Local businesses are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to marketing. It isn’t easy competing against major corporations who have an established, household brand name. However, it isn’t as bad as you think if you understand how they got to their place of prominence in the market. You can do the same thing with a little effort and a marketing strategy geared towards your local market. Why not let social media and local SEO work together to build your brand?
Brand Is Nothing More Than Recognition
Let’s boil the concept of ‘brand’ down to its simplest form. Brand is really nothing more than recognition. It is when your name is associated with the service or product you provide. So then, how can you build brand in your market so that potential customers think of you when they are looking for what you have to offer? That’s easy! Build a following.
Building a Following Is Easier Than You Think
Here is where you need to draw heavily on social media. It is suggested that you choose two or three social networking sites like Google+, Facebook, or Twitter and become active. Invite people to follow you from your website. As time goes on you can interact with your followers and they will begin to think of your company when they are looking for products you carry, or services you provide. But there is a missing link here. How do you get them to your website in the first place?
Local SEO Is Vital in Getting Your Name Out There
Go back for a moment and think about just what branding is. It is getting your name out there, name recognition. Local SEO is vital in building a brand, plain and simple. When someone in your market area begins searching online for something you can provide, you want your company’s name to be among the first few search results on the first page of the search engine. How do you make that happen? You’ve got it, SEO. Whether the content is on your site or linking back to your site, keywords should be very precise to target a specific local audience. You can also use local listings for SEO purposes as well, as long as keywords in your listing are targeted.
For example, let’s say you own and operate a pet store in Tacoma. You will not only be competing with large chains that have stores in your area, but you will be going up against smaller pet stores such as the one you operate. Your use of keywords would include such long tail keywords as ‘discount pet supplies in Tacoma’ or something like ‘Tacoma pet store dog obedience classes’ if you have that service. Get down to the nitty gritty with search engine optimization because potential customers will be precise in what they are searching for. They are out there, so reel them in!
Now, you have people visiting your site because you brought them there with local SEO. Invite them to follow you on social media. In fact, you can even use your social media site to invite them to your business website! Twitter and Facebook have a wonderful way to attract people through the use of hashtags, so take advantage of that. But all the while, keep your local audience in mind. Build a following on social media but get them there with local SEO. Both work together to help you build brand.
By letting social media and local SEO work together to help you build your brand, you will be a force to be reckoned with in your market.
Image credit: Flickr/mgbjay
