Local business owners are often left out on basic advertising that would help in promoting their business. While the usual strategy of building a website and promoting on social media are already popular, there are some other effective ways to market your local business.
Marketing a business is a complex and demanding process. It involves a variety of factors and mini-strategies that work together to help you achieve the goals you’ve set for your brand. While it’s normal to aim for a global reach, many experts say it’s best to start promoting your products and services locally.
You need to convince your community that your products or services are worth the investment. Once you win the trust and hearts of your local customers, you can start setting up a few strategies to reach a wider and bigger market segment.
Jetmark shares some ideas on how you can do things effectively.
Use Billboards, Banners, and Flyers to Spread the Word
The power of advertising locally is still strong in using paper and ad copy to spread a striking message to your local customers. Ensure that you print materials that are captivating, legible, and easily readable to people who are on their daily routine. While printing billboards and banners was a thing only left to big companies in the past, a local printing shop with a wide format flatbed printer can help you get what you need.
Collaborate on Cross-Promotions with Other Businesses
Cross promoting with other businesses can help you reach a new audience. This works by collaborating with local businesses that are not your competitors. By simply referring your partners, the customers of the other shops you are collaborating with may patronise your brand as well. You will have the chance to establish a referral cross-promotion program. Ensure that you have a mutual understanding with the businesses you have collaborated to avoid any conflict, confusion or misunderstanding in the future.
Become a Member of a Local Business Organisation
Joining local organisations is the first step to meeting other business owners who are in your neighbourhood. Whilst a local organisation presents an interactive platform for local business owners, you may end up finding connections to local events and fairs that may help you expose and promote your business even more. The members of the other organisations may even endorse your brand to their members.
Use the Power of SMS Marketing
On a local scale, SMS marketing can help you a lot in exposing your business to your target customers. This type of marketing, however, requires ample care, as it can seem intrusive and annoying to some locals. If misused, you can easily ruin the reputation of your business locally. To be sure, talk to a marketing agency to learn some effective SMS marketing strategies.
Building a local business requires resilience and commitment. The easiest way to grow fast is by integrating with the community and participating in local affairs, events, and charities. This will also help you build relationships that will help in driving your business even farther.