Is your local business website working as hard as you are? Here are 5 crucial marketing considerations to transform your website into a powerful tool that generates value, grows your local market share, and increases brand awareness in your community.
1. Focus on ROI
Return on Investment (ROI) is crucial for local businesses. While big corporations might spend millions on brand awareness, local businesses need to see tangible results. For most local business owners, an increase in local sales and foot traffic is the most appropriate metric.
To enhance your local marketing ROI:
- Survey your local customers regularly
- Consider all local marketing channels (website, social media, local directories)
- Find the sweet spot in your advertising spend
- Build your local brand through community involvement and free value
2. Prioritize User Experience (UX)
In a competitive local market, your website needs to be user-friendly and appealing to your community. Focus on:
- Mobile responsiveness for on-the-go local customers
- Easy-to-find contact information and location hours
- Simple navigation to key information (menus, services, directions)
- Location-specific content that resonates with your community
3. Appeal Matters
Your website should reflect your local brand and community. Integrate local elements to convert visitors into leads:
- Use local imagery and themes in your design
- Create content that addresses local needs and interests
- Ensure your calls-to-action (CTAs) are relevant to local customers
4. Leverage Reviews
For local businesses, online reviews are gold. Nearly 90% of consumers read online reviews to determine if they’ll do business with a local company.
To boost your local reviews:
- Claim your business on Google My Business, Yelp, and other local directories
- Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews
- Respond promptly and professionally to all reviews, positive or negative
5. Go Beyond Local SEO
While local SEO is important, it’s not the only strategy for local businesses.
Online local strategies:
- Participate in local online forums and social media groups
- Use location-based keywords in your content
- Create location-specific landing pages for multi-location businesses
Offline local strategies:
- Sponsor local events or sports teams
- Participate in community fairs and markets
- Collaborate with other local businesses for cross-promotion
Remember, a comprehensive local marketing strategy combines online and offline efforts to maximize your local presence.
Don’t Let Your Business Fall Behind
Ready to take your local business website to the next level? Visit our Pricing page to explore our website (re)design packages and get started immediately. Or, if you want to boost your online visibility, check out our SEO Audit page for a quick 10-minute audit or a full, comprehensive analysis. Let’s grow your local business online together!
