Traditional advertising usually includes adverts on television, billboards, newspapers, and magazines. Advertisements usually follow a campaign and include multiple adverts. Most also include celebrity endorsements and a lot of time and effort, not to mention money. Traditional advertising budgets can easily cross the ten million dollar mark.
That is why more businesses prefer online advertising campaigns. As a small business owner myself, nothing can compare to seeing my ad on my Cox deals channels. But realistically it’s not feasible for me considering that my business has more local customers than national.
Top Local Advertising Ideas for Small Businesses
Unlike major corporations, small businesses have considerably fewer resources. And the cost to value ratio for traditional advertising simply doesn’t justify the allocation. Most small businesses don’t necessarily need national coverage. They can benefit more from local advertising than national.
- Local Sponsorships
- Online Banner Ads
- Search Engine Marketing
- Social Media Advertising
- Google to the Rescue
- Search Engine Optimization
1. Local Sponsorships
in a world over-run with technology and social media, direct connection with customers is a lost art. Sponsoring a local event allows your business to directly connect with customers. These and community-specific events are also terrific for your brand image. It shows your customers that you care about the community you are located in. And more than that, you are willing to invest in improving it.
The most important factor for any advertising and marketing campaign is the cost. Usually, local events don’t cost as much as national and international events. So you can get a lot of local publicity on news and lifestyle sections for a lot less money.
2. Online Banner Ads
There have been some tremendous advancements in the online advertising industry. Now you can target your adverts to a specific location. Your location. What that means is that your ads will only be visible to online users in your targeted area. Moreover, you only pay for the number of people who clicked on your ad. So you don’t have to worry about risking your limited resources. That further benefits your cost to value ratio.
3. Search Engine Marketing
Another example of how the internet has influenced advertising. The ‘Sponsored’ results you see when you search for something online are the advertisements. Search engines like Google and Bing allow businesses to advertise through searches. If someone was to search for local ice-cream parlors then the search engine would list yours first. SEM, like online banner ads, can be streamlined for local searches.
4. Social Media Advertising
Listing out all the ways that social media is powerful and influential is a waste. By now everyone and their dog understand the power of social media. That’s why most businesses are available on social media. But it’s no longer enough to simply have a social media presence. You have to work to get your name out there.
Social media advertising can go a long way in converting business leads. Especially since social media also allows you to advertise locally. Did you know that local adverts on social media platforms are 34 percent more likely to yield results? So focus on your social media marketing strategy.
5. Google to the Rescue
Google is constantly updating its search algorithm to improve search results. Recently it started to put more value towards results based on location. As long as you have a presence online and especially with Google services, your business can automatically benefit from this. All you need to do is list your business with Google My Business. So that whenever someone searches for something related to your business in the area, you get priority.
6. Search Engine Optimization
Even with all the Google updates, SEO still remains one of the most effective solutions for online strategies. Not only can SEO help you dominate online searches, but it can also help with the brand image. By creating quality online content, you can help mold your brand image perfectly.
Conclusion
Marketing and advertising trends around the world are transforming. More businesses are opting for online marketing and advertising than traditional. In fact, the trend is not just limited to marketing. Everything is moving online – I can now also enjoy my Cox TV online. Developing online advertising and marketing strategies is easier and more effective for small businesses. You can utilize your limited resources well and compete with much larger corporations.
That is the true power of online advertising. And why it should be a major part of your marketing strategy.