If you are running a local business, one of the hardest things to do is get your name out there. This can be especially difficult if you’re in a really saturated market, for example, Philadelphia, where we are. This post will go over 4 things that you can do to help gain recognition in your local area.
1. Join Local Networking Groups
Our first recommendation is to join local networking groups in your area. These groups are great for developing brand recognition and getting referrals. You may meet people in the group that are in need of your services, but even better than that, you’ll meet people in similar industries that you can collaborate with. Search places like Meetup and Eventbrite or even use the events tab on Facebook to see what is going on in your area.
2. Join Local Facebook Groups
Joining local Facebook groups is another great way to promote your business locally. If you are unable to attend networking events in person, this is a great way to still participate in your community and get your name out there. Search Facebook for small business groups in your area and start contributing to them.
One tip: Do NOT spam Facebook groups with your advertisements. You wouldn’t do that in person, so don’t do that on Facebook. Instead, join appropriate groups, answer people’s questions and offer valuable information. Establish your self as an expert, not as a spammer and always follow the rules and guidelines of whatever groups you join.
3. Get Involved in Your Local Community
Another thing we recommend is getting involved in your local community. This includes things such as working with non-profits, doing volunteer work or donating to charities you are passionate about. For example, one organization we are involved in is the Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA!), a program that teaches middle and high school aged students how to start a business. Students go through a few months of classes to develop business plans and at the end of the program, pitch their ideas to investors. It’s a really wonderful program that we have been involved with for a few years now. It’s a great way to get involved, but also helps get our brand some recognition.
4. Set up a Google My Business Profile
Our last tip for growing your local business is to set up a Google My Business profile and get your pin on Google Maps. This is really important for local businesses because people are searching on Google all the time. If your business is listed, that’s going to help you rank higher in local searches. By using all the features Google My Business offers, you’ll get an edge over your competitors that might not be doing those things.
Our 9-part video course goes over the in’s and out’s of Google My Business. We teach you how to set up and optimize your profile so you can start ranking higher in Google searches and on Google Maps.
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The course goes over each section of Google My Business in a step-by-step, easy to follow format. At the end of the course, you’ll have a complete, optimized Google My Business profile and a pin on Google Maps.
Growing a small business takes some work both online and offline. We recommend doing these 4 things if you are looking to grow your business in the local market.
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