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Do you have a Facebook page for your local business?

Being a local business, your audience is naturally in the area you serve, local marketing on Facebook can be tough.

#1: Use Local Videos and Images

Facebook native video is more visible and gets more reach in the news feed, so have a video stragety for your business.

Try to make your videos targeted to local users. Add a video about a local event, share a quick tip or even cross-promote another business. It doesn’t have to be fancy, use your Smartphone.

Local images are also very shareable. If you don’t have regular images to post, take pictures occasionally when you’re out and around in your area. Keep them to share in the future.

When your customers recognize an area, they’re more likely to visit your page and your business.

Ever town has a police station, fire station, McDonalds (for lunch) a named park, etc. These are the things you want to tag when you upload your video.  It gives your video reach outside your followers.

#2: Communicate With Other Local Businesses

One of the best ways to reach your community is through other local business pages. At least once a week post as your page with other local pages: share their posts, tag them, comment on their posts and show them some local business love. This will make you more visible to their audience.

Don’t worry, they are gaining your audience too.  Try and line the business page with other businesses your target customer would use.  Promoting other pages in your community is they are likely to promote you too.

#3: Use Reviews

Social proofing and recommendations can benefit you in a big way, so use the Reviews on your Facebook page. Reviews standout on mobile phones.

To get reviews, make sure you set Local Business as your category and have a physical address. You need to check the Show Map box on the About tab too.

Respond to all reviews (good and bad). If you have BAD reviews, try to correct the issue. Give your best customers a little incentive to leave a (hopefully positive) review about your service.

#4: Feature Your Customers, Friends, Followers and Fans

Share photos of customers on your Facebook business page. Personal photos help your visibility with the friends of your customers. Ask people to tag themselves in your photos.

Remember, a page cannot tag a fan unless the admin is a personal friend of that person. Only people can tag other people or people can tag themselves.

#5: Create Local Awareness Ads

Reach people who are near you with a local awareness ad, either because they live nearby or because they’re local with their mobile device. A local awareness ad is also the perfect way to attract someone to your business for the first time with a coupon.  Sure, it cost money, but the return far out weights the investment.

#6: Join Local Groups

If your business focuses on B2B, then a networking group could be a great place to reach other business owners.  But for B2C think local area groups, churches, country clubs, yard sale, etc. Do targeted searches to find the groups where your targeted customers hang out. Make sure you read the rules for what you can and can’t post before you jump in.

You must join as your personal profile, not your page.  But, your business should be listed on your personal page as where you work.  You can send friends requests to new people and send them an invite to like your page.  It can be annoying to have a new friend ask for a like.  Many people do this, I like to build up a comment relationship first. But to each their own.  I haven’t found data either way.

#7: Offer Discounts to Your Followers

Your fans want benefits. Use Facebook Offers, special coupons or check-in perks get your fans to call and increase your sales. You can do something simple, like “where is Waldo type images” and put those who gave the correct answer in a raffle to win something worth about $25-50 or a discount for using your service.

Whether your winners get a prize or are eligible for a special offer, announce them on your page. This will keep fans coming back in looking of the results.

It cost money, but marketing a business for big profits or growth does.  You can do it the slow way or the fast way.  It’s your choice.

#8: Have Fun With Your Posts

People are on Facebook to be entertained, so use humor in your posts. Posting a crazy picture that fits with your business brand from time to time is a good thing.

Humorous pictures humanize your business, and get the most attention.

#9: Build Your Email List

One thing that many local businesses fail to do is build an email list. Once you have a list, you’re able to email your customers to promote something new, share a contest and so on.

Get them to check out your website.  Your website does have a way of getting emails right?  Well, that is another blog post all together.

For those who question paying for Facebook Ads.

You’ve probably asked the question, are Facebook Ads really worth the time and money?

It’s a good question.

You probably signed up for Facebook thinking it’s a free platform.

Marketing budgets may be low,  so it’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to risk marketing dollars on something you’re not sure of.

But, paying to promote your page is one of the best ways to reach the right audience on Facebook.

This is true and important,  if you serve local customers.

With Facebook Ad targeting, you can easily target your content to Facebook users living in and around your city or town.

You can also use Facebook’s custom tools to target people who are already on your email list. Or Facebook’s look alike feature to target people who have similar interests as the people on your email list or followers.

Whether you’re looking to get more visibility or want a better way to reach potential customers on Facebook — Facebook Ads can help.

Need help with Facebook or any other social media marketing?  Free Consultation.

Call 800-771-9671 or 856-812-3180

Email

RJCooper@ContractorMarketingNetwork.com

It’s Up to YOU!

When you are seen and you engage on Facebook and other social sites, you increase awareness. Awareness is the first step towards making a sale and profit.

Engagement and visibility are important for your business. Facebook is where people are hanging out and the more techniques you can use to increase your visibility, the more valuable Facebook is to your business.

Need someone to manage your Facebook Page to the max for under $10 per day?