Local is the term used to describe the body of knowledge that a community has about their environment and daily life. The term is not restricted to tribal groups or the original inhabitants of an area and includes knowledge possessed by women, men, farmers and merchants.
The word “local” is derived from the Latin word locus, meaning place. It can also be defined as the territory that a particular group of people occupy.
Regardless of your location, the Internet offers a wealth of opportunities to build your brand and increase your business’s exposure. This is especially true for local businesses, who are positioned to benefit from greater online visibility and increased customer demand.
What’s more, if you have a strong local presence online, it can help your business stand out from competitors and drive more foot traffic to your location. This is why it’s crucial to claim, enhance, and optimize your digital listings on the platforms that your customers prefer to use.
Google Business Profile
Whether you own a brick and mortar location or an online store, claiming your business profile is essential to making sure that it shows up in search results and gets the visibility it deserves. Google Business Profile (formerly called Google My Business) allows you to easily claim your profile and add important information like your business location, hours of operation and phone number so that it appears in search results when people are looking for your business.
In addition, Google’s Business Profile can be a valuable tool for driving more traffic to your business. If you’re a small business, it’s especially critical to make sure that your business information is accurate and up-to-date across the web so that consumers have confidence in their ability to find you when they search for your products or services.
Reviews
Consumers are relying more and more on online reviews to decide whether or not they will buy from a given company. This is why it’s so important to manage your online reviews and respond to them in a timely manner.
More than eight in ten consumers trust online reviews as much as they trust recommendations from friends and family. If you’re not monitoring your local review profiles and responding to reviews, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to build your brand and drive revenue.
Employee-Centric Reputation
Managing your brand’s reputation starts with employees who are able to represent the brand effectively in all public forums. Make sure that your team members receive initial and ongoing training in your business’s policies, products and services so that they know how to answer customers’ questions, resolve issues and provide superior service.
Negative Review Responses
When a customer leaves a negative review about your local business, it’s important to take the time to respond and offer a resolution. This will not only improve your brand’s reputation, but it can also help you build more loyalty with your customers over the long run.