The year is well under way and many companies are frantically searching for the best methods of meeting their sales goals before the end of the next quarter. As any successful business owner knows, it’s important to never settle into traditional marketing tactics because things are bound to change. Today, one of the most effective marketing tools is local marketing.  Local marketing is efficiently done online and, as technology changes so do the best platforms from which businesses can reach the most customers. SeoSkye has recapped some of the best and most effective local marketing trends for 2012 below, enjoy.

One of the biggest local marketing trends so far is the importance of mobile. A few years ago, having internet access on a mobile device was a hot commodity. Today, however, it’s hard to locate a cell phone or tablet without this capability. Thanks to the increase in wi fi accessibility, people can browse the internet from virtually anywhere – while sitting in traffic, standing in line at the grocery store or while waiting for a table at a restaurant.

The move to mobile means that people are more connected than ever, but it also means that business websites needs to be prepared. In order to effectively reach their target market, a company’s website needs to be optimized for mobile use. If it’s not, the website may not translate well and be difficult to use. A hard to use or visually confusing website can be a kiss of death for a business’s online reputation. People like things that are fast, easy and readily available and there’s no quicker way to kill a lead than by complicating something that should be simple.

The second local marketing trend for 2012 is couponing.  While coupons have always been popular, the recession brought a resurgence of coupon clipping and lead to an all out coupon madness. From reality shows to online clubs, “couponing” seems to have become the next great American pastime. By taking advantage of sites such as Living Social, Groupon and other such networks dedicated to a local audience, businesses can not only offer attractive deals to pull in customers, but they can also spread the message that their company exists.

Although it’s been brewing for a number of years, another important local marketing trend is the need for high quality web content. Search engines have become wise to black hat SEO (search engine optimization) tactics some businesses have utilized to propel their name to the top of the results page. Practices such as keyword stuffing can now get companies kicked out of results altogether. Today's search engine algorithms require businesses to begin offering legitimate and usable content to their potential customers.

That doesn’t mean that businesses shouldn’t utilize SEO, however. Effective SEO is still a necessity for companies who want to be discovered by the local market, and will continue to be one of the most important ongoing online marketing trends and especially for local marketing. Companies should stay up to date on SEO trends and utilize these legitimate tactics for increasing traffic to their site.

It’s imperative to remember that these local marketing trends are simply a building block upon which future marketing tactics will be built. In other words, choosing to ignore the move to mobile, coupons and quality search engine optimized content can mean a company will soon be left in the dust.

Contact SeoSkye to make the most of your local marketing efforts, 888.865.4888