Running a local business can be a joy, but it can also be a massive challenge, and as any business owner will know too well, there are good times, bad times and times when things are just OK.
One of the biggest challenges for any local business is attracting new customers and making sure you keep in touch with existing or current customers, as while some businesses try to achieve only one-off purchases, for most small companies, repeat custom and loyal customers are the backbone of their success and what they are trying to achieve. There can be an assumption that all you need is a shop, big sign and word of mouth when it comes to local businesses, but this could not be further from the truth.

Getting customers through the door is such an important marketing goal that you really need to be pushing on all fronts. But, without a budget, it can be really hard to get your name out there, as although SEO and local SEO is, of course, effective, it takes time, which can be problematic for new businesses or businesses that need customers now.

So, now is the time to enter into the world of Facebook paid advertising and you will never look back. Here is just why it’s so important and works so well for local businesses up and down the country.

Your Audience Is On Facebook

80% of UK online users have a Facebook account, and 80% of these check in at least once a day, especially now with Facebook being so popular on smartphones. This means that the majority of your potential or existing customers are using Facebook, which from a marketing point view is simply fantastic for any local business. Few other platforms can offer such an audience, and very few can offer the targeting options that we come to next, making Facebook the perfect marketing avenue for so many companies.

Location Targeting

Facebook offers precise location targeting, whether that’s postcodes, cities, counties or countries, you can hit the areas you really want to target, with just a few clicks of a mouse. This means that if you are a business based in Bristol, you could target all of Bristol or just the areas that are close to your shop. Or, if you fancy trying new areas as you also have a mail order facility, you can take your pick and hit the areas you really want to.

Interests / Behaviours

Facebook knows pretty much everything you do, everything you say online and much more, which means that over time, it can build up a very precise profile of your behaviours and interests. This means that from a business point of view, you can use this information and get in front of the people who might be interested in what you have to offer, or in front of people that have previously used your business and get them back through the door.

Age And Sex Demographics

For some businesses, age and sex are crucial in terms of their target audience, as there will always be a group of people that are their ideal customers, normally dependant on the type of service they provide or the products they offer. Facebook allows you to target age groups and either sex or both, meaning that along with the other targeting options on offer, you can really drill down and find your perfect audience and then advertise to them.

Cost Effective Marketing

The final point of our key reasons is that Facebook paid advertising is far more cost-effective than you might think, and on top of this, if you get your targeting settings spot on it can offer one of the best returns on investment of any online marketing platform. Therefore, you can make a small budget go a long way. You might have to spend some money to get your audience perfected, but it will work if you keep pushing and finding your ideal audience.