Niche Marketing for Small and Home Business, Professionals and Entrepreneurs

Niche Marketing Articles > 7 Ways To Promote Your Local Business Online (Without Spending A Lot of Money)

Niche Marketing Article

“7 Ways To Promote Your Local Business Online (Without Spending A Lot of Money)”

- by Sharon Fling

Maybe you’ve noticed how almost every radio or TV spot ends with the words “For more information on ______________, visit our website at www dot whatever dot com.”

This is how the big boys are reaching out to consumers, driving traffic to their local stores. Staples, Office Depot, Wal-Mart - these guys are all going after the local market in a big way.

Why?

Because they know that people spend 80% of their income within 20 miles of home… and that consumers are turning to the Internet to research products and services before they buy.

Now, maybe you can’t compete with those deep pockets financially, but it doesn’t take a million dollars to have a successful Web presence. Here are some easy ways to promote your local business using the Internet... and they don’t cost a lot of money.

1. Your URL Everywhere

Any and every thing that may come in contact with a customer should have your URL on it. Business cards, bags, flyers, newspaper ads, your store window, free giveaways -- as you re-order your stationery and promotional items, just add your URL. Simple and painless.

2. Local Business Guides

Whether you’re selling a product or a service, local business guides can be one of your best traffic generators. People are increasingly turning to these local directories to look for goods and services. Get your site listed in as many local guides and directories as you can find. Some charge for a listing, but many are free because they’re just starting out and need to get listings.

So get listed for free while you still can. Many businesses are still not taking advantage of this great source of traffic, so you could easily be the only listing in your category. I’ve heard more than once about consumers who patronized a business because it was the ONLY listing in its category.

3. Online Networking

You’ve heard that “It’s not what you know but who you know.” Nowhere is this more true than on the 'Net. Whatever your business or interests, there are others out there just like you, networking and exchanging information. You might even be able to find a local forum where you can meet other business owners and prospects. Join in and share, and you’ll find yourself getting customers and referrals without really trying.

And this is really important: create a signature file, a few short, crisp lines about you and your business. Then, be sure and include your sig file at the end of every email and forum posting.

4. Email

This is a real no-brainer. Almost everyone has an email address, and once you get it, the cost of staying in touch with them is minimal. There are so many ways you can use email marketing that a slew of books, software and businesses have been developed to help you. But it all boils down to persuading your customers and prospects to give you their email address, then building trust through repeated contact.

5. Postcards

Postcards can be used to promote your business in several ways. First, create an eye-catching postcard, something that will stand out from the daily deluge of junk mail, and of course include your URL. Then, you can:

Mail them to existing customers announcing the opening of your new website.
Use them to offer a valuable free gift to celebrate a special occasion; it should be some information or service that costs you little or nothing.
Drop one in a bag with their merchandise.
Leave them sitting on the counter where people can see them and pick them up.
Use them as a follow-up to a direct mail letter.
Send them to say thank you to long-time clients or customer.

6. Ask for referrals

Here is an easy, but often overlooked source of new business…ask existing customers to tell their family and friends about your excellent products and services. If they’re happy with you, they’ll be glad to make referrals. But don’t expect them to think of it - remind them. And make it easy for them - put a tell-a-friend script on your website, so they can do it while they’re thinking about it. You may even want to offer some sort of reward - one local business offers $25 worth of free dry cleaning when customers refer 3 people who open an account.

7. Network with other local businesses

One of the most powerful strategies for promoting your business is to team up other business owners, especially those who already have websites. You probably can learn a lot from their experiences, and there are all sorts of ways you can work together to benefit all. For example:

Link Exchange - each website can have a special page just for links to other (non-competing) businesses, giving each business a chance to pick up new customers at no cost. These links should NOT be on your main page, unless you want your visitors to click away the minute they hit your site.

Coupon Exchange - every week or two, each business owner can send a special mailing to their list with coupons from all of the businesses. Each business has a chance to get some new business without spending a cent.

Local Guide - if there’s no local business guide in your area, why not team up with some other business owners and create your own? You may be able to find a web designer that will go in on it with your group, just for the exposure and the chance to sell his services to individual business owners later. He could help promote the website in exchange for referrals or the right to sell ads on the site later.

8. Free Publicity

What could be better than free publicity for your business? If you can find a public interest or news angle to tie into your business, you should write a press release, including website and email address so people can get more information. Or your business can sponsor a local event or volunteer resources to charity, giving your business (and your website) valuable exposure while you give back to the community. There are lots of free resources for creating press releases, and entire websites devoted to helping you get free publicity.

These are just a few of the hundreds of ways you can use the Internet to promote your local business. Just use your imagination, or if that doesn’t work, visit some Internet marketing discussion boards -- you’ll get some ideas that you can adopt for local marketing. You’re only limited by your imagination.

Sharon Fling is the author of “How To Promote Your Local Business On the Internet” and Editor/Publisher of an electronic newsletter that focuses on local business marketing. To join her mailing list, send a blank email to subscribe@localbizpromo.com or visit http://www.geolocal.com

Recommended by Ken Evoy, President SiteSell.com, Inc. "If you have a local business (or know someone who does), the single best publication on this topic is Sharon Fling's How to Promote Your Local Business on the Internet...a fantastic MUST-read publication for anyone wishing to use the 'Net to expand a local business. Highly recommended!"