Tag: email marketing

Why Local Marketing Matters

And How You Can Use Local Marketing To Boost Your Business

Local marketing, or hyper-local marketing, targets customers within a specific area. This approach allows businesses to stand out and be more accessible to potential customers nearby. For example, when people in your area search for services, having strong local visibility ensures your business is one of the first they see. 

There are several reasons to consider a local marketing strategy: 

  1. Cost-Effective: Local marketing efforts can be more budget-friendly than broad campaigns, allowing you to focus on the most relevant audience for your business. 
  2. Higher Engagement: Customers often feel a stronger connection to local businesses, making them more likely to engage, leave reviews, and spread the word.
  3. Better ROI: With targeted campaigns, you’re reaching people more likely to need your service, resulting in better conversions and a higher return on investment. 

 

How can you Advertise Locally? 

 

Leverage Local SEO for More Visibility 

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is essential for helping your business show up in online searches within your area. By optimising your website and online presence for local search, you’ll reach customers who are actively searching for services you provide. 

  • Google My Business: Setting up or optimizing your Google My Business profile is a crucial step. Ensure your information is complete and accurate, including your business hours, contact info, and location. 
  • Local Keywords: Include location-specific keywords on your website and blog to improve search engine visibility. For example, a dog groomer in Bristol might use keywords like “Bristol dog grooming” or “dog groomer near me.” 
  • Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews. Positive reviews boost credibility and improve your ranking on Google’s local search results. 

 

Use Print Marketing to Reach Local Audiences 

Print marketing remains an impactful way to reach local customers directly. Flyers, business cards, and local directories are all effective ways to advertise your business within the community. 

  • Direct Mail Campaigns: Target neighborhoods in your area with promotional offers, service updates, or seasonal deals. 
  • Flyers & Posters: Partner with other local businesses, like cafes or community centers, to display your materials in places where your target audience frequents. 
  • Local Directories: Listing your business in a local directory like Local Pages can significantly boost your visibility and reach in nearby areas, making it easier for customers to find you. 

 

Get Involved with the Community 

Engaging with your community not only builds a strong local reputation but also establishes trust with potential customers. Here are some ways to connect: 

  • Sponsor Local Events: Support local sports teams, schools, or community events. Sponsorships show that you’re invested in the community, increasing goodwill and brand awareness. 
  • Partner with Local Businesses: Collaborate with other local businesses on joint promotions or events. For example, a dog groomer could team up with a pet store for a co-hosted pet care day. 
  • Volunteer: Get involved in community service projects or volunteer for local initiatives. This not only helps your community but also builds relationships with residents and other local businesses. 

 

Run Geo-Targeted Digital Ads 

Geo-targeted digital ads allow you to focus your advertising budget on a specific geographic area, ensuring your message reaches local customers. Platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads make it easy to set up location-based targeting. 

  • Google Ads with Location Targeting: Run pay-per-click (PPC) ads that focus on users within a specific radius of your business. You can also optimise ad copy to mention your city or region. 
  • Social Media Ads: Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow for highly specific location targeting. You can run ads that only show up for users within certain zip codes or even miles from your location. 
  • Localised Offers: Promote special deals or discounts to those in the immediate area. Localised offers make your ads even more relevant, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversions. 

 

Optimise for Mobile Users 

Many local searches are performed on mobile devices, so it’s essential that your website and ads are optimised for mobile users. Mobile-friendly content makes it easy for customers to find you on the go. 

  • Responsive Website Design: Ensure your website looks and functions well on mobile devices. A mobile-optimised site loads quickly and has a clean, easy-to-navigate layout. 
  • Clickable Contact Info: Make it easy for mobile users to contact you by adding clickable phone numbers and map links to your website. 
  • Mobile Ads: Consider running mobile-optimised ads, especially on social media, to capture users who are searching for services in the area. 

 

How Local Pages Can Help 

At Local Pages, we specialize in helping small businesses strengthen their local presence through a mix of print, digital, and design services. We understand the needs of businesses and work closely with you to tailor strategies that suit your unique goals. From listing your business in our directory to creating targeted ads, we’re here to help you connect with your community and grow your brand. 

Ready to attract more local customers and expand your business? Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s work together to give your business the local advantage! 

 

Visit The Little Blue Blog for more insights and tips on growing your business through local marketing. Let’s make your brand the go-to in your community! 

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Digital Marketing Must-Haves for Local Businesses going into 2025

Elevate your digital presence in 2025

As a local business owner – whether you’re a tradesman, hairstylist, dog groomer, or restaurant owner – having a strong online presence is crucial. It’s not enough to have a website and a Facebook page; in the growing and developing online world it’s important to do as much as you can to get your business found online. Here are four essential digital marketing elements to help your local business thrive in 2024: 

 

1.Google Business Profile Optimization

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps – it’s the little box that appears on the tight when Googling a business. It’s crucial for local SEO (see below) and helps customers find and connect with your business. Google Business Profile is often the first point of contact for potential customers. It’s important you keep on top of your page by: 

  • Go to google.com/business and claim your listing if you haven’t already! A good way to check is opening a tab in incognito mode and searching up your business 
  • Keep your information up-to-date (hours, services, contact details) 
  • Regularly post updates, offers, and photos 
  • Encourage and respond to customer reviews 

 

2. Omnichannel Marketing 

Omnichannel Marketing is all about creating a seamless experience for your customers across all touchpoints – both online and offline, whether they’re browsing your website, receiving emails or checking your social media. For local businesses, this means connecting your physical location, website, social media and customer service efforts: 

  • Ensure consistent messaging across social media, email, and your website, including consistent branding and voice. For more tips on how to build and maintain your brand, you can read our help guide here 
  • Implement cross-channel retargeting strategies for customers that leave your website or social media without taking action 
  • Use customer data to provide personalized experiences regardless of the platform 

 

3. Local SEO Strategy 

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is probably the most important thing to consider when trying to attract more website visitors. Essentially, you want your website to appear at the very top of all search results when a key word or phrase is searched on Google. There’s a couple things you can do to appear more often in those organic search results locally: 

  • Use location-based keywords (e.g., “hairstylist in [Your City]”) 
  • Create location-specific pages on your website 
  • Build citations on local business directories 

4. Online Booking and Payment Systems 

Convenience is the number one seller – the easier it is to reach you and buy your product/service – the better. Make it easy for customers to do business with you: 

  • Implement an online booking system for appointments 
  • Offer contactless payment options (cash is not widely used anymore!) 
  • Consider a loyalty program to encourage repeat business 
  • A fully operational e-commerce website for goods and products 

 

By incorporating these digital marketing must-haves, you’ll be well-equipped to attract and retain local customers in the increasingly digital marketplace of 2024, going into 2025. The upcoming New Year is a good time to consider evaluating and expanding your digital marketing strategy.  

Local Pages offers free consultations about your marketing needs. We pride ourselves on our bespoke approach, so don’t wait and level up your digital presence in 2025! Book a consultation here. 

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Empowering Success with Local Pages; A Digital Revolution

Located in Mangotsfield, Bristol, Deja Vu Training Academy operates under a clear mission: “Be competent and confident with Deja Vu Training.” The academy is dedicated to providing top-tier training in the ever-evolving field of non-surgical aesthetics. With a strong commitment to supporting every pupil and ensuring the safety of future clients, Deja Vu Training Academy stands out for its meticulous approach and high standards.

At the helm is CEO Rita; a seasoned expert with over 45 years of experience. Her expertise has earned her the esteemed title of Key Opinion Leader at Intraline Medical Aesthetics. Alongside Jemma, the Office Manager, Rita ensures that students receive the education and support necessary to thrive in the aesthetics industry. You can learn more about Rita’s journey and the exceptional work done at Deja Vu Training [here].

Challenge

Rita’s partnership with Local Pages began from a referral. After losing access to her business website, Rita was faced with the daunting task of rebuilding Deja Vu’s online presence. Although the Training Academy had all the essential tools to succeed, Rita recognized the importance of expanding her reach to a broader audience.

Solution

We stepped in to create a new, user-friendly website for Deja Vu Training Academy and have since provided ongoing support to ensure its success. Our comprehensive SEO services played a crucial role in enhancing the academy’s online visibility, driving new business, and helping Deja Vu establish a strong digital presence.

Insights

In today’s highly competitive market, having a robust online presence is essential. A well-designed website is just the beginning—ranking that site through strategic keyword targeting is where the real challenge lies. At Local Pages, we take pride in our personalized approach, tailoring our services to meet the unique needs and stories of each client.

Learn more about our Digital Services and schedule a free consultation [here].

“I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the exceptional work Sion has done in designing my website. It’s user-friendly, easy to update, and Sion is always there when I need assistance. My journey with Local Pages began when someone maliciously deleted my business website. It was a devastating blow, but Sion and his team went above and beyond to restore my business’s online presence. Their continuous support and patience with my frequent calls and emails were invaluable. I wholeheartedly recommend Sion and Local Pages without hesitation. Thank you! —Rita, Deja Vu Aesthetic Training Academy”

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Content Creation: The key to your websites’ success

Every decent website revolves around the same thing: content. A Unique, relevant and up-to date content is highly influential in how successful a website and marketing campaign performs. However, many find that content creation is very challenging and it is one of the most common issues in a business. Often this is due to a lack of time or resources, or simply that people don’t know where to start.

content creation Marketing Website Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

In order to create content and use it for marketing purposes, a business needs to consider how the content will be shared on their website and various online marketing platforms. It is also important to consider the frequency of content and who the intended audience is. There is a wide range of options for online marketing, such as social media, email marketing, website content and blogs. There is plenty for a business to choose from!

Many studies have been conducted into the effectiveness of having a content strategy. These studies have found that higher levels of content on a site can have an impact on the business’ marketing strategy and overall search engine ranking. These are just some of the benefits of having a steady stream of fresh, targeted content:

  • Increase levels of traffic to a website
  • Increase amount of enquiries/ leads received via website
  • Build up followers on social media
  • Enhance brand awareness
  • Become trusted within your industry by writing content to showcase abilities and knowledge

 

content creation Marketing Website B2B Leads

 

Sounds great! But how do you create content?

Content creation doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Every business has something to talk about, whether it’s a new product or service, an upcoming event, or an opinion on a recent industry related story. Not forgetting the most important (and easiest!) source of unique content; customers!

Creating stories around customers and the services/products they have received is the easiest form of content to write. Start by asking the customers for their feedback. The comments that they provide can be used to as the focus point of your content, and this can be shared throughout all of your marketing activities. After all, word of mouth and referrals are the greatest sales tool!

Our top tip for new content creation is to include as many targeted keywords and phrases as possible. This will help towards search engine rankings and help sites such as Google to understand what the content is about. But remember to keep it natural and don’t stuff keywords in randomly. This could be seen negatively by Google and other search bots.

Once you’ve got some content and keep going! Set yourself a target and allocate some time for putting together more. Try to keep to a regular schedule, even if it’s just a blog post every month. It all helps!

 

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Email Marketing

Email marketing remains the single most popular customer acquisition channel, but in 2015 76% of emails were deleted within 24 hours. Read our top do’s and don’ts to make sure your email campaigns are working for you.

Do test. Test different browsers and email clients- there are many ways of reading emails now. Test for spam- it is never going to convert if it doesn’t reach the inbox in the first place. Test results – A/B testing is all about you, which method works best? You could test your call to action, subject line, the specific offer, the text and images.

Don’t presume anything. Don’t presume you know your demographic – test. Don’t presume your template is the best. Test!

Do use a short and simple subject line. With 89% mobile users deleting emails before opening, subject lines can be killer. Keep it punchy.

Don’t forget mobile. 50% of users check email on mobile devices, so everything should be built mobile-up.

Do use a clear and impactful call to action. This is what will convert your email into clicks.

Don’t bombard them. Don’t spam. Don’t annoy people. This will only lead to the unsubscribe button.

Do know the best time to send. Traditionally midday in the middle of the week is the best time to send emails, but with mobile users the whole game has changed. The best way to find the perfect timing? Yep, that’s right! Test!

Don’t ramble on. Get to the point quickly. You only have a few seconds to capture their attention.

Do use pre-header text. If your image doesn’t load, pre-header text will still communicate the main subject of the email to the recipient.

Don’t be afraid to try new things. Even if your email is working well, don’t be afraid to switch it up a bit. Everyone gets bored of having the same thing, and there could be an even better solution. Also, customers get complacent in what they expect from you, try surprising them.

Do optimise images for lighter load. Especially for mobile. You don’t want the quality to be bad but you need to think about how long it is going to take to load on mobile, there is a fine line between image quality and weight. Find out what it is.

Don’t end up in the junk folder. There are plenty of things you can do to ensure you reach the inbox. Don’t use the terms “free”, “click here” or “buy now”. Think about image to text ratio and image size and weight. Don’t use ALL CAPS, especially in the subject line. And avoid excessive use of exclamation points!!!!!!

Do be selective when buying email lists. Buying lists is a common practice, but you need to be targeted, and make sure those people are relevant to your demographic. Sending to the wrong demographic can be damaging to your brand.

Don’t be discouraged by bad results. They might not be as bad as you think! Industry standards have an average click-through rate of 1.5-5.7%. Even if your results really are bad, this just gives you an opportunity to not repeat your mistakes. Why didn’t a particular campaign work? Find out, and make sure your next campaign is better!

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