Online Marketing – Think Local
Over the last couple of years, there has been a significant increase in the number of products devoted to becoming successful in local marketing. Sometimes we as online marketers forget that there are many businesses right in our own town who will pay us to use our expertise to help them build their businesses. Take a look around the town or city where you live. What can you offer to your local businesses?
You’d be surprised. Up until a couple of years ago, I never even considered my local businesses. I was busy wrting articles and generating traffic to my websites, and interacting with clients and prospects all over the world.
At the same time, I was building up a repertoire of knowledge and expertise that is invaluable to small business owners (‘brick and mortar’ businesses), who are always looking for ways to expand their business. They’ve heard of the internet, but they are too busy running their business to learn much about it. They have some vague notion of setting up a website, but they really don’t understand the value of having a good website well-positioned in the search engines to target those keywords that will bring in customers.
Just think of all the things we have all learned while building our online businesses:
- Online market research – aka keyword research
- How to buy a domain name
- How to create a website
- How to host and manage a website
- How to promote a website
- How to produce content that gets people to the website
- How to publish that content
- How to set up and manage autoresponders
And the list goes on. Now think about this for a moment: each and every one of these skills is of tremendous value to small business owners in your community. Presented properly, you can drum up tons of local business who will pay you to do things that are second nature to you, but for which they are mystified.
In any business, its always a good idea to have more than one stream of income. Yes you do have a global business, but think about promoting yourself locally as an internet consultant. Sit down and think about how you would like to offer your services to a local business. Get involved with your local Chamber of Commerce. Join any local business networking groups. Offer advice at every opportunity. And make sure you have a great answer to the inevitable question “So what do you do?”
Food for thought? I think so!
Until next time,
Bill Brine
Online Marketing Consultant
Generate Premium Leads For Your Business
Learn How To Build An Online Business
Ph: 902-667-0511
Email: brine.bill [@] gmail.com
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