Local Social Media for Offline Businesses – The Importance of Being Social

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are essential for the marketing of any business. However, the popularity of locally based social media sites is growing steadily. These are sites that are connected to geographical locations offline. They allow customers to find the local businesses and services they're looking for. Through interactive features, customers can get coupons, check-in to locations, and write reviews for others to read. 

Social media isn't just for high-tech businesses. Any offline business can leverage the popularity and marketing power of local social media. Here are the reasons your company needs to market on local social media sites.

Get Your Business Found

The simplest reason to get involved in local social media is so prospective customers can find your business. Sites like Yelp and CitySearch list businesses and offer search features. When your customer is wandering around looking for the goods or services you offer, they can easily find your profile through one of these sites.

Spreading the Good Word

When customers enjoy your products or services, they can tell their friends and connections on local social media, which helps you get exposure. Customers can write reviews and recommend your businesses to friends, providing the greatest P.R. in the world: word of mouth.

Offer Deals and Promotions

Through local social media, you can offer special deals and promotions to get new customers through your door. You can reward loyal customers or those who tell their friends about your business by giving them coupons and deals.

Content Your Customers Can Use

Offline businesses can offer useful content through social media sites. This content may take the form of articles, videos, images, resources, or anything else that helps your customers solve their problems. Content is brought to them courtesy of your business, which helps you gain exposure. This way, you can build trust and establish yourself as a helpful expert in your field.

Keeping in Touch

Since nearly everyone uses social media, it provides a great touch point with your customers. Simply by getting on the site and interacting with your customers by commenting, sharing, liking, and talking to them, you can build a relationship with them. Then, when they want the products and services you offer, you'll be the one they choose.

SEO Benefits

If you have profiles on major social media sites, they'll appear in search engines. When someone does a local keyword search, looking for something like 'plumber in Houston,' your local social media increases the chances of your profile appearing in search results. This gets your business more exposure and more new customers.

A Free Marketing Tool

The main reason offline businesses should use local social media is that it's free and easy to use. It only takes a small amount of time to get set up, but once you're set up, maintenance takes just minutes a day. This is the kind of free advertising businesses have always dreamed of.