Spreading the word about your local small business may feel like a challenge. Your marketing budget may be limited. It takes time and effort to maximize the benefits of social media. The good news is, with just a small investment of your budget and bandwidth, you can begin to grow your business in extraordinary new ways. Here are a few tips.

5 Easy Local Advertising Tactics to Grow Your Business

1. Take Advantage of Local Listings

The internet is the primary way people discover your products and services these days. To make sure you’re among their top choices, take advantage of free local listings on heavy-hitters like Facebook, Instagram, and Yelp. But also don’t neglect secondary destinations like City Search, Angie’s List, Foursquare, LinkedIn, and Superpages. The more places you establish your presence online, the better the results.

2. Create a Profile on Google My Business

Google My Business allows you to create a profile that delivers free advertising designed to help grow your business. Once you’re set up, you can be found instantly via Google’s Search, Maps, and Knowledge Panel. You can also post products, services, promotions, and more. Bonus tips: Google Reviews creates viral buzz, so maximize its potential. Also, use the Q&A section to spotlight your offerings.

3. Print Flyers and Brochures

Going old-school still achieves great results to help grow your business. So don’t overlook eye-catching leave-behind marketing like printed flyers and brochures. Keep them simple. Print a quick doc highlighting your contact info, services, and one exciting benefit or promotion. Offer other local businesses a promotional swap to keep them in their shop.

4. Dive into Event-Based Marketing

Nothing makes an impact like connecting with customers personally. Think about putting together a simple, low-cost event to create that connection. Workshops are a powerful way to demo and promote products. Service-based businesses can participate in local fairs and festivals. Back on the internet, you can develop webinars at practically no cost to inform the community and promote your offerings.

5. Pay for Ads

If you have extra room in your marketing budget, paid internet ads are a direct route to reaching customers in a targeted way. You can also choose to go old-fashioned by purchasing space in local newspapers, community circulars, and magazines. Traditional advertising still works great to generate response and grow your business.

One of the most powerful ways to expand your customer base is sharing knowledge and resources with other local business owners. In the Mebane, NC, area, Mebane Business Association had been providing valuable support and networking opportunities to help grow your business for more than 25 years. To learn more about becoming part of an organization devoted to your success, visit them online, call (919) 304-3737, or connect with them on Facebook.