Looking to get the word out about your business in Inverness? Whether you’ve got a bit of cash to spend or you’re working with a shoestring budget, here are ten straightforward tips to help you make an impact in the capital of the Highlands.
1. Get social!
Make the most of social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. These social media platforms allow you to connect with local customers, build your brand, and drive engagement. Customers love to see behind-the-scenes content, so the more relatable and down-to-earth your content is, the better. Everyone loves a meme from time to time!
Paid: Use Facebook Ads or Instagram promotions to target folks in Inverness. You can dial in your audience based on interests and location. Some pages like What’s Happening Inverness will charge you a small fee to share one of your posts – they have 64,000 followers! There are also more and more influencers emerging who might be interested in doing paid promotions.
Free: Post regularly on your social media accounts and join Inverness-based groups. Share your latest news, promotions, and anything that makes your business stand out. Pages such as Inverness City Centre BID will share your business posts if you are within their area – and they have 28,000 followers. You can also find local groups like Inverness City Centre that you can share posts from your socials into.
2. Go local with media
An open magazine reveals two insightful articles. The left page discusses the importance of authenticity in branding, featuring a group photo. The right page delves into effective content creation and SEO strategies to enhance search-optimized copywriting.
Free: Try reaching out to local newspapers or blogs. Sometimes, they’re up for writing a piece about cool local businesses for free!
3. Make Google your friend
Free: Google is everyone’s go-to search engine, and you want your business to appear at the top of the list. Set up and regularly update your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). This helps your business pop up in local searches and on Google Maps, so people local and not-local to Inverness can find you easily.
4. Try outdoor advertising
Paid: Consider buying some billboard space or putting ads on local buses like Stagecoach. It’s a surefire way to get noticed by a lot of people.
Free: You might be able to leave flyers or business cards on community boards or in local shops and cafes. Inverness is a community-focussed place and you’d be surprised at how much its people love to support local businesses and initiatives. Plus, it’s a low-cost way to get your name out there.
5. Sponsor or support local events
Paid: Put some money into sponsoring local events or sports teams. It’s a great way to get your name in front of the community and show that you care. It also makes great content for socials!
Free: Offer your services or products for charity events or school functions. It’s a nice way to support the community and get your name mentioned. Take local favourite Harry Gow, for example: each year the bakery sponsors the local pantomime at Eden Court – providing goodies for some lucky audience members who join in the performance.
6. Network like a pro
Free: Head to local business meetups, and other networking gatherings. Inverness Chamber of Commerce regularly hosts networking events – and they aren’t as fancy and formal as you would assume. One of Planit’s team members attended a networking event that was a cheese and wine tasting evening! So, don’t be shy – meeting other business owners can lead to referrals and partnerships.
7. Team up with nearby businesses
Free: Partner with local businesses for joint promotions or events. It’s a win-win situation that can help both of you attract more customers and spread the word about your business.
8. Share helpful content
Free: Start a blog or post useful info related to your industry. Share tips, tricks, and local stories to engage your audience and draw them in. It worked for us, getting you to read this blog – didn’t it? 😉
9. List your business in local directories
Free: Make sure you’re listed in local directories like the Inverness BID Directory, Yelp or My Local Services. It helps people find you when they’re searching for businesses nearby, and it’s great for SEO and online visibility.
10. Get those reviews rolling
At Planit, we are BIG fans of reviews. I’m pretty sure we all check the reviews before doing most things: buying new shoes, going to a restaurant, booking a hotel – so we already know the value they hold when making decisions as a consumer.
Free: Ask happy customers to leave positive reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, Trustpilot, Tripadvisor, etc. Good reviews build trust and can bring in new customers. It’s also important to respond to ALL reviews, even the negative ones – because they can and do happen. If a customer is already unhappy, you don’t want to ignore their feedback and not give the opportunity to resolve the issue.
Need help getting the word out about your business? Planit Scotland can manage your advertising and marketing for you, making it easy to reach your target audience and grow your business. Get in touch today! #JustAskPlanit
