Local marketing focuses outcomes.

The people who know the fish catch the fish.

Not only are there financial considerations in local marketing, but few local businesses attract clients who live further than a comfortable drive away. A well-planned but straightforward website can be a great way to increase your client base. Nowadays, for many people, the Internet is their phone book. Make enquiries about pay-per-click localised advertising, where you only pay for clicks from people who live in your chosen area.

In doing business with your community, ensure you have a website, use local language in your content and links, and include local photographs. Associating your content with the local community’s name and activities will amaze you, and these little touches will help people find you.

Most people often search for somebody local, utilising the community name and terms in their search. You can include information such as pick-up points, trading hours, local charities you support, payment methods and other information that locals will be seeking. Emotional engagement is the key to local marketing.

Ensure you are listed with all the search engines in local directories. Most communities are building these local directories. For example, if somebody searches “website expert in Alice Springs,” your business will be among the first results.

Local marketing is different.

National businesses may have big budgets for expensive marketing campaigns on network television shows and use favourite magazines to reach many potential consumers. However, such options are not as available to local businesses. Instead, local businesses need to engage with more targeted solutions, seeking out those in surrounding communities who might be swayed to visit them by compelling local content and word-of-mouth.

Remember that local people like to support their community where they can. While the local expertise you need is unavailable, your marketing collateral can at least focus on your local community. Local marketing is a valuable competitive advantage over national brands.

Local marketing campaigns may use different strategies to build awareness within a community. However, your website should be central to those strategies, as most people do a Google search before purchasing and using their regular routines. Learning all the ins and outs of even a small town or village takes time.

Surround yourself with people who understand the local community.

Doing something slightly different from your current marketing will create interest and make potential customers and tourists want to learn more.

Quotable Quotes.

“The best local marketing should not feel like ‘marketing’, but feel like caring and sharing”. Peter Sergeant

“The Internet is not a destination, but a route map to a destination”. S. Jenkins