Small businesses often get stuck on how to market their products and services to the right potential customers. With limited resources & team, it is a difficult task to design, execute & improve a marketing strategy along with managing all the other important work in a small business.
Therefore, in this article, we are giving you thirteen solid, and effective marketing tips for small businesses in Orlando.
1. Get Your Business Listed On Local Directories
One of the best ways to get started with local SEO is to ensure your business is listed on all the major directories. This helps Google understand your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP), and can help improve your rankings in search results.
Some of the most popular directories for small businesses in Orlando include:
Orlando Business Journal
Orlando Sentinel
Yellow Pages
City of Orlando Business Directory
Orlando Chamber of Commerce
2. Google Business Profile
Another easy way to help improve your local SEO is to optimize your Google My Business listing. This is the listing that appears in the map results when someone searches for a local business in Orlando.
To optimize your GMB listing, make sure you add photos, create a compelling description, include relevant keywords, and list your hours of operation and contact information. You can also encourage customers to leave reviews on your GMB listing, which can help improve your ranking further.
3. Create Location-Specific Pages On Your Website
If you want to rank higher for searches in Orlando, it’s important to create location-specific pages on your website. These pages should include relevant content about your products or services in Orlando, as well as NAP information and a map of your location.
You can also use these pages to target specific keywords that people searching in Orlando are likely to use. For example, if you’re a car dealership in Orlando, you could target keywords like “used cars Orlando” or “cars for sale Orlando” on your location page.
4. Build Citations With Local Directories
Citations are mentions of your business name and NAP information on other websites. They’re an important part of local SEO because they help Google confirm the accuracy of your NAP information and improve the visibility of your business online.
Some ways to build citations for your business in Orlando include:
Adding your business to local directories like Yelp, FourSquare, and TripAdvisor.
Creating profiles on popular local websites like Orlandoweekly.com and VisitOrlando.com
Getting listed as a resource on local news websites like Clickorlando.com or Wftv.com
5. Brand Advocacy - Build And Drive It
If you want to succeed in the Orlando market, it’s not enough to simply have a great product or service. You need brand advocates — people who are willing to publicly sing your praises and help spread the word about what you do.
There are a few ways to go about building a team of brand advocates.
First, you can identify customers who are already happy with your product or service and encourage them to write reviews, testimonials, or social media posts about their experience. You can also offer incentives for referrals, such as discounts or free products.
Another way to build brand advocacy is to get involved with local events and causes that align with your values. This helps get your name out there and shows that you care about more than just making a profit — you’re invested in making Orlando a better place.
Finally, don’t forget to ask for help! Many people are happy to support small businesses, but they may not know how unless you ask. So put the word out that you’re looking for brand advocates, and see who steps up to the plate.
6. Local Market Fairs And Events
No matter what kind of small business you own in Orlando, participating in local markets and vendor fairs is a great way to increase brand awareness and reach new customers.
Not only will you be able to sell your products or services, but you’ll also be able to engage with potential customers, learn about their needs and wants, and get their contact information so you can follow up with them later.
To find local markets and vendor fairs in Orlando, do a quick search online, and check with your local chamber of commerce or business association. Orlando farmer's market by Lake Eola and Audubon Park Community Market are two great sites your can start from.
7. Social Media Makes Your Brand More Relatable
In today's world, social media is an essential tool for small businesses. It can reach a large audience at a relatively low cost, and it provides businesses with an opportunity to connect with potential and current customers.
When it comes to social media, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, it's important to have a presence on the platforms that your target audience is using. For example, if you're targeting millennial women, you'll want to be active on Instagram and Pinterest. Second, it's important to post regularly and to provide valuable content that your audience will appreciate.
This could include tips, advice, images, or anything else that would be of interest to your target audience.
8. Find Local Influencers And Collaborate
In the age of social media, it is more important than ever for small businesses to find local influencers to collaborate with. Influencers are people with large followings who can help promote your business to a wider audience.
Collaborating with an influencer can help you reach new customers, generate buzz for your business, and build your brand.
To find local influencers to collaborate with, start by searching social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
Then, look for people who have a large following in your area and who regularly post about topics that are relevant to your business. Once you have found a few potential collaborators, reach out and introduce yourself. Let them know why you think collaborating would be beneficial for both of you, and ask if they would be interested in working together.
9. Build Email Lists of People In Orlando
Building an email list is one of the most effective ways to market your small business. By regularly sending value-packed emails to your list, you’ll be able to build a relationship with your subscribers and eventually turn them into loyal customers.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when building your email list:
Make sure you have a strong opt-in form on your website.
Give people a reason to subscribe to your email list. Offer exclusive discounts, early access to new products, or helpful tips and advice that they can’t find anywhere else.
Send regular emails to your subscribers. Aim for at least once a week, but more is better. These emails should be packed with value, and they should always include a call-to-action (CTA) that encourages recipients to take some sort of action.
Include links back to your website in every email. This is an easy way for people to stay engaged with your brand and continue receiving valuable content even if they’re not ready to make a purchase yet.
Use A/B testing to improve your results. Try different subject lines, content formats, calls-to-action, and images until you find what works best for your business and your audience.
Source: Starbucks
10. Google Knowledge Graph
If you’re a small business based in Orlando, you may be wondering how to get your website to rank higher in local search results. After all, appearing on the first page of search results is essential for getting found by potential customers.
One way to improve your chances of ranking high in local searches is to build a Google Knowledge Graph. A Knowledge Graph is a box that appears on the right side of the search results page, and it contains information about a business or subject.
Building a Knowledge Graph is relatively simple, but it can take some time. First, you’ll need to make sure that your business is listed on Google My Business. Then, you’ll need to add relevant information to your websites, such as your business’s address, phone number, and operating hours. Finally, you’ll need to create informative blog posts and articles that mention your business.
11. Engage Community To Promote Your Business
Community engagement is a great way to get your small business noticed in Orlando.. There are a few ways you can go about doing this:
Sponsor a local event: This is a great way to show your support for the community and get your brand in front of a large group of people.
Get involved with local charities: There are many charities in Orlando that could use your help. By getting involved, you’ll not only be giving back to the community, but you’ll also be getting your business name out there.
Host an event at your business: This is a great way to show off your business and what it has to offer. Invite the community to come and check it out!
12. Advertise Based On The Demographics Of Orlando
Orlando is a large city with a population of over 284,817 people. The median age in Orlando is 33.8 years, which is lower than the national average of 37.2 years. The gender split in Orlando is almost even, with 50.3% of the population being female and 49.7% being male.
The racial makeup of Orlando is:
57.1% White
21.4% Hispanic or Latino
17.9% African American
2.1% Asian
1.4% Two or More Races
0.7% Native American
One of the most important elements of any marketing strategy is to target the right audience. This means understanding the demographics of the city and tailoring your marketing efforts accordingly.
For example, Orlando is a diverse city with a large Hispanic population. As such, businesses should consider using Spanish-language marketing materials and advertising on Spanish-language media outlets.
Additionally, Orlando is home to many families with young children. Businesses that cater to this demographic should focus on family-friendly marketing that highlights the benefits of their products or services for parents and children alike
13. Market Your Business - The Traditional Way
There are a lot of companies that make the mistake of thinking they can get away with not doing any offline marketing because they have a website and are active on social media. However, it’s important to realize that there is still a large percentage of people who don’t use the internet regularly, or at all. For these people, offline marketing is the only way they will hear about your company.
Some offline marketing tactics you can use to reach these people are:
Print ads in local newspapers and magazines
Direct mail campaigns
TV and radio commercials
Billboards
Sponsoring local events
It’s also important to realize that even people who are active online still see offline marketing. Make sure your branding is consistent across both mediums so that people will recognize your company no matter where they see or hear about it.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the best way for small businesses to get ahead in Orlando is by taking advantage of the different promotional opportunities available. Utilizing insight into residents' purchasing habits and using both online/offline platforms will allow you to create more successful marketing campaigns that will increase visibility and sales!
Want to know how we have helped local businesses in Orlando create a skyrocketing marketing strategy? Let us help you. Contact Us!
Important Landmarks: