Last Updated on: 24th March 2023, 09:15 am
As local businesses feel the pinch of an economic downturn, many will be forced to make tough choices about their marketing budgets. Some will cancel or reduce their spending on local marketing, while others will double down in an effort to weather the storm. For local marketing agencies, this can present both challenges and opportunities.
On the one hand, clients may be more resistant to trying new strategies or taking risks when money is tight. However, this can also be seen as an opportunity to provide real value and prove the ROI of local marketing initiatives. In fact, businesses that are able to maintain or even increase their marketing spending during a recession often come out ahead of their competitors when the economy rebounds.
So, while a recession may lead to some tough conversations with clients, it also presents an opportunity for local marketers to prove their worth and show how local marketing can help businesses not just survive but thrive.
Make Sure Your Local Marketing Budget Is Allocated Correctly
1. Google Business Profile
As the 2021 Local Ranking Factors survey shows, 36% of your local marketing budget should be going towards your Google Business Profile (GBP). This is an essential part of any local marketing strategy, and it’s important to make sure you’re doing more than just the basics.
Your GBP should include high-quality images, updated product information, and special offers, as well as completing the questions and answers section. It’s also important to keep your GBP relevant with frequent posts that show up in the knowledge panel. And don’t forget to add new attributes as they become available, such as the new LGBTQ+ attribute.
By ensuring that your GBP is up to date and complete, you’ll be well on your way to a successful local marketing campaign.
2. Location Pages for Local Businesses
Local businesses need to make sure they have location pages that are optimized for search engine visibility. That means including key information such as the business name, address, and phone number (NAP), a map, a list of products and services, and some location-specific content. Reviews are also important, as they help to boost the business’ prominence in the search results. All of this together will help the business to appear in the local pack and organic search results, giving them greater visibility and helping them to attract more customers.
3. Local Business Listings
As any business owner knows, data is essential for success. Without accurate and up-to-date information, it can be difficult to make informed decisions or track progress. This is especially true when it comes to online listings. Because bad data can undo all your hard work, it’s important to make sure you have consistent NAP (name, address, and phone number) data across all listings.
The easiest way to do this is to use a business listing management solution that reaches a lot of directories. At Simply Be Found, we distribute business information to important directories that matter to your business such as Google, Bing, Foursquare, and Facebook. As a result, you can rest assured that your data is accurate and up to date, giving you the information you need to succeed.
4. Optimize Your Business for Voice Search
In the past, businesses could rely on customers coming to them. whether it was because they were located in a high foot traffic area or they had strong marketing, people knew where to find them. However, in today’s digital age, that is no longer enough. People are increasingly using voice search to find local businesses, and if your business is not optimized for voice search, you could be missing out on a lot of potential customers.
That is where Simply Be Found comes in. We can help your business be voice search optimized, so you’ll be more likely to show up when people are searching for what you offer. As a result, you’ll get found by more local customers and grow your business.
5. Tracking Results Is Important
When working with clients, it is important to be able to track and show the results of your efforts. This can be done in a number of ways, but one of the most important is through Google Analytics. By setting up goals and reporting in the Progress Report, you can show exactly how your efforts are benefiting the client. If you only provide one component of their marketing, it is especially important to use UTMs (Urchin Tracking Module) so that you can isolate the results of your work from other marketing companies. Without this level of tracking, it will be difficult to show the value of your work to the client.
How to save your business from an economic downturn
The economy is cyclical, and every few years we experience a downturn. During these periods, businesses may tighten their budgets and agencies may see a decrease in work. But recessions don’t last forever – eventually, the economy will rebound, and things will go back to normal. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to weather the economic slowdown and come out ahead.
A recession is not the time to panic – instead, use it as an opportunity to reassess your business and find ways to become more efficient. Second, don’t be afraid to adjust your prices accordingly. In a down economy, clients may be looking for ways to save money, so it’s important to be flexible with your pricing. Finally, make sure you’re delivering quality work on time and within budget. Even in tough times, clients expect results – so if you can exceed their expectations, you’ll be in a good position when the economy picks back up.
Increase Productivity with Our Powerful Platform
It’s no secret that businesses need to be more productive than ever to survive in today’s economy. Simply Be Found is dedicated to helping businesses streamline their marketing operations and increase their productivity. Our business listings management solution lets businesses manage their listing information across multiple platforms with ease. Review management and generation help businesses collect and track customer reviews, saving them valuable time and effort. And our other powerful tools help businesses automate key marketing tasks, freeing up time and resources to focus on other areas of their business. So, if you’re looking for a way to increase your productivity and compete in today’s economy, visit SimplyBeFound.com now to learn more about our solutions.
