You do not need a ten thousand dollar advertising budget to grow your business. Some of the smartest local service companies I know are basically printing money using old school marketing tactics that their competitors have totally forgotten about. In this post I am going to go over seven marketing strategies that are working right now. We are going to cover how to get free brand exposure on Google without paying for ads and how to turn your local community into a referral engine. Let’s get into it.
1. The Branded Google Review Hack
This is something I learned a while ago. Basically you go to another local business and you leave a review and you get brand exposure at the same time. You are basically stealing their traffic. You visit a local business you like such as a gas station or a restaurant. Then you leave a positive review. The key is to use a branded email and a branded photo. Have something with your company logo on there so people see it when it pops up. You can even take a photo with your branded truck in the background. It builds local authority without looking too salesy.
2. The Branded Snack Drop
This is a low cost way to build local relationships. You just show up with what people love most which is snacks. You get a small branded basket and stock it with things like Gatorade and protein bars. Put your business card or a flyer inside so people see who dropped it off. You can drop these at community centers or youth sports games or local parks. Don't show up with a sales pitch. Just show up and say you appreciate what they are doing for the community. Let the package do the brand awareness for you.
3. Job Site Before and After Signs
Yard signs are old school but they are not dead. You just need a fresh approach. Get a yard sign installed at the start of every job. Use a sign that is big enough for people to actually see from their cars. Use a headline that builds curiosity like watch this property transformation. Put a QR code on there that sends people directly to your social media page. Document the whole process by taking a photo every day. People love seeing those time lapse videos and it makes them feel like they are part of the journey.
4. Local Business Shoutout Interviews
This is like having your own local podcast. Come up with a name for your series like Local Legends of Cincinnati. Reach out to other local business owners and tell them you want to interview them for social media. Most of them will say yes because they want free advertising. Record a short five minute interview on your phone about how they got started. Share it on social media and tag them. You become a local connector instead of just a service provider.
5. The Community QR Code Board
Design a clean flyer with a clear headline that explains who you are and what you do. Create a QR code that goes to your Google reviews or a gallery of your work. Laminate the flyer so it lasts a long time and then ask local businesses if you can post it on their bulletin boards. Gyms or restaurants are great spots for this. It is passive promotion that works twenty four hours a day while people are sitting around waiting.
6. Referral Card Kits
Referrals are a great way to get more business and putting an incentive behind it is even better. Print double sided referral cards that say if you hire us your friend gets fifty or a hundred dollars. Don't be cheap with the reward if you have high ticket items. Leave a stack of these cards at every finished job. People love recommending businesses they trust especially if there is something in it for them.
7. Neighborhood Mailbox Tagging
This is basically putting door hangers or postcards around an area where you just finished a job. Print simple postcards with a real project photo and a quote from the customer. Send them to houses in a ten mile radius of the work you just did. It builds instant trust because people see you are active in their specific neighborhood. When you do this consistently it builds local brand awareness over time and creates a snowball effect for your business.