Top 5 Things You Should Be Doing to Get Seen as a Local Business

Firestarter Labs
Jul 10
2 min read

Alright, listen up, local legends. You want eyeballs on your business? You don’t need a 40-page marketing plan or a $10K ad budget. You need these five things — the non-negotiables, the ride-or-die marketing moves that get real results in 2025.

1. Google (and Bing) Business Profile — Set It Up, Show It Off

If your Business Profile isn’t fully optimized, you’re basically invisible in local search. No shade, just facts.

Claim it
Add updated hours, services, and categories
Post weekly (yes, like a mini social feed)
Ask for reviews and RESPOND to them
Add fresh photos — stock photos = snooze-fest

“Yes, you need a Google Business Profile. And no, it’s not optional.” – Lexzie

2. Local SEO — Say It Like Your Customers Do

Stop trying to sound fancy. If someone Googles “best tacos near me” and you’re out here saying “authentic culinary experience,” you’re missing the party.

Add city/region-specific keywords to your site
Mention landmarks or neighborhoods you serve
Build local backlinks from directories, partners, or press
Use schema markup (don’t worry — Lexzie handles that for you 😉)

3. Social Media — But Make It Strategic

You don’t need to be on every platform. Pick the one your customers use and actually show up.

Post 3–4x/week
Use Stories/Reels to show behind the scenes
Tag local partners and businesses
Engage like a real human — not a corporate zombie
And please… no more Canva templates with 500 words of text

“Your cousin’s advice to ‘just go viral’ isn’t a strategy. It’s a cry for help.”

4. Get Reviews — Then Leverage the Heck Out of Them

Social proof is everything. People trust other people more than they trust you (no offense).

Ask every happy customer to leave a review
Make it easy with a link or QR code
Showcase reviews on your website and in posts
Reply to bad reviews with grace, not excuses
Pro tip: Turn killer reviews into graphics or videos

5. Run Local Ads — Small Budget, Big Impact

You don’t need Super Bowl money to win your neighborhood.

Use geo-targeted Facebook + Google ads
Promote time-sensitive offers or events
Run “click to call” ads (yep, people still use phones)
Spend $5–10/day to test before scaling
Retarget website visitors — they were this close

🎯 Bonus from Lexzie:Marketing isn’t about being everywhere. It’s about being in the right places — consistently. I’m not here to overwhelm you, I’m here to do it for you.