Marketing Your Local Business Online
This guide consists of a series of posts focusing on the tactics for marketing your local business online. As new sections are added, this page will be updated with links to get you where you need to go to learn more about promoting your local business online.
Introduction to Marketing Your Local Business Online
Many local business owners whose marketing plan might include advertising in the local newspaper, yellow pages or with direct mail coupons are now realizing that these methods are not as effective as they once were. Shoppers are cashing in on other offers instead.
For this guide we’ll refer to the older, less effective methods as “traditional” channels. And we’ll refer to the ones introduced in this publication as “digital” channels.
Regarding digital channels, you can’t help but hear about Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and MySpace in the media today. All types of businesses are starting to get into the fray. However, many don’t really understand the concepts and outreach potential available with these channels.
The digital channels your customers will use to find your local business in the next ten years will be drastically different than the traditional ones they have used in the last decade and even more advanced than all channels are today. In the new frontier of instant access to information and wireless communications, your next customer might be a traveler from out of town who found you on his wireless phone or through an online directory or blog.
The bottom line is this: since new generations of customers are going mobile to find what they want, as fast as they want, you need to be in that channel mix to survive. And a basic web site that basically just displays your company information on it is not going to complete well to bring in buyers.
Sure, basic information needs to be accessible. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to really utilizing the new channels to increase your local business.
Ask yourself questions like these: how often do you dig the yellow pages out of your drawer or closet to find a local business? How do you research product or services you’re considering? Do you have time to sort through all the junk postal mail you’re received to find coupons? Is your local newspaper an efficient way to find a local business?
In the modern world today, your customers are engaged in research, conversations, commerce and other forms of activities that are easily accessible to you if you know how to participate and engage them in the right way. This guide will not only provide you with the steps and resources necessary to succeed, but also with tips and strategies on how to maintain and build a good brand and reputation so others will spread the good word about your business.And don’t worry or stress out! Although these terms and the whole idea of web and mobile marketing might seem a bit scary to you, we’re going to break them down for you in nice sizable chunks of easy-to-apply information.
You’ll discover the different channel options, what kind of information to share and how to creatively build a loyal following. Plus you’ll get a foothold on future success tips and strategies to get and keep up with the pack.
Local Business Marketing Topics
- Introduction (Above)
- Extending Your Reach Using New Channels
- The “Local” Channels:
- The “Niche” Channels:
- Niche Directories
- Niche Blogs
- Niche Articles
- Niche Reviews
- Social Media:
- MySpace
- Digital Press Releases
- Events
- Special Offer (Coupons)
- Mashups
- Channel Resources:
- Channel Content Mix
- Directories
- Search Engines
- Posts
- Articles
- Videos
- Reviews / Testimonials
- Comments
- Forum Posts
- Press Releases
- Social Media Conversations
- Audio
- Images
- Contests
- Promotions
- Creating a Plan:
- Budget
- First Days
- Content Strategies
- Building Your Brand
- Basic Tools
- Wordpress Blog
- Email Account
- List Manager
- Recommended Tools:
- Twitter Account
- Facebook Account
- YouTube
- Video Camera
- How to Keep Your Image
- Summary