15 Practical Digital Marketing Tips to Grow Local Business in 2024

Digital Marketing is key today, not only for big companies but also for small and local businesses. To run a successful local business, you need practical digital marketing tips to grow it.

There has been a significant rise in small businesses' digital marketing practices.

Putting marketing in the digital realm is the perfect way for small businesses to explore a larger group of potential customers.

Using digital marketing techniques ensures the strategy is cost-effective, scalable, and measurable.

If you want to grow your local business, you can utilize various digital marketing tips for small businesses to increase your reach.

These techniques include content creation, social media, PPC ads, and mobile-friendliness. However, you need to know which tactics work best for your business.

What Does Digital Marketing Mean in 2024?

Digital marketing involves promoting products, services, or brands using the Internet, mobile devices, social media, search engines, and other digital technologies.

Digital marketing is a powerful tool that can be used to reach a large audience and achieve a variety of marketing goals, such as:

Increasing brand awareness: Digital marketing can help businesses increase brand awareness by getting their brand and message in front of a large audience.
Generating leads: You can also use digital marketing to generate leads, which are potential customers who have expressed interest in a product or service.
Driving sales: Digital marketing can increase website or online store traffic and encourage people to purchase.
Improving customer relationships: It can improve customer relationships by providing valuable content, engaging with customers on social media, and providing customer support.

Digital marketing is a complex and ever-changing field, and it is crucial to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies to be successful.

Many resources, such as online courses, books, and articles, are available to help businesses learn about digital marketing.

Here are some of the benefits of using digital marketing in 2024:

Reach a large audience: Digital marketing can reach a large audience of potential customers, regardless of location.

Target specific audiences: You can use digital marketing to target specific audiences with tailored messaging.

Measure results: Digital marketing campaigns can be tracked and measured to determine effectiveness.

Flexible: Digital marketing campaigns can be easily adapted and changed to meet the needs of a business.

Cost-effective: It can be a cost-effective way to reach a large audience.

If you are considering using digital marketing to promote your business, developing a clear strategy and choosing the right channels for your target audience is vital.

So, below are some of the best digital marketing tips to grow your local business:

1: Mobile-Friendliness

To increase traffic, make sure your website is mobile-friendly. Your mobile site should be easy to use and have easy-to-use features like maps.

It should also have easy-to-push buttons and avoid unnecessary vertical scrolling. Mobile users will be frustrated if your site does not meet these standards.

Making your website mobile-friendly increases website traffic and e-commerce sales. In addition, more people are buying goods and services from home, and a mobile-friendly website is essential to capture their business.

Mobile-friendliness also affects your ranking on search engines. Google has begun to prioritize websites that load fast on mobile devices.

Your site could face severe ranking issues if it is slow on mobile. Thankfully, several free tools are available to help you improve your mobile-friendliness.

2: Implement Proper SEO

As opposed to paid search results, which are displayed as a result of an advertisement, SEO is about making your website the best it can be so that Google and other search engines will want to rank it high in their organic search results.

For that reason, it's referred to as an “organic” search or natural or earned–all terms that mean the same thing.

But it's worth noting that SEO isn't only about the standard Google search. It can also apply to other types of searches, including:

Image search (searching for images on Google).
Local search (searching for businesses or products near you).
Video search (searching for videos on YouTube or other video platforms).
Academic databases search (searching for academic papers or research).
News websites' search (searching for news stories).

What's common among all these searches is that they're all powered by algorithms, a set of rules or guidelines that a computer program, like a search engine, follows to accomplish a task.

In SEO, search engines use algorithms to crawl the internet, index websites, and rank pages in their organic search results.

So, to rank on any search engine, you need to understand how their algorithms work and how you can improve your website to meet their criteria.

There's sometimes confusion between SEO (search engine optimization) and local business optimization. So, what's the difference between the two?

Local business optimization is optimizing a company's online presence so that its web pages will be displayed by popular search engines when users enter relevant keywords into their search engine query (e.g., “carpenter in Denver”).

Conversely, SEO is about making your website the best it can be so that Google and other search engines will want to rank it high in their organic search results.

It's a more general term that can apply to any search, including local business searches.

3: Social Media's Importance

Consider using social media to promote your product or service if you’re looking for digital marketing tips for small businesses.

Social media allows you to reach a diverse audience and is a great way to reach local consumers. However, there are several things you need to keep in mind to maximize the benefits of this marketing strategy.

First of all, you need to know your target audience. Knowing who you’re marketing to will help you identify the best platforms for your business.

You must develop an effective strategy to grow your business using social media. The best online marketing strategies for small business growth will include setting intelligent goals and tracking metrics.

Your goals should be relevant and specific to your products or services. It will make your efforts more effective and make sure you’re getting the results you’re looking for.

When using social media for small business online marketing, it’s essential to be consistent with your voice and content. It will help your business be perceived as relevant and friendly.

You can even create fun and relevant content for your target audience. Remember that social media is an excellent tool for engagement and generating leads.

Another important social media marketing tip for local businesses is interacting with customers. The most effective marketers understand that customers prefer to deal with real people, which also applies to social media.

Make sure that you are available and accessible to contact. Responding to customer complaints on social media can increase brand loyalty and customer advocacy by as much as 25%.

4: Be Easier to be Reached Out

WhatsApp and Messenger are not just for talking to friends. They are helping local businesses communicate easily with the target audience.

For example, WhatsApp Business App is great for “creating a catalogue to showcase your products and services and use special tools to automate, sort and quickly respond to messages.”

With Messenger, which people use daily in 2024, you can quickly answer your potential customer’s questions.

Being available on an app people have on their smartphones is practical and safe for them. So, be there through live messages, chatbots, or, ideally, both.

5: PPC Ads

One of the most important digital marketing tips for small businesses to consider before launching a PPC advertising campaign is the cost.

PPC ads cost between $1 and $10 per click, depending on the industry and competition. To maximize your marketing budget, you must know what you aim to spend on your campaign.

An intelligent PPC strategy should be focused on bringing targeted traffic to your website. One way to do that is to use retargeting. Retargeting ads are a great complement to PPC advertising.

These ads will allow you to reach previous visitors and increase their conversion chances. Another vital thing to consider when using PPC ads is your target audience.

You want to attract as many people as possible who will make a purchase decision on your site. You can do this by targeting your ads and ensuring they appear as the top ads for the keywords you want to target.

Split-testing is another way to test different designs and headlines.

It will help you decide which ads work better for you. It’s also a good idea to test different ad versions on different audiences. The idea is to see which one converts better.

6: Get a Google My Business Account

The Google Business Profile has emerged as one of the best free advertising methods available for small firms and local businesses.

With the help of this free listing, the local businesses may be highlighted on Google Maps, in the local part of Google Search, and in the knowledge panel to the right of sponsored searches.

However, one must first confirm ownership of the local business profile to personalize the company profile and ensure that it ranks highly in local search results or on Google Maps.

7: Content Creation is Important in 2024

Content is an essential aspect of attracting customers and generating sales. There are many types of content you can create for your marketing efforts.

To create content, first, consider your audience and the goals you want to achieve. Then, develop a schedule for creating content.

Content can be in various formats, including articles, videos, and graphics. It can also be created as an ebook, whitepaper, or podcast.

Whatever format you choose, make sure it serves the needs of your target audience. One of the best ways to create content for your business is to consider your buyer persona and what they are looking for.

Content creation is a great way to get noticed online. Creating content for your audience will attract more prospects and retain existing customers.

For example, if you're a plumber, you can create content that answers common bathroom problems. A simple Google search for “bathroom drain not working” will create dozens of related questions.

Another of small business's most effective digital marketing tips is having a content creation mission statement.

Ensure your goals are specific enough to keep you focused and on track. For example, you’ll want to write articles highlighting your products and services to build brand awareness.

If your content is geared toward gaining new leads, then your content should be more sales and informational.

8: Create an Email Marketing Strategy

Email marketing is a fantastic method to keep in touch with current customers and engage new clients in your brand.

Email marketing is also a tried-and-true method for getting a good return on your advertising methods spending, if not the most trustworthy one. The following will guarantee that:

Consider and be imaginative while writing your online marketing strategies and topic lines.
Ensure that online marketing includes email marketing with information, promotions, and offers that motivate the readers to take action.
Analyze your results and conduct A/B testing to see which offers and texts are more effective for your local businesses with your list.

9: Cross-promotion with Non-Competing Businesses

To maximize the potential of cross-promotion, you should determine the types of businesses that can benefit from this approach.

The best option is to select businesses that share similar products or services. Make sure to choose partners with a similar target demographic and marketing message.

It will help the consumers associate your business with the same quality and reputation. Promoting your partner’s business is like endorsing its products and services.

Cross-promotion can only be effective when partnered with non-competitive businesses with complementary products and services. It includes complementary businesses in adjacent niches.

Similarly, small business online marketing automation software owners and accountants can form a cross-promotion partnership by giving free software accounts to their customers.

Another excellent example of a cross-promotion partnership is between a business consultant and a local bar. They can offer their services to local bar owners and drunk entrepreneurs.

When it comes to cross-promotion with non-competitive companies, it’s important to remember that businesses are part of a community, which includes the wider community.

Businesses must support each other to thrive, so collaborating with other businesses can help both. For small businesses, this cross-promotion strategy can help build a strong brand image and boost sales.

10: Start Using Video Marketing

Eye-catching videos can help small businesses dominate the digital marketing circuit because videos make the average user spend 85% more time on a website in 2024.

Even though over half of consumers want to see more video content from brands they support, only about one-third of small businesses (33%) plan to invest more in video marketing this year.

Although creating an engaging video involves more time commitment, different businesses use video marketing as a resource for exposure during this period.

Remember that professional software isn’t necessary to create a thought-provoking video piece in 2024.

Small businesses on a budget can create homemade videos that fit their audience’s needs and expectations. More people are working remotely and spending their free time with their laptops.

A visually appealing, short video can do wonders for your engagement rate. More small businesses should consider the interactive and engaging value of video marketing.

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11: Event Hosting

Event hosting is a great way to reach your local audience and generate sales. It also provides face-to-face interaction, which can help turn prospects into clients.

This type of small business online marketing allows you to build trust with your target audience and position yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

In addition, you can educate your clientele by providing valuable information.

Another great reason to host events is to increase brand visibility. As the event is advertised, your business name will be in front of new potential clients and existing customers.

This type of digital marketing for a small business is incredibly affordable, and there are several event calendars that you can use to get the word out about your event.

It is also beneficial for your local business because it isn’t required that your event attract hundreds of people to be effective.

Today’s event industry has become more than just reporting on metrics for stakeholders. Event professionals are increasingly becoming curators of communities and catalysts for content, conversations, and connections. It is no longer about the event itself.

Today, the goal of events is to spark conversations, build community, and connect people who are interested in a particular topic.

12: Run Local Facebook Ads

You can include your target market's location when launching a Facebook ad. You can set your location by city, country, or zip code and set up a mile radius within or around that location.

It allows you to have complete control over who is seeing your ads. It wouldn’t make sense for you to pay Facebook to show your ads to people in Arizona if you operate a local business in California.

Running local Facebook ads prevents you from wasting ad dollars on people who physically can’t purchase from you.

This way, you get all the brand exposure, foot traffic, and increased sales from Facebook Ads from the right people.

13: Create an Effective LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is a premier social networking site for business. This aids in offering an excellent way to generate business leads to help grow your business.

It helps build new relationships that you can use to grow connections and generate more leads. It would also help you to improve your online credibility if you could use LinkedIn answers.

Using a few symbols, you can make your profile attractive for your business. Refrain from overdoing it, and just highlight areas your clients should know by using bullets and arrows.

You can use your LinkedIn profile to boost your website SEO by adding back-links to your business websites.

14: Take Advantage of Email Marketing

Your marketing team must make a listing of clients and customers. This marketing strategy is the most cost-effective, especially if you build an online internet business. Sending an email is free and can be available for everyone simultaneously.

The only thing you would need to spend would be money for internet or Wi-Fi service. List building is the easiest way to turn over your web traffic, and you can earn money from it.

Hence, email marketing is the basic way to move forward with the change in marketing strategies.

No matter what you offer, a newsletter, or some other premium, add them to your listing who have asked for your offers. Use those offers since they can help you build a relationship and increase your conversions.

The ultimate goal of any business market is to get high-rated conversions. Those conversions are the most important result that the business counts on.

It comes in the form of leads, subscribers, number of sales, or traffic.

15: Leverage AI

Let’s face it. AI is the present and future of marketing in the digital age. In the last year or so, artificial intelligence has gone mainstream.

What would we use AI for in 2024? Here is a list of functions that you could streamline using the various AI tools available:

Writing a blog.
Optimizing and writing emails, subject lines, and preview text.
Writing an e-book or whitepaper.
Developing original art or images and or graphics.
Developing video with AI-based voiceovers.
Implementing a chatbot on your website – especially a utility bot that can guide people toward purchasing or talking to a salesperson. (Already, some sites are employing more advanced bots that answer questions and provide solutions).
Conduct a sentiment analysis (how customers feel about your company or its products and services)

That’s a small list, as AI is only getting started. AI will soon build websites, presentations, and other functions from scratch. The time is now to start experimenting with the different functions.

FAQs About Digital Marketing Tips to Grow Local Business

Absolutely! The beauty of digital marketing is that it can be scaled to fit your resources. Here are some budget-friendly tips:

Focus on free social media platforms: Build a strong presence on platforms like Facebook, Nextdoor, or Instagram. Share engaging content, run contests, and interact with your community.
Optimize your Google My Business listing: This free tool allows you to manage how your business appears in Google searches and maps. Ensure your listing has accurate information, photos, and positive customer reviews.
Content marketing is your friend: Create informative blog posts, articles, or videos that address your target audience's needs and establish yourself as a local expert.
Partner with other local businesses: Collaborate with complementary businesses for cross-promotion on social media or by offering joint promotions.

Digital marketing allows you to target potential customers actively searching for businesses like yours. Here's how:

Local SEO: Optimize your website and online listings with relevant keywords that people in your area will likely search for. This will increase your chances of showing up in local search results.
Social media advertising: Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer powerful advertising tools that allow you to target users based on demographics, interests, and location.
Run online contests and giveaways: Offer incentives like free products or services in exchange for email signups or social media follows. This is a great way to build your audience and generate leads.

The best content is informative, engaging, and relevant to your local audience. Here are some ideas:

Highlight your expertise: Share blog posts, articles, or videos that answer common questions your target customers have or showcase your unique skills and knowledge.
Offer local tips and insights: Create content that provides value to your community, like “Top 5 things to do in [Your area]” or “[Local business] recommends: Best places to…”
Behind-the-scenes content: Give your audience a peek into your business by sharing photos and videos of your team, your work process, or community events you sponsor.
Customer testimonials and reviews: Positive feedback from satisfied customers builds trust and credibility. Share testimonials on your website and social media.

Tracking your results is essential to see what's working and what's not. Here are some key metrics to consider:

Website traffic: Monitor how many people visit your website and where they're coming from. This will help you understand where to focus your efforts.
Social media engagement: Track metrics like likes, comments, shares, and click-through rates to see how your audience interacts with your content.
Lead generation: Measure how many leads you generate from your digital marketing efforts, such as email signups or contact form submissions.
Customer acquisition: Track how many new customers you acquire due to your digital marketing campaigns.

Many resources are available to help you, even if you're not a tech expert. Here are a few options:

Free online tutorials: Many websites and platforms offer free courses and tutorials on digital marketing basics.
Social media management tools: Tools like Hootsuite or Buffer can help you schedule and publish content across multiple social media platforms.
Consider outsourcing: If you have the budget, consider hiring a freelancer or digital marketing agency to manage your online presence.

Conclusion on Effective Digital Marketing Tips to Grow Your Local Business:

By following the tips above, you can use digital marketing to grow your local business and reach a wider audience of potential customers in 2024.

You must take digital marketing seriously for your local business and incorporate the relevant market sectors listed above.

Create a plan that balances with other best strategies for your business, like social media or SEO.

Finally, professionals and outsourcing solutions are also available if your business does not have the human resources to take care of all its marketing options.

Remember, there are three significant keys you should focus on while implementing the above strategies to grow your small businesses:

Be clear and define your business goals.
Target small and best-suitable niches.
Build trust to generate sales in 2024.

Never assume it’s the world's end if your local business has a tight budget. You may use various digital marketing strategies to improve the success of a local business.