When it comes to finding a local business, customers have a few different options. They can look through the phone book, search online, or ask for recommendations from friends and family. As a business, you need to know the most popular routes so that you can be sure to have a presence in the places your potential customers are most likely to look.
Search Engines
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most popular way for customers to search for local companies is through a search engine, such as Google. Customers will typically type in keywords related to the product or service they’re looking for, along with their city name. Doing this will bring up a list of relevant results from businesses in the area.
If you want your business to show up in these search results, you need to make sure your website is optimised correctly. You should also create local business profiles on Google My Business and other popular directories so that your customers can easily find all the information they need about your company. If you need help, contact digital marketing experts.
Do you know about local SEO? Local SEO is the process of optimising your website to rank higher in local search results. Through targeted keywords and phrases, you can help customers find exactly what they’re looking for, whether it’s a new car repair shop or a local restaurant. So, don’t think that you don’t need to focus on SEO just because you only have a small, local business.
Social Media
An increasingly popular way for customers to discover new businesses is through social media. It’s estimated that 94% of people search for local businesses on websites like Facebook and Twitter. Through platforms like these, customers can find reviews, contact information, and a wealth of other helpful details.
What can you do as a business? If you’re a local business, it’s important to make sure that your contact information and other details are consistent across all online platforms. That way, customers can easily find information about your company no matter where they look.
Elsewhere, take advantage of review sites like Yelp or TripAdvisor and encourage customers to leave reviews. In fact, people can even leave reviews on social platforms themselves these days.
Recommendations from Friends/Family
Next, don’t forget about the power of word of mouth. Word of mouth is still one of the most popular ways that local customers learn about a business. People are more likely to trust recommendations from their friends or family rather than reviews from strangers on the internet (but only just!).
By making sure your business is visible both online and offline, you stand a greater chance of being discovered by local customers. Encouraging positive reviews and word-of-mouth experiences are also key components to boosting visibility in your own backyard.
Local Business Listings
Finally, local business listings are another effective way for customers to find businesses in their area. This can be anything from a local phone book to online directories. By making sure your business is correctly listed in these places, you increase the chances of potential customers stumbling upon your business and giving you a call or stopping by.
In conclusion, there are several different ways for customers to search for companies locally. From recommendations from friends and family to searching on popular online directories, customers can find local businesses in a variety of ways. By taking the time to market your business, you can increase its visibility and reach more potential customers in no time.
