Local Marketing for Small Businesses

Do you need more customers for your local business? If so, then you need more exposure through local marketing. With the right local marketing tactics, you can get customers to your storefront or on the phone to make an appointment.

What local marketing is versus what local marketing isn’t.

One of the things that challenges small businesses today is knowing the difference between local marketing tactics that make a difference and local marketing tactics that just waste your dollars. For example, there are tons of local business directories and review sites that are happy to take your money to place you at the top of their listings.

But the real question is, will they actually drive relevant leads to your business? While some will, others won’t. There’s a big difference between networks that will drive traffic directly to your website versus networks that will allow customers to send a blanket quote request to dozens of local businesses in your area (i.e., your competitors).

Plus, there are paid advertising networks that you might overlook simply because they are not free that might be a goldmine for your local business. But without experience in local marketing, you just don’t know.

That’s why we’re here to help. At Gator SEO, we have been helping small businesses get local exposure for years, and we know which networks will get the best results for small businesses in particular industries. That allows us to optimize your budget to focus on the right networks so you get the most results for the least investment.

It’s not all about directories and review networks.

In addition to local business directories and review sites, your small business has to have a content, search, and social media plan that has a strong local focus. For example, when you think about your content, you can’t think generic content. You have to think local content.

• If you have a veterinary hospital, it’s not about creating content about how to adopt a pet, but how to adopt a pet from the top 10 shelters in your city.
• If you have a wedding photography business, it’s not about how to pick a great location for your engagement shoot, but how to choose from the top 10 locations for a great engagement shoot.
• If you have a catering business, it’s not about how to choose the right dinner for your event, but how to choose the right dinner for your outdoor party in the fall in your city.

The same goes for search. You can’t just pick generic keyword phrases to target. You have to pick local keyword phrases. And for social, you can’t just choose generalized social media groups to engage in. You have to choose locally-based groups to find your customers.

Reputation is key.

Online reputation is one of Gator SEO’s specialties, and it’s also something that is very important to local businesses. All it takes are a few bad reviews, and local customers could easily pass your listing buy in search results, local business directories and review sites, and social networks just based on the number of stars listed next to your name.

That’s why we will help you with is getting the right reviews in the right places and managing those reviews so that your reputation will stay as positive as possible.

If you’re ready to start getting your local marketing strategy in order, be sure to contact us today!