As a local business, your community is where you will gain traction and make real progress towards achieving your goals. In order to do that, local marketing is a must. Connecting with your community is essential to the growth of your business.

So how can my business engage with my community?

There are endless ways that you can interact with your local customers, and there's no right or wrong way to do it. A great starting place is to actually get involved in your community.

Does your town have an annual festival or business expo? Sign up for a booth and offer a free flower or coupon to anyone who stops by for a chat! Maybe you could sponsor or donate to a local team. Your donations don't have to be strictly monetary, however. For instance, you could donate centerpieces or flower arrangements for a high school's prom. This can get your name out there and show that you're invested in your community. Volunteer in your area for local charities and causes that you feel are important. People love to see that you're giving back. It builds brand awareness and lets your community know that you care, and in turn, they'll come to care about your business.

It's always important to get your name out there. Another great way to do this locally is by joining your Chamber of Commerce. You'll be able to meet lots of other local business owners and form bonds with them that could lead to more business for you. Partner with your new contacts to form an ongoing business relationship and drive sales.

Advertising locally can be an important way to get your business noticed, as well. Whether that's taking out an ad in your local newspaper or getting featured in a local magazine, your business can see growth without putting in a ton of effort.

But shouldn't I also be promoting my business online?

Of course! You can easily advertise online through social media, such as Facebook or Instagram, and even target the specific location and audience you'd like to reach. It's also a good idea to claim your Google My Business and Apple Maps listings. These listings help customers find your business when searching online or through a map app on their phones. Make sure you provide your business name, phone number, address, zip code, hours, and a link to your website.

Speaking of your website, make sure it includes keywords that customers might search for when looking for flower shops. It's important to include the name of your city and the surrounding areas as this will help you be found by search engines when looking in that particular area. (All FSN websites are optimized for search engines. You're welcome.)

It's crucial to do more than just advertise online. Engage with your community online as well as in-person–they aren't mutually exclusive, and can even benefit each other! People love to see what's happening behind the scenes with your business, and social media is a great place to share that. Share what you're doing in your community on your social media channels, whether that's photos of you volunteering or promoting an event you're hosting. Be sure to tag your location in posts so that locals are more likely to find you! Posts like this will increase your organic reach, and in coordination with paid advertising, can really help your business grow.

Local marketing is such an important step for any small business. Your community is who is going to be there for you and your business, so make sure you're connecting with them and putting in the effort to interact with them.