you market in your location can often mean thinking outside the box. ‘Local marketing’ doesn’t just refer to marketing for businesses with a brick-and-mortar store in a specific location; it can work for all types of businesses, even online ones that operate nationally or globally. Here are our favourite tactics for local business marketing.

1. Google Business

With over 70,000 Google searches every second, your business must make its presence known with a free Google Business listing. Consumers rely on Google to find businesses local to them, so if you want to be found, you need to ensure your business is showing up on Google Maps and the local results section of a search results page.

A Google Business Profile is quick and easy to set up and provides consumers with everything they need to know about your business, including your opening hours, contact details, web address and reviews.

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2.Localise your website

If your business is keen to attract consumers in a particular location, ensuring your website is localised for that place is imperative. You can do this by naturally referencing that location in your web copy and ensuring you rank for location-based keywords. If you operate in more than one location, ensure you have location pages for each one so you can make the most of location-based terms on these pages.

3. Online directories

Similarly to Google business, you’ll want to ensure your business is listed on third-party directories and websites like Yelpor Yell. Online directories help to establish your business online and improve SEO, as long as the information is consistent across each platform you are listed on.

4. Local business listings

As well as national and global online directories, there are several local business listings you can include your business information on. These listings are particularly useful for businesses operating in urban areas as they tend to be more trusted by the locals than major online directories. Be sure to look for local listings in your area and ensure your business contact information is on there.

5. Connect and collaborate with local businesses

In local markets, one of your biggest assets is the other local businesses you share the area with. Take the time to get to know other business owners and establish ways you can help one another out. You could offer to promote their business with some leaflets in your store or even hold a joint event together.

6. Local networking events

Attending local networking events is a great opportunity to meet people in your locale, especially if you are new to the area. Many towns and cities have regular meet-ups specifically for small businesses looking to promote their organisation or learn more about how they can succeed in business. If you can’t find one, why not organise it yourself?

7. SEO

Local business web marketing should never be underestimated, and SEO is one of the best ways to ensure your website is appearing in search results for local terms. If you’re not au fait with SEO practices, there are plenty of resources online to help you and many website platforms also include tools that help to improve SEO. Alternatively, you could reach out to an SEO professional.

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8.Online advertising

Online advertising, or PPC, is another way to get your business to the top of search results pages with paid adverts. You can create localised campaigns via Google Ads; simply set a budget, define the search terms you would like to rank for and define the goals you want to achieve.

9. Social Media Marketing

With over 53 million active social media users in the UK, you’d be foolish to ignore this marketing medium. Whether you join local groups and use organic social media for business localisation or opt for paid advertising to target a specific local audience, it’s definitely a method that should be on your radar.

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10.Reviews

Online reviews can help to boost your profile in a local area, especially in close-knit communities or locations that rely on word of mouth advertising. You can ask customers to review your business on third-party sites like Feefo, collect reviews on your website and use reviews in your social media marketing to promote them further.

11.Community events

As a business owner, you should always be on the lookout for local community events that could present an opportunity to promote your business. Whether you offer to help or sponsor an event, or simply attend as a guest, it’s good to get involved. You never know who you might meet at local events and how they could benefit your organisation.

12. Local charities

Like attending community events, getting involved with local charities can also be a great way to promote your business, whilst giving something back to the community. Many charities rely on sponsorship, fundraising and promotion by local businesses, giving you an opportunity to take part in something that benefits both parties.

13. Local influencers

Influencer marketing has grown significantly in the last five years, but it’s not all about celebrity influencers and profiles with a huge following. In fact, 57% of people in a survey from Influencer Marketing Hub displayed a preference for working with micro influencers on Instagram thanks to the improved engagement rates.

Working with a local influencer in your locale can really help to improve engagement with your brand, especially if that person becomes an advocate for your brand. After all, people buy from people they trust and influencers tend to have a high level of trust among their following.

14. Local PR

While digital marketing opens numerous doors for local businesses, it’s important not to forget about local press and media publications. Introducing yourself to local journalists and building relationships can be really beneficial when it comes to having your business stories and success promoted in local publications. Taking out advertisements can also help your business get noticed in the wider community.

15. Direct mail

You might think that physical mail might be out of date with new digital marketing methods popping up all the time, but this old timer is still a successful method of local marketing. With direct mail open rates hitting 90%, it’s a great cost-effective way to reach your local audience.

16. Blogging

When combined with SEO, blogging is a free and effective way to market your business to a local audience. Writing blogs that include local keywords and terminology can help to drive relevant traffic to your website, resulting in positive engagement and better conversions.

17. Affiliate marketing

In the age of social media, affiliate marketing has become a regular feature on social media. By offering an incentive to local influencers or other businesses in your locale, you can drive awareness and engagement with your brand with minimal effort and usually only a small cost.

18.User generated content

User generated content (UGC) puts your customers front and centre, providing your business with what is effectively, free marketing. This type of marketing enables you to shine a spotlight on a customer who is happy with your product, benefiting them while also showing potential customers that they can trust your brand.

19.Competitions

Running competitions can be a great way to promote engagement on your business’ social media pages. It is especially beneficial for start-ups who are looking to grow their following and raise awareness of the business within a specific target market.

20. Local sponsorship

For brand awareness in your locale, you can’t go wrong with sponsorship. Whether your business sponsors a five-a-side football team or the local school’s fundraiser, it’s all good publicity. Plus, you can talk about it in many different places, from social media and your blog to stories in local press and at networking events.

Marketing your business locally doesn’t have to be difficult, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to promote your brand. Furthermore, by using these 20 ways to market your business locally, you don’t need a brick-and-mortar store to create a presence. If, however, having a local address is important to you, you could look into virtual offices to further improve your professional image.