Local search marketing is the practice of placing your company in local search results whenever potential customers are looking for a business like yours. Customers want to work with companies that are easy to find, and a core part of local search marketing for small businesses is appearing prominently in local listings so new customers can discover you. One of the best local SEO strategies small businesses can implement is an inbound marketing campaign that targets a specific city or metropolitan area. The five core strategies covered below are content, backlinks, pay-per-click ads, social media, and posting on local blogs.
What are the top local search marketing strategies for small businesses?
Content
Consumers often search for local businesses on search engines such as Google, so your content needs to show up in those results. This includes creating and maintaining an inbound digital marketing blog that features reviews of your products and services, along with updates on new events, promotions, and new items available for sale. Local search marketing for small businesses should also include the creation of a local website or blog where consumers can learn more about the products and services your small business offers, as well as about the local community.
Backlinks
The goal of any local search marketing strategy is to draw potential customers to your website. To optimize your site for the local area where you are located, include links throughout the site to each of the pages on your site. For example, to optimize your company’s Facebook page, create a post with the local keyword and attach a link to one of your company’s pages.
Pay-Per-Click Ads
With local search marketing, consumers will often click on pay-per-click ads sponsored by local businesses. These ads can be displayed on websites and search engine results pages and can be targeted based on geographic data. Because pay-per-click ads are contextual and designed to match buyers with sellers, they are more likely to bring in consumers who are most likely to become customers.
Marketing through Social Media
Social media has become extremely popular among consumers, who rely on recommendations from friends, family, and co-workers when making a purchasing decision. A way to market your small business is through social media marketing, which includes posting links to your company’s Facebook page, Twitter feed, and Google+ business account on various social media pages throughout the day. This strategy allows consumers to find your company quickly when searching for products or services.
Posting on Local Blogs
Local blogs are becoming popular places to advertise small businesses. Because these blogs are often written about a particular city, region, or specific product or service, they provide a unique opportunity to target local consumers. A key advantage of local search marketing services is that blogs tend to have a high page rank and are frequently visited by people looking for local businesses.
What other tactics can help attract local customers?
Host a Business Show
One of the best ways to attract consumers is to host a business show related to your product or service. Many consumers are always on the lookout for new small businesses in their communities, and hosting a business show can help you attract interest in your product or service. To enhance your business show appearance, submit press releases to local online publications and include links to your website at the end of your press release.
FAQ
What is local search marketing?
Local search marketing is the practice of placing your company in local search results whenever potential customers are looking for a company such as yours. A key part of local search marketing for small businesses is appearing prominently in local listings so potential customers can discover and choose you.
Why is an inbound marketing campaign effective for local SEO?
An inbound marketing campaign that targets a specific city or metropolitan area is one of the best local SEO strategies small businesses can implement, because it focuses content and outreach on the geographic area where their customers are located.
What tools are commonly used in local search marketing?
Common tools include content such as blogs and local websites, backlinks to site pages, pay-per-click ads targeted by geographic data, social media marketing on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, posting on local blogs, and hosting a business show supported by press releases to local online publications.