Have you ever thought about how a marketing agency for local businesses can help your company grow and stand out in the market?
Often local entrepreneurs don't pay enough attention to marketing, thinking it's expensive, complicated or unnecessary. But the truth is that this activity is essential for any type of business. businessespecially the localThey need to connect with their target audience and differentiate themselves from the competition.
With this in mind, in this article we're going to show you the importance of a marketing company for local businesses. As you read on, you'll discover how it can help you plan and execute the best strategies for your segment and how to choose the best option for you. Follow along!
What are local businesses?
First of all, let's understand the concept of local businesses. In principle, these are companies that serve a certain geographical region, such as a city, a neighborhood or a specific area.
Versatile, local businesses can operate in various sectors, such as commerce, services, industry or even agriculture. You know that bakery in your neighborhood, that beauty salon near your house or the mechanic's shop where you usually take your car to get fixed? These are just a few examples of local businesses.
According to Sebrae, there are approximately 9 million establishments in Brazil which fall into the category of local businesses. They are mostly made up of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and are responsible for 52% of formal jobs in the private sector. They also account for 27% of the country's GDP.
Features
Regardless of the sector in which they operate, local businesses have some characteristics in common, such as:
- A closer and more personalized relationship with their consumers, as they usually know their needs, preferences and habits;
- Competitive advantage by knowing the market in which they operate well and being able to adapt to local demands and trends;
- Local businesses are more likely to retain their customers because they usually offer a differentiated service, a quality product or service and a satisfactory experience;
- They contribute to the economic and social development of the region in which they operate, generating jobs, income and quality of life for the population.
Importance
The importance of local businesses is indisputable. As we saw earlier, they represent a significant portion of the national GDP and are responsible for more than half of formal jobs in Brazil. Despite this, they also face a number of challenges, such as those listed below:
- Fierce competition: local businesses have to compete for customers' attention and loyalty with other establishments in the same segment or even with large companies operating online or in other regions;
- Difficulty in advertising: many MSEs don't have enough resources to invest in advertising or don't know how to do it efficiently and assertively;
- Lack of innovation: some local companies settle for the traditional management and operating model and don't seek to update or differentiate themselves in the market.
Do you see yourself in any or all of these contexts? Don't despair - that's exactly where the role of a marketing agency for local businesses comes in. Read on to find out!
Understanding marketing for local businesses
But what is marketing anyway? In short, it's the set of activities that seek to understand the needs and desires of customers and offer solutions that meet those expectations.
As such, marketing involves everything from market research to the creation and distribution of products or services, as well as communication and relationships with the public.
What about marketing for local businesses? Generally speaking, it is a set of strategies aimed at promoting the visibility, reputation and authority of a brand in its area of operation. Its aim, therefore, is to attract more potential customers, convert more sales and retain more consumers.
Key marketing strategies for local businesses
Marketing for local businesses works differently from traditional marketing, as it takes into account the particularities of the segment, region and target audience of these companies. It also has specific strategies, such as those highlighted below.
Use of digital marketing
The digital marketing is an indispensable tool for local businesses, as it allows them to reach a large number of people at low cost and with high efficiency. It involves the use of online channels such as websites, blogs, social networks, email marketing, advertisements, among other strategies.
Taking advantage of proximity marketing
Proximity marketing, on the other hand, is a way of attracting and engaging customers who are close to the business. To do this, the strategy makes use of various technologies, such as geolocation, QR Code, Bluetooth, among others.
Given this information, you're probably wondering what proximity marketing is for, aren't you? In practice, it can be used to send offers, promotions, content or relevant information to customers in the area covered by the business.
Valuing relationship marketing
Relationship marketing, on the other hand, is a strategy that aims to build and maintain a lasting and satisfactory bond with customers, generating trust, loyalty and recommendations. It can be done through different actions, such as loyalty programs, personalized service and excellent after-sales service.
Local SEO
The acronym SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. In other words, the strategy consists of optimizing the company's website, blog and other content. The aim is to appear in the top results of local searches on search engines, with a major focus on Google.
How is this done? Mainly by using keywords related to the region, but that's not all. The marketing strategy for local businesses based on SEO also involves creating specific pages for each location, registering the business on Google My Business, obtaining positive customer reviews, among other details.
Social networks
According to one Comscore survey reported in Forbes, Brazil is the third country in the world with the most people active on social networks. Among the most used social networks are YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
This means that there is a huge possibility that your target audience is on one of these social networks. So use the power of these channels to interact with your followers, promote your products and services, share news and promotions and receive feedback and recommendations.
Online ads
Also called paid traffic or paid media, online ads consist of creating campaigns to display your ads on the websites and social networks that your target audience accesses. The aim is to increase the reach of your brandto generate qualified traffic to your site and convert more leads and sales.
Of course, these are just some of the strategies used by a marketing agency, but there are many more. The important thing is to rely on a company that specializes in this type of business and knows how to create effective campaigns, measure the results and improve your performance in the market.
Benefits of marketing for local businesses
The benefits of hiring a marketing agency for local businesses are indisputable and numerous. We've listed the main ones below:
- Improve the visibility of your brand in your region, increasing the chances of attracting new customers and generating more sales;
- Strengthen your brand by helping to build and consolidate the image and reputation of the local business in the market, highlighting its differentials and values;
- Offering an excellent customer experience through solutions that meet their needs and expectations, as well as creating a lasting and satisfying relationship;
- Differentiate yourself from the competition, become a benchmark in your segment and increase your business's turnover.
How to choose the best marketing agency for local businesses?
To take advantage of all the benefits of marketing for local businesses, it's important to have the support of a specialized marketing agency that has experience and knowledge in the segment. But how to choose the best option among the many available on the market?
Here are some tips to help you make your decision:
Research the agency's reputation
Before hiring a marketing agency, find out more about its history, values, mission and vision. Also see who their clients are, their success stories and their reviews. This will give you an idea of the agency's credibility and quality.
Analyze the marketing company's portfolio
Another important point is to analyze the agency's portfolio, i.e. the work it has already done and is doing for other companies.
In this sense, make sure the projects are creative, innovative and aligned with your objectives. Also, analyze whether the marketing agency for local businesses offers customized solutions adapted to your needs.
Compare prices and services
In addition, compare the prices and services offered by the agency with other options on the market. In this case, you need to strike a balance between cost and benefit, taking into account your budget and your needs.
Remember that the cheapest is not always the best and the most expensive is not always the most suitable. So don't make price your only criterion for choice.
Evaluate the marketing agency's service and support
Finally, evaluate how the agency treats you. Analyze whether it is attentive, cordial and transparent, whether it clarifies your doubts, whether it offers an efficient communication channel and whether it monitors and reports on the results of the campaigns.
And don't forget to check that the professionals are qualified, experienced and up-to-date with market trends.
How can CMLO&CO help your local business?
If you're looking for a marketing agency for local businesses that meets all these requirements, you need to get to know CMLO&CO.
With over 12 years' experience in the market, we offer complete and integrated marketing solutions to help you boost your business in your region. We work with a focus on your objectives and needs, creating personalized and efficient campaigns for your segment.
In addition, we monitor and measure the results of marketing strategies, guaranteeing a return on your investment. So if you want to increase your brand's visibility in your region, attract more potential customers, convert more sales and retain more consumers, contact CMLO&CO and see for yourself what we can do for your business!
