In the rush to control the digital ad space, many of today’s marketers forget about good-old-fashioned local engagement. If you think things like billboards and bus ads are obsolete, think again! These methods work hand-in-hand with local search engine optimization (SEO) and they can help you quickly gain a following in your local area. Here are a few tips to help you engage your local community and take advantage of the full range of local business marketing possibilities.

Ads on Local News, Local Radio, etc.

While local news and radio aren’t as popular as they used to be, millions of people still listen to the radio every month. Radio and local news present a great opportunity to engage your local community in a relatively affordable and un-crowded ad space. You may also want to consider local physical ads that may be more affordable than you think; try bus stop ads, billboards, local newspapers, and more.

Lawn Signs during Active Projects

Businesses like kitchen and bathroom remodelers can take advantage of their hyper-local focus by putting up lawn signs at every job. When your clients’ neighbors see the great job you’re doing, they will be sure to pick up the phone and call. Just be sure to ask your client for permission before putting an ad in their front yard.

Sponsor Local Teams, Local Events, Local Schools, etc.

Genuine engagement with your local community will always be a win for you. By sponsoring local sports teams, local events, schools, and more, you can gain brand awareness among the people in your service area. They will see your commitment to building their community, translating into phone calls for you.

At TIC Digital Marketing, we generally focus on online advertising and search engine optimization; that doesn’t mean we can’t help you find a niche in the local physical ad environment. Call us at (858) 480-9932, send an email to [email protected] or fill out the online form on our contact page to speak with our experts about all the ways you can gain a local following the old-fashioned way.

Action Plan

Take a moment to apply what you’ve learned here to your own marketing!

1. Think of a few local radio and news stations. Look online or reach out to check the cost of a paid ad placement.
2. Look into getting lawn signs with your branding on them. Bonus points for using another local business to get them made!
3. Research sponsorship opportunities for local teams or events. Look for:
   1. Local events coming up that might accept sponsors
   2. Local little league or travel teams that need sponsors
   3. Be sure to reach out 1 to 3 months in advance of the event or sports season – sponsorship materials take some time to make and print!