How Going Local Can Help You Exponentially Grow Your Business
Many small businesses start by dreaming big. After all, what’s the point of setting up a company unless you know your product or service can change the world? Of course, you want to attract as many people as possible to your business, and that can mean going outside of your immediate region.
Broadening outside of your locality makes sense for a number of reasons. After all, your location only has so many potential customers. Expanding and growing means you can appeal to new markets and enjoy more growth.
Why Go Local?
Even though your goal is to expand geographically, you still need a local business strategy. If you’re based in Washington, D.C. and you want to expand to neighboring cities, you’ll benefit more by establishing a local presence in each individual city than trying to establish a presence in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Locality-specific webpages and social media accounts are more likely to get traction since you are not competing with as many national or global businesses using the same keywords. On the same token, depending on your industry, people will be searching for businesses on a local level.
From a customer perspective, many customers prefer working with local businesses, because they feel more friendly and relatable. Local businesses are perceived as more customer-focused and attentive than larger scale regional or national companies.
How to Go Local
Going local is a great option, but you don’t have to open headquarters or offices in every location you want to enter. Thanks to technology, you can expand your business geographically without having to move a single computer.
Target Locations Strategically
Just because there is a big city next to your small town does not mean you will be successful in the city. Market research is vital when deciding where you want to expand. Do your research and understand the demand, competition and climate of any area where you are considering doing business. You should also keep in mind cost inflation and adjust prices accordingly, if necessary. Focus on those cities, towns and regions where your research shows you have a good chance of making a profit.
Understand the Locality Where You Want to Expand
Research to make sure you understand the demographics, needs, history and concerns of every specific area where you want to attract customers. Who is your target audience in this particular city? What do they value? What are their concerns? How can your business help them? Understanding who your target demographic is in each location – beyond age, gender and ethnicity – will allow you to customize your business strategy to best fit the needs of the residents in each location.
Create Online Content for Specific Geographical Areas
Online marketing is a wonderful option for any growing business. Set up web pages and social media networks specific to the locations you want to target. Use local terminology and share posts about local interests, like sports teams and upcoming events. Encourage customers to post photos of products or leave reviews of your services. In many ways, social media is the new word-of-mouth marketing. The more people see their friends and family interacting with you on social media, the more likely they are to see who you are and what you offer.
Obtain a Local Phone Number
One of the biggest ways to establish a local presence is by obtaining a local phone number for your business. If people see that you’re advertising yourself to be the best web design company in Baltimore but you have a Texas phone number, your business will be perceived as confusing and potentially a scam. Obtaining a virtual phone number lets you become a local business — no matter where your offices are. Set up as many local phone numbers as you need. You should have at least one number for each different location.
AccessDirect can help you create multiple local phone numbers in different areas with no extra equipment and no tedious set-up. We can also centralize them, so all numbers lead to a specific voicemail box or are forwarded to your mobile device. Even if your offices are half-way around the country, you can still offer local phone numbers to local clients. We can help you secure a premium 212 number or even local Canadian numbers, helping you grow your company beyond the border.
With the right tools and business practices, your company can build a presence and grow in any locality, regardless of where you are based.
