The local marketing strategy you probably won't use (but should)

If you are a business owner who offers a product or service locally, this post has the power to put millions of dollars in your pocket. It's not complicated, but it will take a modest amount of work (this is why most people won't do it). Here's the process:

1) Go buy one of the following domains:

• [YOUR TOWN, AREA OR COUNTY NAME]+retirement.com
• [YOUR TOWN, AREA OR COUNTY NAME]+lifestyle.com
• [YOUR TOWN, AREA OR COUNTY NAME]+living.com
• [YOUR TOWN, AREA OR COUNTY NAME]+fun.com
• [YOUR TOWN, AREA OR COUNTY NAME]+… you get the idea.

2) Set up a blog at this URL and hire freelance bloggers/writers from your area to write consistent guest posts about any of the following (they usually work cheap or sometimes even free for the exposure).

• Local restaurants
• Local events
• Local attractions
• Local festivals
• Local homes

If you can't afford to pay writers, you can do the writing yourself. If you can't afford to pay writers and don't have ability to do the writing, you can re-post articles from other sources as long as you get permission and give proper credit.

3) Use RSS feeds to pull in:

• Local weather
• Local news
• Local sports

#4 (THIS IS THE KEY) Add articles, videos, and other content related to your business throughout the site, featuring it enough that visitors navigating through other content will see your content consistently. In this content, include links back to lead-capture focused landing pages and to specific pages of your website. Don't try to make this site branded to your business. Rather, brand it for your community and feature your business as the primary advertiser on the site.

Don't try to make this site branded to your business. Rather, brand it for your community and feature your business as the primary advertiser on the site.

5) Promote the site widely until it becomes a known resource for people in your community.

• Let local businesses "get listed" for free
• Print and distribute flyers
• Send mailers
• Run online ads
• Include a free message board or forum where locals can exchange information

This strategy may take a year or more to pay off, but once it gets going, the value of the exposure you create for your business will be immeasurable.