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Running a local business is tough. Every dollar counts, and spending money on marketing can feel like a gamble. The good news is, you don’t need a massive budget to stand out in your community. With the right mix of social media, community connections, and indoor digital advertising, you can grow your brand and reach real customers, without throwing cash at campaigns that don’t work.
Here are five smart ways to promote your local business and get real results.
1. Show Up Where Your Customers Already Are
Before you spend a single dollar, figure out where your ideal customers spend their time. Are they scrolling Facebook or Instagram? Do they hang out at local cafés, gyms, or breweries? Are they part of a community Facebook group?
Once you know where they are, show up there. Join local pages, comment on posts, and share helpful tips or behind-the-scenes moments from your business. You’re not just selling, you’re building trust. When people see you as part of their community, they’re far more likely to support you when they need your service or product.
2. Partner With Other Local Businesses
There’s power in teaming up. Partner with a nearby business that shares your audience but doesn’t compete with you. A café could partner with a local bakery. A gym could team up with a health food store.
Swap flyers, host small events together, or share each other’s social media posts. You can even run a joint giveaway online “Tag a friend and win a gift card from both our stores.” It’s simple, low cost, and helps both of you reach new faces without doubling your ad budget.
3. Use Social Media the Smart Way
Social media doesn’t have to be a full-time job. The trick is consistency, not perfection. Post two to three times a week with content that connects to your audience.
- Share customer stories or reviews
- Post quick videos showing your product in action
- Celebrate community events or local wins
- Use clear location tags like “Langley, BC” or “Fraser Valley” so people nearby see your posts
Don’t stress over fancy production. People respond to genuine, real posts more than perfect ones. Your phone camera and a few minutes of your time can go a long way.
4. Get Involved in the Community
If your business is part of the local community, act like it. Join your Chamber of Commerce, sponsor a small event, or set up a table at a farmers market. These small moves help you meet people face-to-face and show that you care about where you live and work.
You can also support a local cause. Pick something that aligns with your values: maybe youth sports, animal rescues, or mental health awareness. When you show up for others, people remember it.
Community presence builds word-of-mouth, the most trusted marketing there is.
5. Try Indoor Digital Billboard Advertising (DOOH)
Here’s one of the smartest moves local businesses can make today. Indoor digital billboards, often found in places like restaurants, cafés, and waiting rooms, let you advertise directly to real people in your area for a fraction of the cost of traditional ads.
Instead of fighting for attention online, your ad shows up on a screen right where your customers are relaxing, eating, or socializing. You can display your logo, offer, or even a quick video.
Unlike social media ads that vanish in a scroll, digital screens give you repeat exposure to the same audience, week after week. This builds familiarity and trust. Plus, it’s measurable, affordable, and feels more authentic than being buried in a noisy feed.
For example, Gand1 Media Solutions helps local businesses in Langley and the Fraser Valley appear on screens inside community venues. With plans starting at just $100 a month, it’s a cost-effective way to stay visible to your local audience without wasting ad dollars.
Bringing It All Together
When you blend community outreach, social media, and smart digital advertising, you create a marketing plan that works together, not against itself. Each part builds on the other. Your social media posts drive curiosity. Your community presence builds trust. Your digital billboard ads keep your brand top of mind.
The key isn’t spending more money, it’s spending wisely. Focus on being seen where it matters most: in your community, by the people who actually buy from you.
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