A common issue faced by our clients is that they need to find an effective way of targeting potential clients online who are situated in a particular local area. 

If this sounds like you, here’s a checklist of several effective ways to target your local customers online:

• Make sure you have created a listing on Google Maps. If you’re listed already (as many businesses are) then take control of your listing by creating a new entry on Google Places that exactly matches the listing you see for your business on Google Maps (even if the details are wrong). If you’re not listed already then it’s very straight forward to create a new listing.
• Don’t be lazy with your Maps listing. By including lots of keyword-rich text, adding pictures & video, adding your business to relevant categories and making sure you get some reviews from friendly customers, you can improve your position in the listings.
• Don’t forget that you can target Google AdWords campaigns to a specific geographical area – so that when anyone within a defined radius of your chosen location searches for your chosen phrases, your ad is displayed.
• And of course, you can target your local area through organic search too. Make sure you mention your geographical location plenty of times on your website, and work it into your title tags in particular. You can even target surrounding areas with some careful thought – for example, mention that your business serves x, y and z areas in addition to your own.
• Facebook pay per click advertising allows you to advertise only to specific geographical areas, and indeed to particular demographic groups.
• Twitter is also, of course, an excellent place to find your local customers online and build relationships with them.

Need to target a local audience online? Contact Helen for more details about how Ascendancy can help.