How can digital marketing help your local business on a budget.

The way businesses communicate and connect with their target audience has changed. It’s not about traditional marketing techniques anymore or sitting back and doing nothing, you need to embrace digital marketing strategies in order to increase footfall and sales.

We know how hard this can be when you’re busy doing what you do best which is running your business and you don’t have lots of money to spend on marketing (or the marketing know-how) but we explain in this article how digital marketing can help you to thrive and attract customers even if you don’t have a big budget. 

Your Website and Search Engine Optimisation 

An online presence is non-negotiable. A well-designed website serves as the virtual front door of your business, providing potential customers with essential information, contact details, and products or services you offer. Optimising your website for search engines (SEO) can significantly increase your visibility on search engine results pages, making it easier for potential customers to find you. Ensure your business information is accurate and up-to-date on Google My Business and other local directories because this will improve your chances of appearing in local search results and on Google Maps, making it easier for customers in your area to find and visit you.  

The TGt team love SEO and support many clients with getting their SEO right. The good news is that we are affordable, we don’t lock businesses into a lengthy contract and we offer a one-off optimisation to get you started. This can actually get you ranking on the first page of Google! 

Social Media 

Social media platforms have become powerful marketing tools for businesses of all sizes. Establishing a strong presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn allows you to engage with your local community directly. Regularly posting engaging content, sharing updates, and running targeted adverts can help create brand awareness and attract potential customers.  

We can support you with your social media management and training if you need help with showing up consistently on social media. We can support you with content creation, photography and video on a monthly or quarterly basis. We can provide our clients with enough content to share themselves because not everyone needs a management package. Just enquire for more details! 

Email Marketing 

While social media is a great way to engage with your audience, email marketing remains one of the most effective methods for nurturing leads and driving sales. Encourage visitors to subscribe to your newsletter through your website or in-store sign-ups. Use your email campaigns to offer promotions, discounts, and promote special events that encourage customers to visit you.  

We have clients use our own email marketing service because we use the best email marketing software around. We have a staggering 72,000 South West email subscribers including 13.5k business email subscribers! 

Collaborate with a local influencer 

Collaborating with local influencers who have a significant following can be a fantastic way to reach a broader audience and increase footfall. These influencers can share their experiences with your products or services, effectively promoting your business to their loyal followers.  

We have access to lots of local influencers who love to partner with our local clients so please just get in touch if you would like more information. 

Run Online Competitions and Giveaways 

Contests and giveaways are an excellent way to generate excitement around your business and attract new customers. This strategy not only increases foot traffic but also introduces new potential customers to your products or services.  

We have plenty of experience in helping clients with this so if you need some help, then please do get in touch. 

Get featured on your local Total Guide to sites and socials 

Our award winning guides have been created to help local communities find everything in their town or city. It’s a leading go-to for the community and tourists. Let’s take our Dorset guide as an example.  

www.totalguidetodorset.com has 42,317 average monthly unique users, with over 140 local clients featured on our Dorset website and over 700 across the South West. Our Facebook page has 14.5k fans, Instagram has 6,211 followers, 34.8k average monthly account reach and 1,379 average monthly engagement. Dorset also has 12,611 Email subscribers. 

The TGt digital creative team are passionate about bridging the gap between businesses, tourists and the local community. The guides are an incredible way in helping businesses succeed and help places to come alive. 

Customer Reviews and Testimonials 

Positive customer reviews and testimonials hold immense power in influencing potential customers' decisions. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, TrustPilot or Facebook. Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows that you value customer feedback and care about improving the overall customer experience. 

Everything that we have listed above are all great ways to market your local business to your community. 

Incorporating digital marketing strategies into your local business can significantly boost footfall and increase sales. By enhancing your online presence, leveraging social media, optimising for local searches, utilising email marketing, creating content, collaborating with influencers, you can successfully attract more customers and build relationships.  

We offer a wealth of affordable services to connect your business with the local community which you can read all about in our media pack. Our large creative and experienced digital marketing team are ready to help you to connect with your local community and tourists. Email us at Liz@totalguideto.com