Thursday, August 9, 2018

Local Internet Marketing for Your Small Business

When it comes to promoting your business, gone are the days of Yellow Pages, billboards and radio ads. Sure, those all still exist, but the ROI on such efforts pales in comparison to the multiple you can often achieve from local internet marketing efforts.

But don’t just take our word for it, listen to the 800lb gorilla in the digital room: GOOGLE.

Google Search Results

 

Research has shown that over 83% of ALL consumers and almost as many businesses begin their buying journey with an internet search. That even includes purchases that are eventually made “in store”. In fact, one of the most popular searches for local services and products is “product/service name near me”.

And with Google holding around 78% of that market share hostage, they are the master we must aim to please.

So without further delay, let’s dig into some key local internet marketing opportunities your small business can take advantage of today to drive sales, growth, brand recognition and revenue!

What is Local Online Marketing?

Local online marketing is equivalent to any other online marketing campaign or effort, with one key exception: it is tailored geographically to a locale in which you operate.

For example, if you run a home services business like a plumber or dental office and only service a few towns/cities, you wouldn’t want to waste hard earned dollars on internet marketing campaigns that targeted individuals too far to drive to or frome your business right?

Google Map Listing

Local Online Marketing Might Leverage the Following:

  • Directories
  • News publications
  • Social media groups
  • Google search optimization
  • Google My Business (GMB) local listings
  • And more…

What Does a Solid Local Marketing Strategy Look Like?

The internet is a multi-faceted, multi-medium digital information superhighway. Which is just a fancy way of saying, the internet has many mediums through which you can communicate with and to your target market.

And a solid local online marketing strategy will leverage multiple channels and mediums on the internet to do this.

In fact, research from SalesForce has shown that it takes up to 6-8 touch points just to generate a SOLID lead…and that’s not even a sale!

This means that the most effective local digital marketing strategies will utilize a broad range of mediums through which they can shape and influence the customer’s awareness of the product, service or brand, and nurture them towards actively engaging (via submitting a lead form, messaging, email, phone, etc.). It’s all about getting the conversion in the end.

Call to Action

Examples of mediums/channels include:

    • Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, etc.)
    • Web (GMB, Google, Bing, etc.)
    • Forums / online communities
    • Websites / Blogs
    • News / Media
    • Pay Per Click Ads
    • Display Ads
    • Native advertising
    • And more…

How Does More Competition Affect Internet Marketing for Local Business?

Competition is good, generally speaking. But competition also means you need to keep at the top of your game or get left behind.

Like physical real estate, the digital landscape is not unlimited, and as such, supply and demand can impact both your local marketing strategy online as well as the costs involved.

For example, only around 9% of individuals ever click past the first page of Google, and over 68% of click on Google go to the first three organic results. That means, if your business isn’t on page one (which only has around 7-10 organic positions available), you’re missing out on over 90% of your market. And if you’re not ranking in those positions, that means your competitors are and they are taking YOUR business, earning more money to outcompete you in the long run.

Similarly, local competition will likely be bidding on some of the same ad placements and keywords you will want to, potentially driving up costs for those ad impressions or clicks to your business.

PPC Marketing

How to Choose the Right Marketing Company

Given the complexity of online marketing, choosing the right marketing company for your localized online strategy is important.

We suggest looking at the following to help you find the right fit:

  • Reviews and testimonials
  • Ask for references that you can call
  • A proven and demonstrated track record of success in your industry/market
  • A free initial consultation to see if they are a good match
  • A team that offers full stack services, from design to web copy, SEO and everything in-between.
  • Clear and easy to understand agreements

At Cloud Inspector Web Design we pride ourselves on delivering results for clients that exceed expectations. We’re a transparent, fair and ethical marketing company that works hard to both bolster and protect your brand and reputation.

ranking improvements by Cloud Inspector

Over the years we have delivered results that speak for themselves. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you:

  • Rank higher on Google
  • Make your phone ring off the hook
  • Drive sales and profitability
  • Automate workflows
  • Improve brand recognition
  • And more!

Ready to Get Started?

Give us a call or drop us a line! We’d love to hear from you.

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