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Consumers get to know about small and local businesses more through their online presence than anywhere else. Now, when you are aware of the importance of digital marketing after reading our previous blogs, you might be looking for ways to boost up your business through it. Digital marketing includes an array of activities, but local businesses don’t have to do it all. 

There are a few latest marketing strategies for small businesses that people can take advantage of. The focus of this blog is for you to opt for the new and proven marketing strategies that will benefit your business in 2022. 

A big part of local online marketing is optimizing your business data so that Google’s algorithm can read and display it. You can also use marketing tools like customer reviews to increase your presence in local searches. 

Let’s take a look at some tips to improve your local online marketing.

1. Update your listing on Google My Business

With over 5 million searches per email, Google is undoubtedly the most explored search engine. When users search for businesses in their area, they often get a list of three local businesses that match their search intention. This is known as the local SEO 3 package. If you want to get the most out of your local online marketing, this is where you need to be visible.

To appear in these top three listings, you need to optimize your Google Business profile. Do this by:

• Complete your profile, with all the details of your company, e.g. opening hours, address, contact details, and a link to your website or webshop
• Add photos of your company’s interior, products, and staff. The way your business is displayed visually can tell customers a lot.
• Periodically check and update your Google My Business listing to ensure all information is up-to-date and accurate.

2. Optimize your website for local SEO

A website serves as a business card for your online business. According to the SEO Tribunal, 97% of users get to know more local businesses online than anywhere else. If you’re not using your website to show your business in local searches, you’re missing out on one of these best marketing strategies for small businesses.

After you’ve optimized your Google My Business listing, make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across your website and everywhere else where this information can be found.

A common way to get your company website in a search engine’s results is to place schema markup on your company’s website.

Schema markup is a way for companies to better structure data such as opening hours and location. This helps Google organize this information and increases its chances of showing it in related search results.

It’s basically a framework of categories and subcategories that gives Google valuable information about your business and translates content into language that can be interpreted by Google’s search algorithm. 

The ultimate goal is to match your business data with local search results.

3. List your business in web directories

It used to be that if you were on various online business directories and had links to these business directories on your website, the Google algorithm would help you rank well. Gone are those times now.

Traditional business directories are no longer helpful when it comes to SEO. But, of course, listing your business in major web directories can still help with your local online marketing. We’ve already covered the main one, Google My Business. Here are two other options:

Bing Places – Bing may only be the first choice for 6% of Internet users when using a search engine, but it is still the default search engine for all Microsoft products. If you don’t list your business on Bing, you are missing out on important visibility opportunities.

Yelp – This one should not be ignored when talking about marketing strategies for small businesses. It not only helps customers find your business but also exposes them to positive reviews to gauge the quality of your products and customer service. If you’re listing your business on Yelp, make sure you have positive reviews to show off.

4. Manage Online Reviews As Marketing Strategies For Small Business

According to a Capterra survey (published in Emerce), 61% of customers have written a review about their experience after purchase.  And 71% of people check reviews of products or services before they spend.

Reviews act as an online sounding board for your business. Bad or good reviews cannot be controlled by you. But your response definitely makes a difference. 

Responding tactfully to a bad review is an opportunity to present your transparency to the customers and service. A good response to complaints can show a potential customer what kind of business you are.

Seeing negative reviews can show customers how worst-case scenarios your business is doing and provide a sense of transparency. Even the best companies will have dissatisfied customers at some point, and customers are more likely to believe in you when you have both kinds of reviews (definitely more positive ones).

5. Be attentive towards your audience

There are multiple online platforms where people are asking for views and recommendations about some products or services. The platform could be a Facebook group, LinkedIn post, quora question, or any other. All you need is to be attentive and find where your audience hangs around. Answering your audience’s questions means you are building a relationship with them and letting them know that you exist. Following this, you can interact with people who need your services. 

Are you finding it difficult to be present on multiple forum places? Then read on for a solution. 

Discover new ways to sell with Cyber Web Services

Organizations are constantly looking for alternative ways to sell and connect with customers. As a result, digital marketing is quickly becoming one of the most important ways for companies to reach customers. For your digital marketing needs and to implement these marketing strategies for small businesses, you can contact us for a FREE business proposal.