Want to build an online business? Why not create a Local Marketing business where you help local organizations get seen online and promote their company?
Sure, you need to know how to communicate in person and have online marketing and SEO skill to attract local clients. But it can provide you with a new opportunity to make money online.
Why building a local marketing business?
Often local organizations don´t have a good online presence, if any. But nowadays it is more important than ever to appear on the internet. If you have knowledge about local marketing strategies, you can build a business and help many small shops, restaurants, and other local businesses to get their own website and to rank in search engines. It can greatly benefit them by attracting new customers.
And the more you support locals in your community, the more you can grow your own business.
While many local shops or restaurants often don´t have their own website or aren´t present online. It is necessary to appear in directories like Google Maps and Yelp. Their business needs to be indexed on Google so local people can become more aware of their organization.
Some companies also need their own website, but without having technical understanding, this is a hard task for them. You can help them build their site and do SEO and online marketing for them.
Why do you need to communicate in person?
It’s all about communication with people. Be it a video meeting or in person, it is a face-to-face business. The local companies are dealing with people all day. They are used to working with people, which is why it is important to be comfortable with talking to other people. If you only like to be behind a computer with only Email as a communication medium, then this is not the right business for you.
You only get a client when you network in your local community. As talking is key with potential clients, you also need to listen carefully to what they say. Different clients have other interests because, for example, a lawyer wants to have a website with information about his business and a phone contact page. Versus a small store, they may only need to be appearing on google maps.
For clients, it can be intimidating as they often don´t know what you are talking about. And they may think you charge $500 an hour and that your services will be very expensive. They don´t see the value of your services. This is why it is important to address your client’s needs. Let them tell their story to build trust with the local company.
Skills you need for a Local Marketing Business
Before you can build your own marketing business, you need to learn all types of skills to provide an amazing service.
Search engine optimization Skills on how to do keyword research, create content, and how to use the SEO Elements like meta title and meta description Internal and External links… It is necessary to have knowledge of Google Analytics, Search Console, and Bing Webmaster Tools.
It is also important to have Local SEO skills about Google My Business and Bing Places for Business. You need to have (Name, address, and Phone number (NAP) consistent and the same all across the websites they acquire. And it is useful to understand the Local Schema code and web directories like yelp or any website that has the name, address, and phone number on it.
You need to learn how to motivate people to get reviews and get rating stars on Facebook and Google.
It is about helping people, and they pay you for your time. Sell packages to people, not charge hourly because if the local companies don´t see an end result won´t hire you. Pricing is based on your experience of what you offer to the client. For example, for new site development & onsite SEO, you can price it at around 1000$ depending on the complexity and if the SEO competition isn´t high.
You can upsell ongoing SEO & site management based on your hours invested. When your client’s site grows, you need to spend more time maintaining it. Showing google analytics and other statics can help prove your work and how it benefits their organization.
Make sure they understand if they don´t use ongoing services, they need to find their own hosting services.
To get a client, you need to make them excited by giving them the earning potential they can get when you build them an online presence. Don´t offer your services for free what you can do is charge an upfront fee of $500, and when you create their website, you can showcase and price them other $500. After that, you can launch it on the internet and do the SEO for free.
Then you can upsell them for ongoing Marking services like SEO, Social Media, or Email Marketing.
What you can earn depends on how much you hustle and what you do to get new clients. And also on what marketing skills you have.
How to attract local clients?
Ask yourself who are the people in your life that service you use, be it a hairstylist, plumber, or lawyer. Or do any of your friends and family have a business that needs a better online presence? They maybe know some local business owners.
You need to visit meetups and local events on different networking groups. Present how you can help local businesses by attending speaking opportunities. Of course, for people, it sounds scary to speak in front of an audience, but you can practice and improve yourself. When you get better in networking, you can reach more potential clients.
If you have a regular hangout, be it in a coffee shop, pub, etc., try to make new contacts there. Also, announce on your personal social media account your new local marketing business. They might help you to find potential new clients.
Later on, you can ask for a referral when you grow your client base. Something like:” if you know anyone that would appreciate our service, let them know about us.” Reviews on Google can help attract new local organizations. Or, if you do a good job, you can get recurring clients.
Make sure to work in your environment, so use WordPress only if you are comfortable with it, and then no other site builder like Wix or Jimdo.
It is helpful to you have your own hosting site and buy domains for them. So you don´t need to share all your login details. A good idea is to include these hosting services as long as they are your clients. It is managed to host, which means they can contact you, and you add and fix their requests and solve their problems.
It is essential to have a website for your local marketing business and a lead magnet that can attract clients through emails.
The all-in-one local marketing tool from Brightlocal is a pretty helpful tool to help you manage your clients and show them reports of Google analytics and business as well as all types of Social Media statics.
Conclusion
Yes, it takes time to establish and grow a local marketing business, but it can be a great service to help your local community. When you improve yourself by learning the newest marketing and SEO strategies, you are on the right track to building a profitable company.
Even if you may don´t want to create a local marketing business, you can find a lot of other opportunities to earn money online.
