Listen… You don’t need to be internet famous to grow your business. You just need to be locally legendary.
Local marketing is about showing up, standing out, and making sure the people in your own backyard know who you are (and why they should love you). You need a strategic set of local marketing tools to make this happen.
Here’s how to market like the hometown hero you were born to be.
Show Up & Glow Up ✨
Be everywhere (in a good way)
Want people to remember you? Be present.
Sponsor the kids’ soccer team ⚽. Host a charity event 💖. Hand out free samples at the farmers market 🍓.
Real community involvement beats cold advertising every single time.
Oh, and don’t forget to snap some pics for social media. Nothing says “we’re part of this town” like a selfie at the chili cook-off.
Know Your People 👀
Just ask!
This one of the most common mistakes we share as a local marketing tip. Too many times, business owners ASSUME that their customers want A, B or C, but they never bother to ask their customers what they REALLY want.
Solution? Just ask.
Every local market has its quirks. (And we love them for it.)
Find out what makes your community tick. Run a quick poll, chat with customers, or just eavesdrop at the local coffee shop ☕.
Marketing gets way easier when you speak your town’s language. Get your ego out of the way. You don’t need to be RIGHT, you need to be PROFITABLE.
Make Friends With The Local Celebs 💁♀️
Influencers aren’t just for Instagram models
Every town has local influencers: the food blogger, the yoga instructor, the parent with 10k followers documenting their chaotic toddler life, the politician who always seems to be on TV, etc.
Partner up. Offer a freebie or invite them to an event. Let them share their honest experience with their audience.
Bonus: It’s like word-of-mouth marketing…but on steroids.
Get Found On Google (Or Stay Invisible) 🤷♂️
Local SEO is a non-negotiable local marketing tool
People search for stuff like “best coffee shop near me” every single day.
You want to show up in those results — period.
Here’s your to-do list:
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Claim your Google Business Profile. Consider running Google Local Service Ads with a small budget.
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Get those glowing 5-star reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Use local keywords (not just “coffee shop” — use “[your city name] Coffee Shop”)
This is digital curb appeal. Make it count.
Post Like A Local Rockstar 🎤
Social media loves local
Your social media should feel like hanging out at the best neighborhood spot.
Post about local events 🎉. Shout out your customers 🙌. Share behind-the-scenes moments of your team doing their thing.
Let your personality shine. People follow people, not faceless businesses.
And don’t be afraid to use some personality. Boring and bland posts might seem “safe,” but they’ll do nothing to help your business. You need to find a way to stand out.
Collaboration = Amplification 🤝
Team up with other local legends
Partnering with nearby businesses is a cheat code for growth.
Coffee shop + Bookstore 📚☕? Realtor + Moving Company 🚚🏡? Gym + Smoothie Bar 💪🥤?
Run joint promotions, host events together, or shout each other out online. Everybody wins.
Old School Local Marketing Tools Still Rule(s) 📰
Print isn’t dead. Neither is radio.
Yes, digital is king, but don’t sleep on the classics. The best local marketing tools have been around forever.
Ads in local papers, radio spots, sponsoring a little league team…these tactics still work especially in tight-knit communities.
Sometimes your best marketing strategy is just showing up where people already are.
Measure What Matters 📊
Track it or guess forever
Here’s how to know if your local marketing is actually doing its job:
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Is your website traffic growing?
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Are your social posts getting engagement?
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Are customers giving you good feedback?
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Are sales going up?
Watch the numbers. Double down on what’s working. Cut the rest.
Become A Local Legend 💥
Marketing doesn’t have to feel gross or salesy. Show up for your community. Be generous. Be human. Be everywhere (in the right way). Use your preferred local marketing tools to build a brand that’s likable and relatable.
When people like you, trust you, and see you around town, they’ll support you.
That’s the magic of local marketing.
