Last updated on May 17th, 2024 at 09:09 am
Running a business in London can be both exciting and intimidating.
With so many people to reach and so much competition, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can advertise and promote your business in London.
From taking advantage of free online resources to getting creative with old-school marketing tactics, these 15 EASY methods will help you get the word out about your business quickly and efficiently.
1. Leverage Social Media Platforms
Here’s an eye-opener;
According to Statista, there are 57.6 million active social media users in the UK, 77.9% of the UK population.
And 98% of UK users use social media on their mobile devices.
The average UK user spends 110 minutes on social media per day?.
If you’d wish to promote your business, this is where you should start.
a. Utilize Facebook
Facebook is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.
It can be incredibly effective for businesses in London looking to advertise and promote their products.
The United Kingdom had 53.46 million Facebook users as of September 2022, making it an ideal platform for reaching potential customers.
Inside, you can create a Page on Facebook and then use targeted advertising campaigns to reach your target demographics by age, interests, location, etc.
While at it, join relevant groups on Facebook related to your industry or niche to stay updated on the news within the industry and form relationships with other businesses in the area.
Consider running contests or giveaways exclusive to your followers on Facebook to engage with them more directly while simultaneously promoting their business.
b. Create a Twitter account
Creating a Twitter account is an inexpensive way to advertise and promote your business in London.
In terms of numbers, Twitter has 19.05 million users in the UK.
You can share information about your products or services, build relationships with customers and followers, engage with other businesses or influencers, and even increase website traffic.
To create a Twitter account for your business, you will need to provide a username or handle that accurately reflects your brand name or slogan.
Keep it as short as possible so it’s easier for people to find you.
You will also need to provide a brief description of what your business does along with appropriate profile photos and header images that reflect your brand identity.
Once set up, you can start tweeting interesting content related to your business, such as special offers or industry news – but remember not to overdo it!
c. Use Instagram to promote your business
Besides Facebook and Twitter, IG is an increasingly popular social media platform that can be used to promote your business in London.
In March 2021, there were 34 747 100 Instagram users in the United Kingdom alone, with millions of active daily users.
Due to its stunning visuals and easy-to-use features, Instagram is a prime tool for businesses looking to reach their target audience.
Creating an Instagram account for your business will allow you to showcase your products or services creatively, drawing people’s attention and encouraging them to follow your page.
To see results on this platform, take advantage of highlight stories and reels and regularly post quality content.
Doing this can help boost engagement on your posts and build a loyal community of followers interested in what you offer.
And don’t forget about using hashtags relevant to your industry or location. They help people find you more easily when searching online.
d. Engage with customers on LinkedIn
This is another effective way to promote your business in London.
With over 34 900 000 UK-based users, LinkedIn is a great platform for reaching potential new customers.
When using the platform, post relevant content that will interest your target audience.
Avoid generic content such as ‘Buy Now’ or ‘Click Here.’
Instead, focus on providing value by posting helpful information or industry news related to your business.
You can also use the platform to share success stories from clients or customer reviews which can help build trust and credibility with prospects.
When possible, add visuals such as photos and videos to draw more attention from the audience.
Related: Understanding the Basics of Online Marketing in the UK
2. Use Google Ads
Google is the leading search engine in the world, with around 84.08 percent!
Besides social media, this is the other place to advertise your business in London.
a. Create pay-per-click campaigns
Pay-per-click (PPC) campaign is a form of digital marketing that allows you to target potential customers with ads based on the keywords they enter into search engines.
These campaigns allow you to control how much you spend and when, so it can be a cost-effective option for businesses with limited budgets.
To create a successful pay-per-click campaign, research relevant keywords for your business, design creative ad copy, and set the right bid amount for each keyword.
The keywords you can find right inside the Google Ads dashboard under the Keyword Planner tool.
You will also need to monitor the campaign performance and make adjustments as needed regularly.
Another alternative is Microsoft Advertising.
Try both and see which one has a better ROI.
b. Utilize Google My Business
Google My Business (GMB) is a MUST-HAVE tool for businesses looking to advertise and promote their business in London.
GMB allows businesses to manage their online presence across the Google platform, providing customers with the most up-to-date information about a business, including location, contact details, opening hours, and more.
Better part?
It is FREE!
Yes, the GMB profile increases visibility on Google search results and Maps.
At the same time, it enables customers to quickly leave reviews of your business which can help build trust and credibility with potential customers.
Inside the GMB, you get access to unique insights such as customer engagement data and analytics.
Such can provide valuable insight into how customers interact with your business online.
And you post updates to your profiles that are seen by anyone who searches for them on Google or Maps.
Related: 17 Best Online Business Platforms in the UK for Beginners (Free & Paid)
c. Reach more potential customers with Google Shopping
When users search for relevant items on Google, they will see products from the retailer’s store appear as ads at the top of the search results page.
This gives your business a great opportunity to get its product in front of an audience already interested in what they offer.
You can use Google Shopping campaigns to target specific locations and demographics, allowing them to tailor their advertising.
Hence, it reaches the people most likely to be interested in their products or services.
With this, you save time and money by focusing your efforts on those who are more likely to convert into customers.
Additionally, Google Shopping offers detailed reporting tools that allow retailers to monitor performance and track which campaigns work best for them, ensuring their marketing budget is being used effectively.
3. Develop a Local SEO Strategy
There are two levels of SEO; local and global.
Global puts on the entire world’s map.
This means that anyone can find your website around the world. This works best for businesses with no territories.
Those shipping globally.
While it widens your net, it puts you up against the entire world?!
You will be competing for the SERP with deep-pocketed brands with millions of euros in advertising budget!
On the other hand, local SEO puts you on the map for local search terms.
This strategy works best for local businesses targeting local customers.
a. Optimize your website for local search
As you can guess, local search optimization is an important part of your business’s advertising and promotional efforts in London.
To get the most out of this strategy, do the following.
First, ensure that you include locally-relevant keywords on your pages.
This should include your location and other related terms like “London,” “UK,” or even specific neighborhoods within London.
Additionally, use tags and titles on each page to identify its content and location relevance.
For example, if you have a page about services offered in East London, then make sure to include “East London” in both the title and meta description tags.
Don’t forget the GMB profile we talked about earlier. Include your contacts as well.
b. Claim your business listings on directories
This is your chance to provide customers with accurate information about your products or services, including contact details, opening times, and location.
Doing this helps potential customers find you online more easily and gives them the confidence that they are dealing with a legitimate business.
Additionally, it can be an effective form of localized advertising: when users search for businesses in the area, yours will show up among the results.
Lucky for you, many directory websites offer free or low-cost basic listings for small businesses.
But above all, ensure that all information included in these listings is accurate and up-to-date.
This means if you have any changes, such as new contact details or new products/services, then this should be added as soon as possible.
c. Create local content
Creating local content is essential to promoting any business in London.
Goes a long way to create visibility and build a community around the business, both of which are crucial for increasing customer loyalty and gaining new customers.
This could include creating blogs or articles about topics related to the city, such as events, attractions, popular culture or even current news stories.
As you create this content, tailor it specifically to London and its people. \
Hosting online Q&A sessions with locals is also a great way to engage with potential customers and promote your business directly.
You can also try connecting with influencers who have a strong presence in London.
They can help spread the word about your business through their own social media accounts or blog posts.
d. Encourage customers to leave reviews
One of the most effective ways to advertise and promote your business in London is to encourage customers to leave reviews.
Reviews can help build a positive brand image and increase consumer trust in your goods or services.
According to recent studies, more than half of online shoppers (54.7 percent) read at least four product reviews prior to purchasing a product.
To incentivize customers, YOU can offer discounts or rewards for those who write reviews or share the best reviews on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
And when they leave positive or negative reviews, respond promptly and courteously.
This will demonstrate that you take customer service seriously and they are more likely to return in the future.
Related: 9 Free Ways To Advertise Your Small Business Online In The UK
4. Invest in Traditional Advertising
I know what you are thinking; ‘that’s old school, it won’t work!’
A MarketingSherpa survey found that the top five most trusted advertising formats are all traditional, with customers trusting most print advertising (82%), television advertising (80%), direct mail advertising (76%), and radio advertising (71%) to make purchasing decisions.
a. Utilize local newspapers
Newspapers is one of the most effective ways to advertise and promote your business in London.
Why?
According to studies, 1 in 4 adults over 15 every day (13.6 million daily) read a newspaper!
So, whether it’s through a full-page ad, a banner advertisement, or a simple classified listing, placing an ad in the local newspaper provides exposure to new customers who may have never heard of your business before.
Such advertisements also give potential customers an idea of what kinds of products and services you provide.
Furthermore, they are relatively cost-effective compared to other forms of advertising, making them an attractive option for small businesses.
Above all?
Many newspapers have digital editions so that readers can access content from their computers and mobile devices.
This allows businesses to target both traditional print readers as well as digital users with their advertisements.
b. Promote your business on the radio
Yes, people still tune in to their favorite radio shows!
To give you a glimples, here are some stats for BBC Radio London:
- 882,000 listeners per week
- 3.5 hours per listener
- Reaches over 12 million people
According to Radio industry RAJAR observations, 49.7 million adults or 88.8 % of the adult (15+) UK population tuned in each week according to the Q3 2022 results.
As such, promoting your business on the radio is a great way to reach a wide audience in London.
These ads allows you to target specific demographics, such as age and income level, so that you can better tailor your message to reach potential customers.
Radio ads also have the benefit of being relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of media advertising.
Plus, radio comes with the added bonus of having an emotional connection with listeners since it often plays local music and personalities.
To get started promoting your business on the radio, research which stations are best for reaching your intended market.
You should also consider what type of content you want your ad to focus on—do you want it to be informative or humorous?
Once you’ve figured out those details, look for a production company that can help produce and place the ad within relevant programming slots.
c. Create attractive billboards
Over 50% of people say they’ve been highly engaged by a billboard they’re seen in the last month. (Source)
This makes billboard ads a great way to advertise your business in London.
Your billboard should feature bold, eye-catching colors and a distinct logo or message that will draw the attention of passers-by.
Consider displaying your company’s contact information prominently on the billboard so potential customers know how to reach you.
There’s a new trend of using interactive or multimedia elements such as videos or livestreams to incentivize people to engage with your campaign.
You can also create specific campaigns targeting certain demographic groups by tailoring the content of each board accordingly.
Finally, make sure that you are taking into account local regulations when creating any outdoor advertising to comply with the law.
5. Utilize Mobile Advertising
According to Statista, the smartphone market in the United Kingdom grew drastically over the past two decades. With roughly 80 million mobile cellular subscriptions.
This makes mobile advertising one of the best ways to advertise your business in London!
a. Take advantage of mobile apps
With smartphones, comes the need for apps!
So, rather than relying on traditional advertising methods, such as television and print media, mobile apps can reach the modern consumer.
See, mobile apps allow you to target specific demographics and offer them customized content.
For example, if you own a café in London, you could create a mobile app that allows customers to order food online and have it delivered straight to their door.
This would make your café more accessible while also providing an easy way for customers to access your services.
You could also use the app to advertise special offers or discounts, making your services even more attractive and competitive.
b. Send promotions and discounts via text message
This is a great way to reach current customers, as well as potential ones.
When it comes to promotions, there are a few different tactics that business owners can take advantage of.
For instance, you can send exclusive discounts to loyal customers or offer special deals on specific days or times.
Also, consider sending “flash sales” with limited-time offers that will entice your customers into taking action quickly.
Another approach is to create loyalty programs that encourage repeat purchases by offering rewards such as free shipping or exclusive discounts for customer referrals.
This type of program allows businesses to easily track and reward customer loyalty, encouraging customers to keep returning again and again.
6. Start a Referral Program
A referral program is a genius way to advertise your business in London.
See, the goal of this program is to encourage customers to refer their friends and family.
And in the process, you reach more people with your products or services.
In return?
You offer incentives for successful referrals, such as discounts or gifts.
That’s your way of showing appreciation while motivating customers to participate in the referral process.
When setting up a referral program, create a system that will allow you to track the success of each individual referral.
This data can then be used to assess which incentives are most effective and help you optimize your promotions accordingly.
Make sure that all parties involved are aware of the terms and conditions associated with the program so everyone understands how it works.
7. Invest in Content Marketing
61% of B2C marketers in CMI’s 2021 study said their 2022 content marketing budget would exceed their 2021 budget.
Why?
Because content works!
In fact, according to Hubspot, 82% of marketers are actively investing in content marketing!
a. Create a blog
Creating a blog is an easy and effective way to advertise your business in London.
A blog provides a platform for sharing your thoughts, stories, experiences, and tips related to the products or services you offer.
It can act as a great tool for expanding your reach and increasing brand recognition with potential customers.
Also, a blog allows you to interact directly with customers by responding to their comments on posts or inquiries about products or services.
The challenge comes when it comes to actually setting it up.
When creating a blog for your business, remember that the language used and the topics discussed should be relevant to what the product or service offers.
Also, finding interesting ways of communicating information through different media such as videos or images will help engage readers more effectively.
And above all, consistently posting new content on the blog helps build trust with readers while providing valuable information they can use when purchasing products from your business.
b. Develop an email newsletter
They allow you to stay in front of your customer base, keep them up to date on what you’re offering, and encourage repeat visits and purchases.
Setting up an email newsletter is relatively easy—all you need is a mailing list service such as MailChimp or Constant Contact.
If you don’t have much time, consider using a ready-made template design from these services that can be easily customized with your logo and branding colors for a professional look.
Track the success of each email campaign by tracking how many people open it, click through to links in the email, or make purchases after reading it.
c. Utilize video marketing
Research shows that 82% of UK teens and young adults used YouTube in 2020.
At the same time, there were an estimated 3.37 billion internet users consuming video content in 2022.
This makes video a great platform for businesses looking to reach their target market.
Videos can be used across many platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Not only do videos help to boost engagement with customers and potential customers, but they also have the power to promote brand awareness and increase website traffic.
When creating videos for promotional purposes, keep them short yet informative; this will ensure you capture the attention of viewers quickly and effectively.
Final Thoughts
The options are endless when it comes to finding innovative ways to promote your business in London.
From utilizing social media platforms to traditional methods such as radio or television advertising, there are plenty of possibilities for businesses looking to get the word out about their products or services.
While this list of 15 easy ways to advertise and promote your business in London provides a good starting point, you will ultimately need to decide which methods best suit your company’s needs.
Consider what you want customers to know about your business and create an advertising strategy that reflects that knowledge.
Don’t forget to track the results of each campaign so you can determine if it was successful and make adjustments accordingly.
And with careful planning and strategic marketing tactics, your business should receive the attention it deserves in no time!
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