How Local Area Sites Help Brands Connect with Nearby Customers
Before you put together a new strategy or lay out specific marketing campaign you want to launch, there’s an important marketing channel you need to know about -- MyArea Network’s Local Area sites.
We’re going to dive into why this media channel needs to be in your upcoming plans, and how you can start leveraging Local Area sites to attract new customers.
What’s a Local Area Site?
A Local Area site is a part of MyArea Network’s national list of websites organized by area code. Each site is related to a geographic region defined by its area code.
For example, here in Tampa, there is 813area.com. Right across the bridge, St. Petersburg has their own site, 727area.com. There are dozens of sites across the country (and even a few in the Caribbean) that represent their regional area codes.
You can see them all on the map:
Within each site, there are dozens of ways for locals, visitors, businesses, and community organizations to connect with their area.
Some of the best ways to use Local Area sites are to:
- Browse event calendars that share the best things to do in the area. Sort by venue or category to find events perfect for you.
- Review restaurant, nightlife, and attraction listings that share specials and inside looks at top venues.
- Read guides and articles that curate the best things in the area like this Ultimate Guide to Christmas in Tampa or this Boston New Year’s Eve Event Guide.
Some Local Area sites are more active than others. MyArea has a team working on all of the green sites, where there is a consistent flow of new content and guides being produced by our editorial team. But, all sites have directories and event listings that curate top things to do, see, and eat in the area.
You can use all Local Area sites to find new places and explore an area or to post and share your favorite venues and things to see.
So, what does all that mean for your business?
How To Grow Your Brand on Local Area Sites
Local Area sites drive people to the best things to do, see, or eat in an area.
By putting your business on your Local Area site, you can use that momentum to drive people toward your business.
You can capitalize on the thousands of readers who visit Local Area sites to inform their decisions about what they should do in their city.
Here are a few ways to make an impact and grow your brand on your Local Area site.
#1) Claim Your Business Profile
First off, you need to create a business profile so when customers search for businesses like yours, you show up.
Creating your business profile is easy -- and free!
First, search to see if your business has already been added to your Local Area site. If it has, claim it. If not, add your own new listing. (It’s easy, and we’ll walk you through the whole process.) You can get started here.
#2) Optimize Your Profile & Share Updates
Once you claim or create your profile, make sure it’s set up to serve audiences. Add a description, upload a cover photo, and make sure your business information is correct. Then, continue to keep customers engaged by sharing posts and updates directly from your business page.
#3) Add Your Specials
If your business has weekly specials, add them to your profile. Local Area site readers frequently use our curated lists to find the best specials for each day of the week.
#4) Add an Event
Spread the word about your upcoming branded event. Create free event listing so that your special occasion shows up in our curated lists and search when nearby locals look for things to do in their area.
#5) Schedule a Free Personal Tour of MySuite
Your free business profile on your Local Area site also comes with free access to mySuite, a suite of marketing tools to help you promote your business, monitor analytics, and manage marketing campaigns.
mySuite is packed with ways to help you drive even more local attention to your business, and a free one-on-one tour is the best way to learn about all of the tools, services, and solutions at your disposal.
#6) Premier Your Business Profile
Your free business profile on your Local Area site will drive customers toward your business, but if you want to create an even bigger splash, it’s time to upgrade.
Upgrade to a Premier Profile to:
- Get featured placement on neighborhood and category pages
- Remove competitor ads so customers aren’t distracted when learning about your brand
#7) Use the Marketplace to Promote Your Business
Once your business profile is set up on your Local Area site and you have access to mySuite, you unlock dozens of opportunities to get even more eyes on your business.
The mySuite Marketplace has a variety of solutions that leverage engaged audiences on Local Area sites to drive even more customers to your business.
Get locals to know about your business, events, and promotions by setting up:
- Text marketing campaigns that generate leads and drive traffic.
- Social media contests that build brand awareness and grow your audience.
- Geofencing ads that target customers when they are primed to visit your business.
- Display ads on the most visited Local Area pages to drive audiences toward your brand.
- Featured articles that introduce local audiences to your business.
If you aren’t sure what type of campaign will work best for your brand -- the MyArea team is here to help.
Just reach out to our Customer Success team, and we’ll work with you to find the best solutions to serve your goals.
Grow Your Brand With Local Area Sites by MyArea Network
There’s a big opportunity to connect with local customers, and it’s on Local Area sites.
So, what are you waiting for? Claim or create your free business profile today and start using Local Area sites to connect with thousands of engaged locals and visitors in your area.
