Whether you’re starting a small business in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Miami, or Jacksonville, you’ll find yourself competing with others who are also vying for the attention of your target market.

To get the word out about your brand and put it ahead of the pack, you’ll need a strong marketing strategy, and we mean both online and offline. Since we’re now living in a digital age where almost everyone’s spending their time in the virtual world, traditional advertising alone won’t cut it anymore.

Trust us, your South Florida business will go nowhere – or at least, grow extremely slowly – if you’re only depending on word-of-mouth referrals, print ads, brochures, and other traditional marketing methods.

So, how do you get your fellow Floridians to discover your new business online easily? Here are five proven tactics.

1. Build an SEO-Friendly Website

Your website is the go-to for your prospects and customers alike. It’s pretty much the face of your business – it’s where people will learn about the products and/or services you offer.

In fact, 91% of adults turn to the internet to search for local businesses. And, with telephone books becoming more and more extinct, having a strong online presence is a HUGE must when it comes to promoting and growing your business.

A good website tells the story of your business, highlights what you offer, and reflects your brand’s personality and unique characteristics that make you stand out.

Unless have the background and skills in building a website from scratch, don’t hesitate to hire a professional to do the job for you. Make sure that they also specialize in local SEO (search engine optimization), as it’s actually one of the best ways to boost your online visibility. It will be worth every penny.

1. Create, Optimize, and Verify Your Google Business Profile

Every day, hundreds of thousands of Floridians are on Google looking for businesses similar to yours. That’s why you should set up a Google My Business (GMB) profile as early as now.

Your GMB listing shows searchers details about your business, including where and how to visit it. It also improves your local SEO, which means you’re more likely to appear when people search for a nearby business using Google Maps.

Creating and optimizing a Business Profile is really simple. Just follow these steps and you’re good to go:

• Sign into Google Business Profile Manager
• Complete your business information and double check for errors
• Add a detailed description of your business
• Include high-quality images and videos of your business
• Post about events, offers, and content
• Respond to customer reviews (as much as possible, all of them)

1. Leverage the Power of Social Media

Using social media for business has gotten more prominent than ever before. With 3.81 billion people around the world actively using social media, businesses of all sizes definitely need a killer social media marketing strategy to stay on top of the game.

Of course, you should be focusing on the most popular platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Then again, you might also want to consider promoting your South Florida business to other sites that could be specific to your niche, such as Reddit or Pinterest.

Below are some ideas to ensure you reach your target audience and get the word out about your brand:

• Facebook: Make a Facebook business page with your contact info, CTA, and a link to your website. Run live sessions, from tutorials and Q&A’s to behind-the-scene sneak peeks. Share fun posts regularly to engage your audience. Most importantly, don’t forget to run Facebook ads!
• Instagram: Thanks to its diverse posting formats, there are tons of ways to use Instagram to advertise your small business. You can use hashtags to promote your sales and deals, offer tips and tutorials so your target audience can trust you, and run contests with a prize to generate positive buzz.
• Twitter: Twitter is especially ideal if your audience is comprised of users between the ages of 18 and 24. There, you can promote your products and/or services or simply invite local customers to stop by your store.
• TikTok: TikTok’s ease of use in producing videos with special effects is what makes it an excellent video marketing platform, not just for Zillenials, but for everyone. Besides providing how-to and BTS clips, you can also participate in certain challenges to humanize your brand. Who knows, you might become a viral hit!
• LinkedIn: Today, LinkedIn is more than just a place to post your online resume; it has turned into a hub for connecting with potential customers, forming new partnerships, taking part in group discussions, or simply networking.

1. Run Google Ads

Looking for an immediate way to have your website show up at the very top of Google’s search results? Google Ads is the answer.

Although we can’t deny that it takes time and lots of trial and error to master Google Ads, an optimized campaigned is totally worth the investment. After all, Google is by far the most popular search engine out there.

Another option is to reach out to bloggers or content creators that use Google AdSense or AdSense alternatives. However, consider this only if you’re willing to shell out a big chunk of money, as you’ll find yourself paying them whenever someone clicks on your ad.

1. Get Listed on Local Business Directories

Many believe that business directories are the digital version of the Yellow Pages.

The truth is, they’re more than that – they’re comprehensive platforms that allow people to discover, learn about, and contact businesses relevant to them. In other words, those who are searching for a particular product or service turn to these directories for solutions.

For that reason, you’ll certainly want to add your business-to-business directories and local listing sites, such as the following:

• Google My Business
• Yelp
• Better Business Bureau
• Foursquare
• Facebook
• Angie’s List
• LinkedIn
• Bing Local
• Yahoo Local
• Mapquest

If you’re wondering, they’re all free, though some offer paid options for advance features. See to it that you track your listing and fix any inaccuracies. Fill out every field in your profiles, add photos, collect reviews, and keep everything consistent.

Are You Ready to Watch Your Small Business Grow in South Florida?

These aren’t the only tactics to incorporate into your online marketing strategy, but we do guarantee that they will work 100%. Just keep in mind that what works for others may not work for you, which is why it’s vital that you explore each of them to see which best suits you. Good luck!