Hometown Hustle- Building your Brand Surrounding your Community
When you're first starting your business, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is how can you grow your business? How can you attract your target audience, and how can you establish your business all over? However, in order to grow your business all over, you must start in your own area, your own community.
This is the method of Hyper-Local Marketing; using your brand to build a specific audience in your community. Whether you're running a small coffee shop or managing an art gallery, your marketing tactics must attract your audience in your community.
Here are some strategies you'll need to establish your Hometown Hustle.
Building a Firm Foundation
Every new business must begin with a firm foundation. Establishing a strong visual brand with photos and videos that resonates with your mission in a way that you want it to be is important. While that is always the first step, don't just stop there. Pull in local elements as well. Try to see what your community is known for--whether it be coffee, specific flowers, or even artistic sculptures--incorporating local elements into your branding adds authenticity and resonance with your brand.
Finding your Community
After establishing your foundation, you need to start finding your community. While you probably already do this through online and social media, the heart of hyper local marketing lies in engaging with your community in person. Once you start finding your community in person, start building partnerships with those people. For instance, if you run a co-working space, collaborate with nearby coffee shops or bakeries. By becoming intertwined with the locals of your community, you'll naturally amplify your visibility and relevance.
Becoming a Community Hub
The final step in growing your business in your local community is to become a community hub, a place where your audience gathers and shows up to your business. Strive to be an active participant in your community by organizing events, workshops, or themed gatherings that cater to the interests of your audience. Start putting an offer out to your community that your community really wants, so they can interact with your brand.
Hyper-local marketing lies in genuine connection and community engagement. By intertwining your brand with your community, you establish deeper roots and foster lasting relationships with your audience. So, embrace the uniqueness of your community, engage authentically, and watch as your business begins to flourish within the corners of your community.
BY JETTA M. HOLIDAY
MARKETING INTERN AT LM