Marketing is an essential aspect of any business, regardless of its size or industry. For local businesses, effective marketing can mean the difference between success and failure. In today's competitive business environment, where consumers have an abundance of options, marketing serves as a vital tool to help local businesses stand out from the crowd and attract new customers.

Marketing involves identifying, understanding, and satisfying customers' needs and desires through effective communication and promotion. By deploying even the simplest of marketing tactics, local businesses can enhance their brand's visibility, build customer loyalty, and drive sales.

In this article, we’ll share 6 marketing tips for local business owners that you can knock off in an afternoon that will make a big difference.

1. Create a website

Having a website is essential for any local business, as it provides a platform for potential customers to find and learn more about the business. A website allows customers to easily access important information such as business hours, location, services offered, and contact information. Squarespace is a great option for creating a website because it is user-friendly and offers a variety of customizable templates to choose from. Squarespace also provides features such as online booking, e-commerce, and analytics, which can be valuable tools for local businesses looking to expand their reach and grow their customer base.

2. Leverage social media
Social media is a powerful marketing tool that local businesses can use to connect with potential customers and build brand awareness. With billions of active users across various social media platforms, businesses have the opportunity to reach a large audience and engage with them in real-time. By creating and maintaining an active social media presence, local businesses can share updates, promotions, and valuable content with their followers, and even attract new customers through social media advertising. Therefore, it is important for local businesses to save their social media handles and have at least 12 posts on each platform to create a consistent and engaging presence that reflects their brand and encourages customer interaction.

3. Claim your business online
Google My Business is a free tool provided by Google that allows local businesses to manage their online presence and appear in Google search results and maps. It is important for local businesses to have a Google My Business listing as it provides customers with important information such as business hours, contact information, reviews, and photos, which can help increase visibility and attract more customers. To set up a Google My Business listing, local businesses can visit:

1. Google My Business website and create an account.

2. Fill in the basic information such as business name, address, phone number, and category, and then verify their listing through a postcard, phone call, or email.

3. Once verified, businesses can update their listing with additional information and photos to improve their search rankings and attract more customers.

4. Pro tip: ask happy customers to leave reviews and offer a discount in return!

5. Create local awareness
Local businesses can create local awareness by engaging with their local community and leveraging local marketing strategies. This can include sponsoring local events or sports teams, participating in community events or festivals, collaborating with other local businesses, and offering promotions or discounts to local customers. Local businesses can also create a strong online presence by optimizing their website for local search, creating and maintaining social media accounts, and creating a Google My Business listing. By combining these strategies, local businesses can build a loyal customer base, increase visibility in the local community, and ultimately drive more traffic to their business.

5. Create a loyalty program
Local businesses can create a loyalty program to reward and retain their existing customers. A loyalty program can encourage customers to return to the business by offering incentives such as discounts, free products, or exclusive offers. To create a loyalty program, local businesses can start by identifying what rewards and benefits they want to offer, and then determine how customers can earn and redeem those rewards. They can then create a system to track customer activity and reward them accordingly. Local businesses can also use technology such as mobile apps or email marketing to communicate with customers about their loyalty program and keep them engaged. A well-designed loyalty program can not only encourage repeat business but also help local businesses build a loyal customer base that can serve as brand ambassadors and refer new customers.

6. Referral program for B2B
A B2B local business can create a referral program to incentivize its existing customers to refer new customers. To create a referral program, the business can start by identifying the incentives they will offer to customers who refer new clients, such as discounts, free products or services. The business can then create a system to track and reward referrals, such as a referral code or link that the existing customer can share with their contacts. By implementing a referral program, a B2B local business can generate new leads and customers at a lower cost than traditional marketing methods, while also leveraging the trust and credibility of its existing customer base.

In conclusion, marketing is crucial for the success of any business, particularly for local businesses competing in today's crowded market. Effective marketing can help local businesses differentiate themselves, attract new customers, and build brand loyalty. By understanding their target audience and deploying simple marketing tactics, local business owners can enhance their brand's visibility, engage with their customers, and ultimately drive sales. The 6 marketing tips shared in this article can be implemented in just an afternoon, making a significant impact on a local business's marketing efforts.