There are hundreds of ways you can promote your local business online. It is very important that you choose the right strategies for your business – those that can give you a higher rank in local searches.
Here are 10 easy ways you can promote your local business online.
1. Google+ Local
Google+ Local is the best way to get ranked in Google local searches. Remember to give your address, phone number and contact details along with your website address when you register with Google+ Local. It is worth the registration process as it’s integrated with Google maps as well.
2. Google Offers
Google Offers can be used to promote your business online effectively. It can attract new customers to your business as well as bring your existing ones back. Google Offers helps provide competitive offers for your customers that can be redeemed using their mobile phones as well. Your offer can appear for free on your Google+ page, Google Offers and Wallet apps.
3. Bing Places for Business
Bing Places is a location and category based tool to promote local business online. You can list your business on Bing for free.You can make your business listing stand out by adding additional content about your business, such as, photos, specialties and services.
4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a community where you can connect with people directly. You get to know them online and can even meet offline to build strong and long term business relations. You can learn from more experienced people and also share your knowledge by genuinely helping with their queries. By becoming an active participant in your local and specific business related groups, you can really promote your local business.
5. HotFrog
HotFrog is a simple business listing which can help you to rank higher in local searches. This popular free listing is available in lots of countries around the world.
6. Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages is a very poplar brand name in business listings especially in US and UK. Since lots of people are still using it, it’s really worth putting in the effort to register your business there. They offer different levels of listings of which some of them are free.
7. Best of the Web
Best of the Web is basically a premium paid listing, but they also offer a 30 day free trial which is worth trying out. If it works for your kind of business and if you have the budget, you can continue using it. They have a local listing as well, but only a few countries are supported.
8. Local Classifieds
Every country has websites that serve as local classifieds. Here in India, OLX and JustDial are quite popular. In other parts of the world, Craigslist serves as a one stop shop for businesses. You can advertise your business or your product and see it reach thousands of potential customers online.
9. Press Releases
Press releases are another way you can promote your local business online. There are free as well as premium press release sites. It is advisable to use a fee based press release site so you get added recognition. Always make sure that your press release has a newsworthy angle. Ensure that it is optimised with keywords that search engines will use to find you in local searches. PRWeb.com is an example of a fee based press release site.
10. Email Signatures
These are the easiest way to promote your local business online. Always add your website address and business tag line to all your outgoing emails. These email signatures will let potential customers know about your business.
These are some ways you can promote your local business online. You can start off with one or two of those mentioned above and then dip into the rest.
Have you tried promoting your local business online? Which methods have worked for you?
Sunu Philip ~ Clothed In Scarlet
© 2014, Sunu Philip. All rights reserved. Love it? Please share, pin, tweet or email but do not use my work without permission.