The world of marketing has changed drastically in the modern age. The rise of technology and digital media has meant that companies can reach customers from across the globe. However, local marketing remains an integral part of any marketing strategy. Through local marketing, businesses can reach customers in their local community and build strong relationships with them. Here are four powerful local marketing ideas that will help your business succeed:
1. Utilize Print Media
Even in the digital age, print media such as flyers and business cards are still a great way to reach customers in your local area. They not only act as a physical reminder of your company but also provide potential customers with contact information, product descriptions, and other vital details about your business. Print media does not have to be expensive. You can often find a local printer that will provide significant discounts for bulk orders. The Printed Image is an excellent option for local businesses in Columbus. Not only do they provide quality printing services, but they also offer promotional products such as banners, signs, and apparel.
2. Get Involved with Community Events
They say the best way to build customer relationships is to get involved in the community. Attend local events, volunteer your time and resources, and sponsor a local organization – these activities will help people become familiar with your business and create positive impressions. It’s also important to share your experiences on social media so potential customers can see how you engage with the community. This will help increase your brand awareness and loyalty among local customers.
3. Leverage Digital Strategies
Social media networks are powerful tools for engaging with local customers. You can use them to share information about your products and services, post promotions, and connect with potential customers in the area. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are great platforms for reaching out to local customers. Create a profile for your business on these networks and post content regularly to keep your followers engaged.
Local search engine optimization (SEO) targets customers in specific geographic locations by optimizing content for local searches. Local SEO can help your business rank higher in search engine results, increasing its visibility and traffic from potential customers. Make sure to include relevant keywords that describe your business and geographic area in your website’s content to help it rank higher in local searches.
4. Offer Incentives
Incentives come in many different forms, but they are all designed to help attract and retain customers. You can offer discounts, loyalty programs, coupon programs, reward points, or other promotional offers to encourage local customers to choose your business over others. If you opt for a loyalty program, set up a system that rewards customers for their continued patronage. In addition, make sure your incentives are communicated clearly to your customers. Social media is a great tool for this – post announcements and updates on new offers, discounts, or other incentives that you are offering to attract more local customers.
Local marketing is still an essential part of any business’s marketing strategy. It can help businesses reach their goals and build strong relationships with their local communities. Utilize print media, get involved in community events, use social networks, leverage local SEO, and offer incentives to attract more customers. With the right strategy in place, you can be sure to see success in your local marketing efforts.
Whether you’re running a small business or a nonprofit organization, location plays a primary role. Even though these days, a lot of people are shifting towards the more virtual world nothing can replace the level of trust a physical location can provide.
When we want to look into a company or a business, the first thing we do is Google it. There are several ways you can make your business discoverable online, but one easy and effective way is joining Google My Business.
Through Google My Business you can make sure you can be found on Google Maps and Google Earth.
This is one of the first steps in becoming discoverable online.
If you haven’t already, you can get started with Google Maps with the following steps:
Step 1: Make a Google My Business account and disclose your business address.
Step 2: Specify the business or services you offer.
Step 3: Get your business location verified by Google.
Step 4: Specify all the relevant secondary business categories.
Step 5: Add an introduction and images.
Step 6: Include social media channels and any other relevant links.
The Value Provided by Google Earth and Google Maps
The value provided by Google location services like Google Earth and Google Maps tends to be the gift that keeps on giving. First and foremost, it helps people find you. But also, it leads people to your website, builds credibility, and can help you enhance your brand image across multiple platforms.
These features are not limited to just businesses, it can also help bring awareness to community locations, nonprofit organizations, and even events.
How Can Nonprofit Businesses Use Google Earth and Maps in Their Favour?
If you’re a nonprofit business, something interesting you should look into is how to use Google for Nonprofits. Google has several unique services nonprofit organizations can take advantage of.
The best part about all of this is that it’s free! You can also get additional free credits from Google if you register for a Google Non-Profit Business Account.
With regards to this type of account, to reap the advanced benefits of Google Maps there are eligibility criteria that you need to pass.
However, once you get this, you and your organization supporters can use advanced features which you would normally have to pay for. This works by Google providing you free credits that you can use as your business deems fit.
Here are Some of the Benefits Google Earth and Google Maps Can Offer:
1. Become Discoverable
Even though this is pretty much a self-explainer, there are so many ways where you can make your business discoverable. One of the biggest benefits of Google Maps will lead to a lot more foot traffic or prospects.
However, having your location online can help customers tag your business in social media posts. Customers can even help set meetings through platforms like Facebook, or through the Google Events Calendar.
Google Maps along with the use of geotagging and the Google My Business Platform, helps bring awareness to your business. With the help of geotagging, marketers can use location-based SEO and SEM strategies to rank locally.
Now people in close vicinity or those who are interested can find your business a lot quicker and easier.
2. Customized Maps
Customized Maps is yet another lesser-known service offered by Google Earth.
With Customized Maps, you can walk people through your brand story. You can present your motivations, business locations, and general day-to-day business – which is a great way to promote yourself to people.
These people can be potential business partners, clients, and even future employees.
In the case of nonprofits, you can show donors the factors and areas in which your work is effective through a presentation.
You can even touch on the various reasons your business does what it does, with the use of images and insightful text. The images and text are accompanied by map locations, or even 3D views of the location – to help paint a clearer picture.
If you want to look more into it, Google does a great job of explaining this in-depth.
3. Virtual Tours
When making pitches to clients, or closing deals, from the client’s standpoint, they must know who they’re in business with. When dealing with clients overseas or also while in a tough spot due to a global pandemic, virtual tours can come through.
It would be a smart move to indulge your prospects with an immersive virtual tour experience. With Google Maps, you can create virtual tours that can highlight the different parts of your business. You can also give them a look-in in the day-to-day activities.
With little spending, you can utilize high-definition 360° images to give them a unique experience from anywhere in the world
4. Building Credibility Through Reviews
This is possibly the most underrated provision provided by Google Maps and the most overlooked one from a digital marketing standpoint. However, there is undeniable value in reviews on Google Maps.
Search Engine Ranking is something that’s at the center of any digital marketing campaign. When dealing with businesses, taking advantage of local SEO techniques is key.
However, when dealing with conversion, what it comes down to is customer experience.
An infographic conducted recently by Invesp concluded that 90% of consumers read online reviews before purchasing. It also mentioned that 72% said that good online reviews made them trust a business more.
Allowing for customers to rate your business, leave reviews and also add pictures on Google Maps is an aspect that often goes overlooked.
Another element worth mentioning is tagging the business’s location on social media. This is a good form of word-of-mouth marketing and is also really good for local SEO.
Generally, people love to know what is trending. Positive reviews on social media that geotag your business location is a great way to keep getting new customers.
However, one should keep in mind that they should go out of their way to provide their clients with positive experiences.
As reviews can be just as harmful, businesses should keep in mind customer satisfaction and delivery of quality services.
5. Accessibility to Multiple Platforms
With Google Maps, people interested in your business can find it easily. But more importantly, they can lead to the different platforms on which your business markets itself.
With Google My Business, your clients can access contact information such as your telephone number, email address, and website. This helps with local SEO based on the nature of the service you offer.
They also can help people engage with people on several other platforms that can be accessed all at one point.
These days, most business details can be found when looking for the business on Google Maps. The predominant reason that people like Google mapping services so much is because it provides a legitimate and trustworthy access point.
It can be accessed on different types of devices and overall has a user-friendly interface.
Conclusion
From everything we’ve just covered, the benefits that Google Maps and Earth offer clients are quite clear. The only thing people need to keep in mind is how to utilize it to best suit their needs and functions.
Regardless of whether your business provides food, products, or services, there is an undeniable need to acknowledge the impact location plays.
Whether it’s leading to potential prospects, potential employees, or even just awareness, map location and accessibility play a vital role.
In the case of Google for Nonprofits, there are several ways in which you can offer your potential donors enticing, location-centered content.
But your general takeaway from this article should be to take advantage of numerous opportunities these location services provide. Google Maps and Google Earth can provide your business with several perks if you know where to look.
Are you struggling to get your local business noticed online? Avoid these 7 common mistakes with local SEO and watch your rankings soar.
1. Don’t neglect to claim and optimize your Google My Business listing or conduct local keyword research.
2. Make sure you prioritize online reviews and reputation management, and don’t forget to maintain NAP consistency.
3. Optimize your website content for local keywords and locations, and don’t overlook mobile optimization.
4. Lastly, monitor and analyze your local SEO performance metrics to stay ahead of the game.
1. Neglecting to Claim and Optimize Google Business Maps Listing
Don’t forget to claim and optimize your Google My Business listing for better local SEO results.
This is a crucial step that many businesses tend to neglect. By claiming your listing, you ensure that you’ve control over the information displayed about your business on Google Search and maps.
Optimizing your listing involves providing accurate and up-to-date information about your business, such as your address, phone number, and business hours. It also includes adding high-quality photos and regularly updating your business description.
By doing so, you improve your chances of appearing in local search results and attracting more potential customers. Additionally, optimizing your Google My Business listing can help you gain credibility and trust from your target audience.
2. Failing to Conduct Local Keyword Research
You should prioritize conducting local keyword research to improve your local SEO strategy.
By understanding the specific keywords and phrases that your target audience is using to search for products or services in your local area, you can optimize your website and content to appear higher in the search engine results.
This will increase your visibility to potential customers who are actively looking for businesses like yours.
Local keyword research allows you to identify the most relevant and high-value keywords to target, ensuring that your SEO efforts are focused and effective.
It also helps you uncover any untapped opportunities or niche markets that you can capitalize on.
Don’t underestimate the power of local keyword research in driving organic traffic and boosting your local SEO rankings.
3. Overlooking the Importance of Online Reviews and Reputation Management
Ensuring your online reviews and reputation are managed effectively can significantly impact your business’s success in attracting and retaining customers. With the rise of online platforms and review websites, potential customers heavily rely on reviews to make informed decisions about where to spend their money.
Ignoring the importance of online reviews and reputation management is a grave mistake that can harm your business. Negative reviews can deter customers from choosing your business, while positive reviews can attract new ones. By actively managing your online reputation, responding to reviews, and addressing any concerns or issues, you can build trust and credibility with your customers.
Additionally, regularly monitoring and requesting reviews can help boost your online presence and improve your search engine rankings.
Don’t overlook the power of online reviews and reputation management – they can make or break your business.
3. Ignoring NAP Consistency (Name, Address, Phone Number)
Ignoring NAP consistency in your online business listings can lead to confusion and frustration for potential customers trying to contact or locate your business. When your business name, address, and phone number are inconsistent across different online platforms, it creates a lack of trust and credibility. Customers may find multiple listings for your business, each with different contact information, leaving them unsure which one is accurate.
This confusion can result in missed opportunities and lost customers. Additionally, search engines rely on consistent NAP information to determine the relevance and legitimacy of your business, impacting your local SEO rankings.
To avoid this, take the time to review and update your business information on all online directories, ensuring that your NAP is consistent and accurate. This simple step can greatly improve your online presence and customer experience.
4. Not Optimizing Website Content for Local Keywords and Locations
To improve your online presence and attract more local customers, optimize your website content with relevant keywords and locations.
When you don’t optimize your website content for local keywords and locations, you miss out on potential customers who are searching specifically for businesses in their area.
By incorporating local keywords into your website’s content, such as your product or service along with the city or region you operate in, you increase the chances of your website appearing in local search results.
Additionally, including your business address and phone number on your website helps search engines understand your location and improves your chances of showing up in local search results.
5. Neglecting Mobile Optimization for Local Searches
If you neglect mobile optimization for local searches, you risk missing out on potential customers who are searching for businesses on their mobile devices.
Nowadays, people rely heavily on their smartphones to find the products or services they need in their local area.
By not optimizing your website for mobile devices, you’re essentially closing the door on a significant portion of your target audience.
Mobile optimization involves making sure that your website is responsive and user-friendly on mobile devices, with easy navigation, fast loading times, and clear call-to-action buttons.
Ignoring mobile optimization can lead to a frustrating user experience, causing visitors to quickly leave your site and turn to your competitors instead.
Take the time to optimize your website for mobile and ensure that you aren’t missing out on valuable customers.
6. Forgetting to Monitor and Analyze Local SEO Performance Metrics
You should regularly monitor and analyze the performance metrics of your local SEO efforts to ensure that you’re effectively reaching your target audience and making the necessary adjustments for improved visibility and conversions.
By neglecting to monitor and analyze these metrics, you may be missing out on valuable insights that could help you optimize your local SEO strategy.
Monitoring local SEO rankings is crucial for understanding how your business performs in local search results. Here are five software programs you can use to monitor your local SEO rankings:
- Google Search Console: Google’s own tool provides valuable insights into your website’s performance in Google search results, including local rankings. You can track impressions, clicks, and positions for specific keywords related to your business.
- Moz Local: Moz Local offers a suite of SEO tools, including a local rank tracking feature. It helps you monitor keyword rankings for specific locations and provides insights into your local search performance.
- SEMrush: SEMrush is a comprehensive SEO tool that offers local SEO tracking capabilities. You can track keyword rankings for specific locations, analyze local competitors, and monitor your local SEO progress over time.
- BrightLocal: BrightLocal specializes in local SEO and offers a local rank tracking tool. It allows you to monitor keyword rankings across various search engines and compare your performance with competitors.
- Ahrefs: Ahrefs is primarily known for its backlink analysis, but it also offers a rank tracking feature. You can monitor keyword rankings for specific locations and gain insights into your local SEO efforts.
These tools provide a range of features and pricing options, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and budget. Remember that local SEO rankings can fluctuate, so it’s essential to monitor them regularly to make informed decisions and optimize your local SEO strategy.
Monitoring metrics such as website traffic, keyword rankings, and conversion rates can provide valuable information about the effectiveness of your local SEO efforts.
Analyzing these metrics can help you identify areas that need improvement and make data-driven decisions to enhance your visibility in local searches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Claim and Optimize My Google My Business Listing?
To claim and optimize your Google My Business listing, start by verifying your business information.
Then, update your profile with accurate details, including your address, phone number, and website.
Regularly post updates and engage with customer reviews to boost your online presence.
What Are Some Effective Strategies for Conducting Local Keyword Research?
When conducting local keyword research, start by understanding your target audience and what they’re searching for.
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends to identify relevant keywords.
How Can I Manage and Improve My Online Reviews and Reputation?
To manage and improve your online reviews and reputation, there are several key strategies you can implement. First, it’s important to encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. This can be done by simply asking them to share their positive experiences on review platforms or by offering incentives, such as discounts or freebies, for leaving a review.
In addition to encouraging positive reviews, it’s crucial to respond promptly and professionally to negative feedback. This shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to addressing any issues that arise. When responding to negative reviews, it’s important to remain calm and empathetic, addressing the customer’s concerns and offering a solution or apology if necessary.
Lastly, consistently providing high-quality products or services is essential for maintaining a positive online reputation. By consistently delivering on your promises and exceeding customer expectations, you can build a strong foundation of positive reviews and customer loyalty.
Why Is NAP Consistency Important for Local SEO?
NAP consistency is important for Local SEO because it ensures that your business name, address, and phone number are accurate and consistent across all online platforms.
This helps search engines and customers find and trust your business.
What Are Some Tips for Optimizing Website Content for Local Keywords and Locations?
When optimizing your website content for local keywords and locations, make sure to include relevant and specific information about your business and the areas you serve.
This will help improve your local SEO ranking and attract more local customers.
Conclusion
To avoid common mistakes with local SEO, there are several key steps you should take:
1. Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing.
2. Conduct local keyword research to identify the most relevant and high-volume keywords for your target location.
3. Manage online reviews and reputation to build trust and credibility with potential customers.
4. Maintain NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) consistency across all online directories and platforms.
5. Optimize your website content for local keywords to increase visibility in local search results.
6. Prioritize mobile optimization to ensure a seamless user experience for mobile users, who make up a significant portion of local search traffic.
7. Regularly monitor performance metrics to track the effectiveness of your local SEO efforts and make necessary adjustments.
By implementing these strategies and avoiding these common mistakes, you can improve your local SEO strategy and attract more potential customers to your business.
Hair salon web marketing can be a very tricky thing these days simply because of the sheer volume of competition around every city corner. With that said that does not mean that you should sit still and roll over because it seems like it will be a lot of work to break through the online competition. The reality is local salon web marketing is a must for all salons and the truth is that not all of them are doing it well or how they should. Local search engine marketing is not what it once was years ago. These days things have changed quite a bit especially since the mobile smart phone boom occurred not that long ago.
Here are some beauty salon marketing ideas that could potentially help you market your salon:
Think about your brand first
It is not just about having a small website or a 10 year old logo it is about building a brand around your beauty salon that will help you generate instant recognition. It is all about synergy and it starts with the website. People are not picking up the phone book any longer they are now firing up Google and conducting searches and chances are the website will be the first thing they see. Does the brand of the site carry into your physical store? Has your website been updated to at least keep up with the times? do you maintain a weekly blog? All these questions are important when building the brand of your hair salon.
Local SEO is simply a must
It should not even be a question whether you need local SEO to strengthen your salon online marketing efforts. Don’t worry if you are in a congested area online just get your website optimized for your important local keyword so it can gain some traction and start moving around. You have to realize that this is just the starting point. Compare it to a person getting their hair done and this step is a lot like the shampoo process. It sets the stage for what is going to happen once they step into the chair. A good quality shampoo process will leave the client happy for the next step and your local salon SEO will prepare you for all future steps as well.
Your social media should be fierce
Social media is probably one of the most important driving forces for your salon web marketing. Writing blog posts, shooting YouTube videos, tweeting with your audience and updating your Facebook fan page might sound like a ridiculous amount of work but it can be done very reasonably. Social media is your friend and it should be at the top of your list when trying to come up with ideas to drum up new business and new feet walking through those salon doors. Chances are your customers now are just waiting for you to become active in the social space if you haven’t already.
Ideas of things to announce using social media:
- New products
- Awards won
- Special events
- New employee profiles
- Sales & discounts
Think geo targeting for local foot traffic
Geo marketing has been a very important marketing effort ever since sites like Foursquare made their way into the picture.
If you haven’t heard of Foursquare watch this short video:
Visit Foursquare and learn the possibilities of how local check-ins can help you build more foot traffic walking into your beauty salon. With so many people using Android phone and iPhones it is important to take marketing action against people on the go.
Group buying is all the rage
Group buying sites like Groupon and Living Social have turned hair salons and spas into instant successes over night. I have personally seen and heard success stories relating to Groupon where local business went up over 500% from just one group buying promotion. 500%!!