10 Local Marketing Trends for Service-Based Businesses
Did you know 82% of people use the Internet to find local businesses? This shows how important it is to keep up with the latest online marketing trends. Let’s talk about ten trends in local marketing that can help your business become well-known, attract more customers, and stand out in a competitive market.
1. Hyperlocal Targeting
In the world of personalized advertising, hyperlocal targeting is getting more important. Service-based businesses can use tools like Google Business Profiles, Next Door, and Facebook Groups to reach prospects down to the neighborhood they live in on these platforms. This trend is all about marketing directly to the people who live in your target area, so your marketing is more effective and connects with your neighbors.
- Dont just create a pricing guide, create a pricing guide for your specific area
- Add cities to your service in social media content
- Create local content such as 5 things to do in [insert city] this fall
2. Voice Search Optimization
Imagine talking to your phone or a smart device to find things online. That’s what voice search is, and it’s becoming super popular. One way to make sure people find your website through voice search is to make it voice search-friendly. To do this, make your online content and website sound like a regular person, cut the industry lingo, and speak in simple terms. Another way to make sure your company is recommended on voice is to ensure your citations/listings are accurate across the internet. This builds trust with search engines and ensures they recommend you when there is a “near me” search.
3. Mobile-Friendly Websites for Easy Access
These days, most people use their smartphones to find local info. To make sure your website is easy to use on phones and provides a great experience for people who are out and about, you need to make it mobile-friendly. Simple ways to do this:
- Add a call now button at the top of your mobile site that is sticky
- Make sure the site looks good on mobile
- Make sure phone numbers are clicked to call across the mobile site
4. Local SEO and Google Business Profile (GBP)
Think of your Google Business Profile as the foundation for making your business known in your neighborhood. When you build trust with Google by optimizing your GBP, more people can find you online based on Google’s recommendations. It’s a great place to show your hours and where you are, and it’s where happy customers can leave reviews to tell others how awesome you are.
5. Online Reviews and Reputation Management
When people leave reviews and ratings about your business on websites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook, it really matters. To make your business look good, you need a strong plan for getting positive reviews. If you get good reviews and have a great reputation on Google it makes it very easy for Google to recommend you over other companies.
6. Creating Stuff for People Nearby
Making things like blog posts, videos, and social media posts that talk about things happening in your neighborhood is a great way to get people in your community interested. You can show them that you’re part of local events, share cool local stories, and give them helpful information.
7. Working with Local Influencers
When you work with local influencers or micro-influencers, it’s like teaming up with popular people in your area. This can make your business seem more trustworthy and liked by the people in your community. These influencers can help tell everyone about your services and products to the people who live nearby and are really interested in what you offer.
8. Using Social Media Ads to Reach Locals
Social media advertising is a super helpful tool for getting the word out about your business to people who live nearby. On places like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, you can use special features to make sure your ads are seen by people in your neighborhood. It’s a simple way to connect with people who might want what you have to offer right around where you are.
9. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
Some forward-thinking businesses are using cool AR and VR tech to create really immersive experiences. Service-based businesses can use these to give people virtual tours of their place, show off what they do, and make customers’ experiences even more awesome. A tool like Matterport 360 can do a scan of your showroom, warehouse, office, or business and allow customers to “walk through” your business online. This is what realtors use to “virtually walk through” a home.
10. Being Eco-Friendly and Helping Your Community
Nowadays, a lot of people care about the environment, and they like it when businesses try to be eco-friendly. If your business gets involved in local events or teams up with local groups that share your values, be sure to share these things in blog posts, social media, and email newsletters.
Local Marketing Experts
In summary, to do well in local marketing for businesses that provide services, you need to keep up with the newest trends and technology. The success of your marketing depends on how well you connect with people in your area, make things easy for them, and show that you care about your community. If you follow these 10 trends we talked about, your service-based business can thrive in the competitive local market, all while giving real value to your customers.
If you want to learn more about how to use these ideas for your business, set up a quick chat with us at Phlash Consulting. We are happy to help!