Consumers need to see a brand 7 – 10 times before they decide to do business with them. Local SEO and local marketing are great ways to get your brand in front of local customers, building trust and credibility. (source: Marketing Rule of Seven)
How Your Local Listing Can Appear Four Times on the First Page
When you combine local SEO and local marketing, you can create a powerful strategy for reaching and engaging potential customers in your area. For example, you could use local marketing to promote your website and encourage people to visit it and local SEO to ensure you are included in the map listing.
Local Search Results – Google Map (aka Google Local 3-Pack)
You can go one step further by optimizing your website for local searches which increases opportunities to be listed organically on the first page.
The Importance of Local SEO
Local SEO is important for businesses that want to attract local customers. When people search for information online, they often include their location in the search query. For example, someone might search for “best pizza near me” or “plumber in Monroe, Ohio”. So, it’s important to include relevant keywords throughout your website.
Local marketing is the process of promoting your business to potential customers in your local area. You can promote your business through various channels, including online and print advertising and social media.
3 Examples of Local Marketing
1. Local Online Marketing
- Optimize your website for local search
- Run local search engine ads (e.g., Google Ads, Bing Ads)
- Get listed in local directories (e.g., Yelp, Yellow Pages, Google My Business)
- Create and share local content on social media (e.g., blog posts, articles, videos, photos)
- Run social media ads targeted to local residents
- Engage with local customers on social media and review sites
2. Local Print Marketing
- Place ads in local newspapers and magazines
- Distribute flyers and brochures in your local area
- Sponsor local events and activities
- Cross-promote with other businesses
3. Public Relations
- Issue press releases about your business to local media outlets
- Host events or workshops that are open to the public
Here are a few examples of how businesses can use local marketing to reach their target audience:
- A restaurant could run a Google Ad campaign targeting people who are searching for restaurants in their local area. The restaurant could also create a blog post about the best restaurants in their area and optimize the post for local keywords.
- A dentist could get listed in local directories and review sites. The dentist could also write articles about dental health and hygiene for the local newspaper.
- A retail store could sponsor and promote a local event on its website and social media pages. The store could also run Yelp Ads targeting people who live in the local area.
Local marketing strategies can help businesses increase their visibility and attract more customers in their community.
Google Search Result Page
The first page of a Google local search result typically includes paid advertisements at the top, followed by three Google Business Profiles and a local map, and then organic search results.
Combining local SEO and local marketing can create a powerful strategy for reaching and engaging potential customers in your area. For example, you could use local SEO to ensure that your website ranks high in Search Engine Ranking Positions (SERPs) for local search queries and then use local marketing to promote your website and encourage people to visit it.
Here are some specific ways that local SEO and local marketing can work together:
- Create a Google My Business profile. A Google My Business profile is a free listing that appears in Google Search and Maps results. It includes information about your business, such as its name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation. You can also use your Google My Business profile to post photos, videos, and updates about your business.
- Get listed in local directories. Local directories are online listings of businesses and services in a specific geographic area. There are many different local directories available, such as Yelp, LinkedIn, and Google Business Profile. Getting listed in local directories can help your business information be consistent and be found by potential customers who are searching for businesses in your area.
- Run local search engine ads. Local search engine ads are ads that appear in Google Search and Maps results. They are targeted to people who are searching for businesses like yours in your local area. Local search engine ads can be a very effective way to reach potential customers who are already interested in what you have to offer.
- Create local content. Local content is content that is relevant to your area. It could include blog posts, articles, videos, or even social media posts about your community or industry. Creating local content can help you attract visitors to your website and position yourself as an expert in your field.
- Get involved in your community. One of the best ways to promote your business locally is to get involved in your community. This could involve sponsoring local events, volunteering your time to a local charity, or simply getting to know other business owners and community leaders. Getting involved in your community can help you build relationships with potential customers and build brand awareness for your business.
Local SEO and local marketing are two complementary strategies that can help businesses reach their target audience in a specific geographic area.
Local SEO is the process of optimizing a website and its online presence to rank higher in search results for local searches. This involves:
- Optimizing the website’s content, title tags, meta descriptions, and image alt text to include relevant local keywords.
- Creating and managing a Google My Business profile is a free tool allowing businesses to list their information on Google Maps and search results.
- Creating and managing a Yelp profile is a cost-effective way to expand your online reach, attract more visitors to your website, increase visibility in search results, and increase business growth.
- Having a consistent presence on local directories is also beneficial.
When used together, local SEO and local marketing strategies can help businesses increase their visibility online and in the local community, reach more local customers, and generate more leads and sales.
Unsure how to get your local business noticed? Contact Patty Today!