The majority of businesses aim to sell to local consumers and clients, even if they also aim to sell further afield. So how can you place yourself as a local business and challenge local competitors for more of the nearby market?
WEBPRO Creative has revealed some of the best ways to do exactly this, backed by in-house expert marketers. For more information on any of the tips below, don’t hesitate to reach out to a WEBPRO Creative professional soon.
Attracting more local leads requires you to get more locals looking at your website. You can use Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) techniques to do this. SEO is a broad range of strategies used to make your website pages appear higher on search engine result pages (ideally the first page and as high up as possible) for more clicks.
One of the best SEO strategies to use to get more local leads is to include localised search terms. You can research – or get an SEO expert to research – the most searched and relevant phrases by locals. For example, if you offer house cleaning services, you might find that locals are mostly typing “house cleaning [Your Location]” into search engines. You can then add these phrases to your website content to improve your chances of attracting these internet users to your website. You might even create individual service website pages for the different locations you serve.
You can enhance your localised SEO website content with images of the local area. By adding local images, it increases consumer familiarity when they land on your site and can enhance trust in you as a local service provider. These things lead to an increased chance of making a sale.
If you decide to include local images on your website pages, it’s strongly advised to use high-quality professional images that you have taken yourself, or that you’ve paid a professional photographer to create. Not only does this guarantee a professional image, but Google loves original content that is completely bespoke to your website. Using unique images can also increase SEO and rank you higher on search engine result pages.
Speak to WEBPRO Creative today to learn how we can optimise your website for the local market!
Did you know that online marketing campaigns can be set up to specifically target local people? Google Ads and social media marketing can be made so your adverts only appear to people within a specific area and at a specific time of the day. This is a sure fire way to engage more of the local market.
Or you could always turn your attention to proven offline marketing methods. Signage, handing out leaflets and advertising in the local newspaper are still fantastic ways to penetrate local markets. But always consider the demographics of your target audience before choosing a marketing strategy.
Make a name for yourself in the community and simultaneously increase brand awareness by simply getting involved. You can do this by sponsoring local events or local sports teams, possibly junior teams. Or you could attend events and donate to local charities, or attend networking events in the area to link up with other business owners.
There is a growing trend in consumers wanting to purchase from local businesses rather than big global companies. You can ride this wave by promoting yourself as a local brand and stating how their business is appreciated by you as a local within the same community. Don’t forget to reference your brand values and thank locals for their business, especially during a time of recession.
Recap: There are several ways to position yourself as a local business and win more local leads. You can optimise your website for locals with SEO strategies, create localised marketing campaigns, get involved with the local community and ride the socially conscious buying wave. WEBPRO Creative can assist you with any of these to enhance your position as a local company.
Around 95% of people use search engines to find local businesses, so localised SEO has never been more important.
Business growth doesn’t have to only come from generating new customers. It’s possible to grow your business by engaging with clients who have already bought into your product or service. But how do you get it right?
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