According to Brightlocal, a portal that collates local customer online purchasing trends, in 2021, 81% of consumers said that they used Google to evaluate online businesses. This was up by 63% compared to the previous year. There is no evidence that this trend will reverse itself in the future. The worst of the pandemic may be behind us, but consumers who turned to online purchasing and local sourcing in a big way over the last 2 years, are not going to give up the convenience and savings that they found with local suppliers. Establishing a local market presence is the first stage of growth for any small business. The only way to do that is through online marketing. 

The Fundamentals of Online Business Promotion:

• Develop a marketing plan that covers your strategy, budget and objectives. Marking key milestones in the process will enable you to monitor your progress and make mid-course corrections.
• Develop a blog strategy that resonates with your target local audience. The keys to effective blogging are:
  • Understanding search engine optimization (SEO).
  • Creating useful content that the audience will appreciate and which will make sure they come back.
  • Using a writing style that will appeal to your audience.
  • Always include a call to action or an invitation to contact you to establish engagement.

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Also Read: What are the different types of Business Directories, and how to choose the right ones?

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• When a potential customer establishes contact with you, be clear and concise in your response. Do not blow your own trumpet or get into long presentations on why he or she should buy from you. Let the clearly presented facts work for you.
• Establish links with other non-competitive local businesses. The synergies of working together, both online and off, to promote yourselves as a group, can be enormous.
• Use directory listings to place yourself in front of customers when they are looking for the goods and services they need. Using the right directory is vital. It should be a local business directory with a wide reach. The reputation of the directory is important – if it is one that users rely on to find what they need, a listing in it will automatically establish your business as a reliable supplier.
• Highlight the fact that your business is part of the local community. Participating in community activities is a great way to do this. It could be either in the form of actual physical participation or by way of a small donation or sponsorship.
• Build a loyalty program to keep customers coming back for future requirements.
• Create an email list and use it to send out targeted information to your customers about special offers, new products/services, news about the products they have bought and so on.

Do It the Right Way:

Some of these actions you may be able to do yourself and for others, you will need expert help. One area where professional expertise is essential is in directory listings. Find a company that publishes local small business directories that are relevant to your business and the market you are targeting. Find one that offers all the features you need to make your listing eye-catching and relevant to the viewers. With your directory listing in place, everything else becomes much easier.