Simple Ways to Promote Your Small Business Locally and Boost Social Media Engagement
Photo by hafakot via Canva
Shortcuts
Promoting a small business locally is one of the most effective ways to grow, especially when leveraging digital tools like social media and Google Business Profile.
Promoting a small business locally is one of the most effective ways to grow
According to Google and BrightLocal, 76% of people who search for something nearby on their smartphones visit a related business within a day, highlighting the power of local search in driving customer visits. By combining offline and online strategies, you can attract more local customers while simultaneously improving your social media presence.
Here are easy-to-implement tactics to help you get better exposure in your local neighborhood.
1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Update by Hookle on Google
Claiming your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the first step to increasing your local visibility. When potential customers search for services or products in their area, a well-optimized GBP makes it easier for them to find you. Ensure you include up-to-date information such as your address, hours of operation, and website link, and encourage customers to leave reviews.
Claiming your Google Business Profile is the first step to increasing your local visibility
Share positive reviews from your GBP on your social media pages. Create posts highlighting customer feedback to build trust and encourage others to visit your store.
Additionally, remember to publish updates to your GBP to keep it active and engaging - just like Hookle has done in the picture above by sharing a Thanksgiving update to their GBP.
2. Partner with Local Influencers
Photo by FRIMU EUGEN via Canva
Local influencers have established trust and credibility within the community, making them excellent partners for promoting your business. Collaborate with them to host giveaways, product reviews, or featured posts about your services.
Ask influencers to tag your business in their posts and stories to reach a wider audience. Repost their content on your pages to engage your followers.
3. Host Local Events or Sponsor Community Activities
Video by mycandleverse on Instagram
Before and during the event, post teaser content on your social media channels - just like My Candle Verse has done above in the video. Live stream parts of the event and post a recap afterward to keep the momentum going.
Hosting an event or sponsoring a community activity is a great way to increase your business's visibility
Hosting an event or sponsoring a community activity is a great way to increase your business's visibility in the local community. Whether it’s a charity run, a school event, or a local fair, people will associate your business with goodwill and community involvement.
4. Get Featured in Local Publications
Photo by Zerbor via Canva
Reach out to your local newspaper, magazines, or online news platforms for an interview or a feature. This kind of exposure adds credibility to your business and introduces you to a wider local audience.
For instance, if you are a local pet store, you could pitch a story about a unique adoption event or a collaboration with a local animal shelter, highlighting the importance of pet adoption in your community.
Once the article or interview is published, share it across your social media channels. Encourage your followers to read and share the story, boosting your reach.
5. Utilize Ads with Local Targeting
Photo by utah778 via Canva
Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads enable you to target specific geographical areas, making them ideal for local businesses. While you’ll need some budget for advertising, don’t hesitate to try them out, as ads usually perform well when properly planned. You can create ads that showcase promotions or special offers exclusive to your area.
Use location-based hashtags and mentions in your ad copy to increase the chances of local users discovering your business through organic searches.
Extra tip: Publish an update about special offers on your Google Business Profile - that's completely free!
6. Partner with Other Local Businesses
Video by allfresh_wholesale on TikTok
Collaborating with other local businesses creates a win-win situation. Partner with complementary businesses to run joint promotions or bundle your products and services together, just like Allfresh Wholesale collaborates with Emerald Greens in the video post above.
Promote these partnerships on your social media accounts. For instance, tag the businesses you’re collaborating with and encourage them to do the same to enhance each other’s online presence.
7. Leverage User-Generated Content
Post by thereboucher on Instagram
Hookle successfully implemented this by offering a lifetime premium subscription to three winners who created outstanding videos showcasing how Hookle simplifies their social media management, as seen above.
Encourage your customers to share photos and stories of their experiences with your products or services on social media. Offering a small incentive, like a discount or freebie, can motivate more people to participate.
Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your products or services on social media
Make sure to repost user-generated content (with permission) on your own social media pages. This not only engages your audience but also strengthens social proof, showing potential customers real-life satisfaction with your brand.
8. Run Localized Contests and Giveaways
Post by roanokecoop on Instagram
Contests and giveaways are excellent for driving engagement and generating buzz around your business. Be sure to tailor the contest rules to ensure participants are local (e.g., winners must pick up the prize in-store) - just like Roanoke Co+op has done in the example above.
Create visually appealing posts and stories that clearly outline the contest details. Encourage followers to tag friends and share the post for additional entries.
9. Encourage Online Reviews
Post by shoshaamritsar on Instagram
Shosha Amritsar restaurant recently shared a lovely "thank you for your review" post on Instagram, as seen above. Publicly thanking customers on your social media pages for leaving positive reviews not only shows appreciation but also encourages others to provide their own feedback.
Local reviews are vital, with 87% of consumers reading online reviews before making a purchase, according to the BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey 2024. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
Discover more tips in our other blog article on turning customer feedback into engaging social media posts.
10. Use Local Hashtags and Geotags
Video by emma.cakes.seattle on Instagram
When posting on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, remember to use local hashtags and geotags relevant to your area. This increases the visibility of your posts among local users.
Hashtags and geotags relevant to your area increases the visibility of your posts among local users
Combine local hashtags with industry-specific ones. For example, if you own a bakery in Seattle like Emma Cakes Seattle, you could use hashtags like #SeattleBakery and #CustomCakesSeattle, just as she has done in the video post shown above.
This strategy helps locals discover your business while also expanding your reach to food enthusiasts.
11. Build Email List for Stronger Local and Social Media Reach
Building an email list is a key strategy for small businesses to maintain direct communication with local customers. Encourage visitors to sign up by offering special discounts, exclusive updates, or free resources. Integrating email marketing with your social media strategy can maximize its impact.
For example, use social media platforms to promote email sign-ups by linking to landing pages or running giveaways that require an email subscription to enter. Regularly sharing your newsletter content on social platforms can also boost your list while keeping your brand top-of-mind.
Use Social Media Management Tools to Ease the Workload
By implementing these easy tactics, you'll promote your small business locally while building a stronger presence on social media. Remember, consistency is key, and with the right tools, you can maximize your efforts without feeling overwhelmed.
Managing multiple social media accounts while running a small business can be time-consuming. That’s where social media management tools like Hookle come in handy. Scheduling posts in advance allows you to maintain a consistent online presence effortlessly.
With Hookle, you can create, schedule, and publish posts across multiple platforms in one place, freeing up time to focus on running your business. Its intuitive interface and powerful analytics help you track how well your local promotions are performing.
Try out Hookle for free and simplify your social media strategy today!
Comments