People can’t fall in love with your business if they don’t know about you first. Learning how to promote your business locally means getting resourceful with several digital and physical tools.
Whether it’s vehicle wraps to stand out in traffic or promotional posters to stop foot traffic, there’s a great marketing solution just waiting for your special touch. AlphaGraphics Bountiful is a Utah-based printing company that has been serving small and medium-sized businesses for over 30 years, helping brands across various industries capture attention and expand their audience.
Our 15 strategies are flexible, targeted, and effective, working well regardless of your experience level. When you combine several of these strategies, you’ll have an airtight marketing approach that keeps a steady stream of business flowing your way.
1. Custom Signs
According to a customer survey by the University of Cincinnati, outdoor signs are ranked as the third most useful source of new information for customers. Crafting a custom sign with a striking design and clear lettering is a classic way of snagging attention in a busy world.
Our custom signs use cutting-edge printing technology for life-size cutouts, limited-edition banners, or permanent signage for your in-person store.
2. Website
Custom signs may be a powerful first impression in person, but your website is your digital first impression. Learning how to promote your business locally means publishing an SEO-optimized website filled with local keywords to help people find your brand when searching for products or services.
Make sure your website is easy to read and has readily available contact information. Nobody should have to dig through your website to fill out a simple form or call your office.
3. Blog
Did you know roughly 50% of buyers will read a business’s blog before making a purchasing decision? Add a blog section to your website to provide customers with a way to get to know you at their own pace.
As you get comfortable figuring out how to promote your business locally, you’ll also get accustomed to coming up with interesting topics for people to read. If you need a place to start, try filling your blog with business updates, informative posts, interviews, or behind-the-scenes content.
4. Social Media
Another popular method people enjoy for learning about businesses is through an active social media account, whether it’s staying updated on discounts or being first in line for new products. Research the social media platforms your ideal customers prefer, then start an account for your brand.
Social media platforms come with useful analytics tools to help you gauge your content’s impact, like shares, likes, and clicks. When you combine social media posts with social media ads tailored to your city or region, you can make your business stand out even more.
5. Email Marketing
When social media is too much to keep track of, we highly recommend creating a free email newsletter to help customers keep in touch with your brand. You can update it on a rolling basis with news updates, tips, or interesting posts to build trust or stay top-of-mind for those not yet ready to buy.
6. Local Ads
While the best local advertising for a small business will vary depending on who you talk to, most people agree that local ads are a great place to start. Since these ads target people who live in the area (or nearby), you immediately narrow down your audience to those most likely to purchase from you.
Local ads can showcase new product launches, limited-edition deals, or a promo for your convenient location.
7. Community Events
Learning how to promote your business locally means tapping into the power of your community to stand out in a sea of similar businesses. You can participate in concerts, marathons, or donation drives with non-profit organizations.
People appreciate when businesses make it clear they’re not just another number. A few freebies or face-to-face conversations at local events could result in loyal customers later.
8. Unique Business Events
If you can’t find any relevant community events in your area or within a specific timeframe, simply make your own. Limited-time local events are a fun, casual way to generate buzz within a community and get people eager to participate.
These events can be based on contests, donation drives, activities, and more.
9. Print Ads
With so much of today’s world interacting through screens, print media stands out all the brighter. Printed ads, such as brochures or posters, are a straightforward way of letting customers know what you offer to their lives.
Learning how to promote your business locally starts with posting print ads near high foot traffic or asking local businesses to stock your collateral. Make sure to choose local businesses that align with your ideal audience’s needs.
For example, if you were a small bakery, you could promote your business where people often need a quick bite to eat. Colleges, universities, and office buildings would be smart places to post a few print ads.
10. Local Directories
Sometimes, customers circumvent ads and just want to go straight to the nearest convenient location. Meet them halfway by getting a spot in your local directories that gives them bite-sized information right where they need it.
A few places to start are Facebook, Google Business Profile, Better Business Bureau, and Yelp. Customers instantly get the details they need—your services, address, hours, and contact information—so they can head straight to your business.
11. Vehicle Wraps
If your business regularly operates by car or truck, a vehicle wrap is ideal for promoting your brand on the go. Our vehicle wraps don’t need paint, require minimal maintenance, and help you build trust by putting your most professional foot forward.
12. Local Sponsorships
When you learn how to promote your business locally, you naturally become more involved with the comings and goings of your community. If you’ve spotted any local organizations you’d like to sponsor with your products or services in the news or the local paper, you’re already on the right track.
You can easily spread the good word about your brand with gift bags or donations at high-traffic local events.
13. Local Influencers
Influencer marketing has taken the world by storm by providing a down-to-earth approach to product placement or endorsements. If you’re thinking of adding local influencers to your campaign, look for local voices that have a firmly established presence in your city or region.
You can ask them to test and promote your products, mention your brand in sponsored videos, or feature them in your next marketing campaign.
14. Referral Programs
Referral programs are a valuable asset for businesses and customers. These programs work by giving any customer who refers others to your business a reward, such as a discount or first dibs on a new product.
In other words, it’s a ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’ philosophy. Since customers are more influenced by friends than acquaintances or strangers, referrals are more likely to generate sales. Your customer gets a discount, their friend gets introduced to a new brand, and you get more business.
15. Direct Mail
Despite the popularity of email and social media, direct mail is still a powerful way of staying top of mind with local customers. A well-crafted flyer could be all you need to raise awareness in someone’s busy schedule after they check their morning mail.
As you figure out how to promote your business locally, we’ll be with you every step of the way. We’ve been helping small and medium-sized businesses cut through the noise and build trust with local customers for decades.
AlphaGraphics Bountiful Will Help Your Business Reach the Right People
Running your business is exhausting enough without adding design, printing, and promotion to your schedule. We know the power of local marketing as a local Utah printing service, offering businesses like yours a diverse selection of marketing collateral to save you time.
We not only provide crisp, high-resolution printing technology and a fast turnaround time, but we also offer creative strategies to help you choose the right marketing collateral. We’ll teach you how to promote your business locally with tried-and-tested prints, like vehicle wraps, banners, posters, and more.
With your ambition and our decades of experience, your loyal customer base is just around the corner.
Got a few ideas for your next marketing campaign? Request a quote today, and we’ll get back to you!
