How to Promote Your Business Locally

Growing a local business requires more than just “being visible.” You need a blend of online and offline strategies, clear messaging, and reliable ways to track results. Below are a number of powerful ways to promote your business in your town or region, including digital, physical, community-based and paid advertising channels, all with realistic costs and expected ROI.

1. Google Business Profile (Local SEO)

What: Claim and fully optimise your listing with accurate business info, service areas, reviews, photos, and posts.
Cost: Free, or £100 to £400/month with a local SEO agency
ROI: 400 to 800%
How to measure: Google Insights (views, direction requests, calls, clicks)

2. Local SEO Website Optimisation

What: Add local keywords to your site, create service area landing pages, add schema markup and get backlinks from local sites.
Cost: £300 to £1,000 for setup, plus monthly optimisation
ROI: 300 to 700%
How to measure: Google Search Console, Google Analytics, call tracking

3. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Google Ads (Local Campaigns)

What: Target your local area for high-intent searches (e.g. “emergency plumber Bedford”).
Cost: £200 to £2,000/month depending on niche
ROI: 200 to 600%
How to measure: Google Ads dashboard, conversion tracking

4. Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram)

What: Use local targeting to promote events, offers, or lead generation.
Cost: £5 to £50/day
ROI: 150 to 500%
How to measure: Meta Ads Manager, leads/sales tracking via UTM tags or forms

5. Vehicle Wrapping or Signage

What: Brand your van or car with your logo, contact info and call to action.
Cost: £300 to £1,200 one-time
ROI: 200 to 1,000% over 3 years
How to measure: Use a unique phone number or QR code

6. Local Facebook Groups and Free Forums

What: Post in “Spotted” groups, neighbourhood forums, local marketplaces and Nextdoor.
Cost: Free
ROI: 100 to 300% depending on frequency and value shared
How to measure: Ask “where did you hear about us?” or track message traffic spikes after posting

7. Directory Listings (Free and Paid)

What: List your business on Yell, Thomson Local, Yelp, Checkatrade, TrustATrader, Bark and industry-specific directories.
Cost: Free to £500/year
ROI: 100 to 400%
How to measure: Use unique URLs or numbers for each listing

8. Flyer Distribution and Direct Mail

What: Door-to-door delivery of flyers, menus, or postcards to targeted areas.
Cost: £40 per 1,000 flyers delivered
ROI: 100 to 300% (higher in areas with less competition)
How to measure: QR codes, landing page links or discount codes

9. Host Local Events or Pop-Ups

What: Hold an open day, free class or collaborative pop-up with another local business.
Cost: £100 to £500 for venue, materials and refreshments
ROI: 300 to 600% (especially when emails or bookings are captured)
How to measure: Pre-registration, post-event bookings, traffic increases

10. Collaborate with Local Influencers and Creators

What: Partner with local micro-influencers to promote your business on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
Cost: £50 to £300 per campaign
ROI: 200 to 500%
How to measure: Discount code usage, tagged traffic spikes, increase in followers

11. Local Newspaper, Magazine or Radio Advertising

What: Ads or sponsored features in publications like BedsLife, Hertfordshire Living or local FM radio stations.
Cost: £100 to £1,000
ROI: 150 to 400% depending on niche and reach
How to measure: Branded landing page or exclusive promo code

12. Sponsorships (Schools, Events, Sports)

What: Sponsor school newsletters, local fun runs, charity events or grassroots sports teams.
Cost: £150 to £1,500
ROI: 150 to 500%
How to measure: Logo reach, website traffic increases, tagged social mentions

13. Referral Schemes

What: Reward existing customers who refer new clients with discounts, vouchers or gifts.
Cost: Variable per referral
ROI: 300 to 1,000%
How to measure: Track via codes or referral forms

14. Networking Groups and Local B2B Events

What: Join Chambers of Commerce, BNI groups or business breakfasts.
Cost: £10 to £600/year
ROI: Variable but often strong for B2B
How to measure: Number of contacts made that lead to bookings

15. Localised SEO Blog Content

What: Write blog posts like “Best Coffee in Bedford” or “Top 10 Plumbers in Milton Keynes” to capture local traffic.
Cost: £50 to £200 per article (outsourced)
ROI: 200 to 500%
How to measure: Google Analytics, page views, leads from blog posts

16. Offer Loyalty Cards or Local VIP Deals

What: Stamp cards, app-based rewards or email-based loyalty schemes.
Cost: £0 to £300 for setup and printing
ROI: 250 to 600%
How to measure: Track redemptions and repeat purchases

17. Build a Local Email List

What: Collect emails from in-store visitors, website traffic or event attendees and send regular updates.
Cost: Free to £30/month for tools like Mailchimp or Brevo
ROI: 300 to 800%
How to measure: Open rate, click-throughs, and purchases via email links

Final Thoughts

Promoting your business locally does not mean relying on one or two channels. It is about combining the right online and offline methods, tracking your results and reinvesting in what works. Whether it is Google visibility, real-world events or collaborating with local creators, each strategy has a role to play.

To grow locally and consistently, test multiple approaches, monitor performance closely and refine your messaging over time. With the right tools, local reputation and a bit of creative thinking, your business can become a trusted name in your area.