Before the computer and internet days, entrepreneurs, especially those with businesses operating in their locality, use promotional strategies like barking in front of their store, flyering, brochures, postcards, or ads in the newspaper. Today, we barely see newspaper stands. There is Google for everything now. Well, almost everything. And, you cannot do barking at this time. With COVID-19 restrictions and limitations, it is not very easy to market one’s business physically. It is the same reason why post-COVID-19, most companies do their marketing online.
For a business to survive, grow, and prosper, one thing is sure – you have to satisfy your customers with your product and service. In this way, they will come back for more, patronize your business, and even bring along family and friends to enjoy what you offer.
Here are five things you can do online to promote your local business:
Build your online presence.
Some entrepreneurs use SEO Agencies to build their business’s online presence. But if you have time, you can also learn how to do it on your own. First, you can create a Google Business Profile. This will make your business visible in Google Maps, and when a potential client searches the product or service you are offering, it will show up in the Google results with effective SEO practices, which will be discussed. Make sure your Google Business Profile is verified.
Another way to build an online presence is to have a business website. It must contain your products or service, contact information, business location, and the brand itself. This means quality content on your website, and this is where SEO practices will be handy. You must optimize your website by publishing high-quality and original content (articles or blogs) and using keywords to improve your ranking. This may be a bit challenging, which is why you can hire experts to create it for you. SEO will make your business visible to your clients as they search for your product or service.
Utilize Google Ads.
SEO is a proven strategy to reach your desired top ranking results in Google, but it is a long-term strategy to follow consistently. It may take weeks or months before you can see its effectiveness, but it will help you immensely with online promotions. With that, you can also run Google Ads.
Google Ads will cost you some money, but it is a surefire way to promote your business online. When you search for something in Google, you will see results with the icon “ADS.” These are Google Ads, and it is paid. It is the first thing that potential clients will see when searching for your product or service within the locality.
Use major directories to your advantage.
There are so many online platforms that you can tap on and place your business profile to increase business visibility. There is Yelp, Facebook, Better Business Bureau, GlassDoor, FourSquare, and Bing, to name a few. Most of these directories are free of charge, but you can pay a fee to use their advanced options for a better presence. You can use these sites for that purpose.
Of course, you will have to remember optimizing your listings. Always place photos in your profile. You must also have a website, business contact information, business hours, business category, FAQ, and customer reviews. Speaking of customer reviews, if you have a website, do ask or encourage your clients to fill out a review for your product or service. This falls under the word of mouth promotions and can increase your business exposure. You also have to respond to these reviews and interact with your customers.
Create a blog and vlog, plus collaborate with a social media influencer to promote your business.
Seasoned social media influencers know how to market a business, especially one in their niche. You can also collaborate with a geographic-based influencer. To learn more, you can read about it here.
Social media promotions are often free and can reach a vast target audience. Use it.
Remember to put your business on the FaceBook page, Linked In, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok. You may need assistance in handling this promotional strategy, but it will be worth it.
Day in and day out, people (potential customers) use their desired social media platforms religiously. From there, businesses build their online presence and captivate their clients to produce sales. Companies post engaging pictures. For example, a mouth-watering milk tea pic if you have a beverage shop, a cute top worn by a beautiful model if you make clothes, or a short vlog on how to bake a cookie from scratch if you are in the pastry business. People are visual beings, and they are interested in things they can view and watch online. It can make a sale for your business.
There are many other ways that you can promote your business. Some are simple and easy to do, but there are also tricky and meticulous ways. The five mentioned above are effective in making your business grow and your brand strong online. Use it to your advantage and reap the benefits of these strategies.
