Think Big, Think Local

Sometimes its is difficult to see the wood for the trees.

The Web is a big place packed full of global opportunities but if current trends are to be believed, thinking 'local' is the best business approach.

A 'localised' online presence develops business growth cultivates greater customer loyalty.

Social media is a critical part of this marketing mix, as are incentives (deals). Group deals continue their rapid rise in popularity, up 33% in 6 months.

By far the majority of people searching online (73%) are looking for local content as this infographic shows.

See the larger version here

The pay off is that 82% of searches online result in off line follow-up, either through a visit to a store, a phone call or a purchase.

So even if your business has a global perspective the greatest success will come from localising your offering -  local content on localised web sites, engagement in local social media and forums. One size (of content) does not fit all.

How Agencies Rate Their Clients Social Media Tactics

Agencies have rated the effectiveness of their clients' social marketing tactics and according to an article by Marketing Sherpa, posting content on company-branded or -managed blogs is deemed either very or somewhat effective by 85% of agencies.  This is particularly so when that content is purposely fed into other social media outlets.

Unusual marketing tactics - Betfair sponsored Bromley Town and the footballers 'adopted' QR Codes

Related articles

• 2012 Social Marketing & New Media Predictions (socialmediatoday.com)
• Optimizing Your Social Marketing Program - A Practical Way to Social Media Optimization (SMO) (thecustomercollective.com)
• The What And How Of Social Business (forbes.com)