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The number 50.27 represents something powerful in local marketing – it’s the average square mile area–roughly a 4-mile radius– within which 90% of a local business’ customers typically live and work. This isn’t just theory – it’s backed by real data and success stories demonstrating the power of hyper local marketing efforts that are targeting local customers where they already are.
A 2023 HubSpot study shows that 46% of all Google searches have local intent, and BrightLocal’s research reveals that 88% of consumers who do a local search on their smartphone visit or call a store within 24 hours. These aren’t just numbers – they’re opportunities.
La Colombe Coffee Roasters in Philadelphia is a perfect example of this principle in action. When they focused their marketing efforts on their immediate trade area, they saw a 27% increase in foot traffic and a 38% boost in repeat customers within six months. Their strategy? Hyperlocal social media content and targeted community engagement.
The numbers continue to tell the story:
- 78% of local mobile searches result in offline purchases (Google)
- 86% of consumers use Google Maps to find local businesses (BrightLocal)
- Local searches lead to store visits within 24 hours 28% of the time (Think with Google)
Ace Hardware’s success story particularly stands out. Individual franchise owners who focused on their immediate trade areas saw an average 37% increase in new customer acquisition after implementing targeted local search strategies. The key? They stopped trying to compete nationally and instead focused on becoming the go-to hardware destination in their immediate vicinity.
A 2023 Uberall study of 1,850 small businesses found that those focusing local marketing efforts within a 5-mile radius of their location saw an average 32% higher customer engagement than those targeting broader areas.
Five Things You Can Do Right Now That Will Help (Almost) Immediately
- The 10-Minute Daily Google Check
- Every morning, open your Google Business Profile
- Respond to any new reviews (even just “Thank you!”)
- Check for and answer all customer questions
- Post one photo from your business (yesterday’s special, happy customer, or team moment)
- Like and respond to any customer photos
- The Weekly Review Builder
- Every Friday, identify your 3 happiest customers from that week
- Send them a personal text or email thanking them
- Include a link to your Google Business Profile
- Simple script: “Thanks for coming in! We loved [specific detail]. If you have a moment, we’d love your feedback here [link]. See you again soon!”
- Do this every week without fail
- The Local Marketing Content Calendar
- Every Monday morning, mark down:
- One local event happening this week
- Two neighboring businesses to mention
- Three customer success stories or photos
- Post these across the week to Google Business Profile and social media
- Always tag relevant local businesses and event organizers
- Use neighborhood hashtags (#DowntownDallas #BostonNorthEnd)
- Every Monday morning, mark down:
- The Monthly Community Connection
- Pick ONE local organization each month (school, charity, sports team)
- Reach out and offer something specific (hosting an event, donation, sponsorship)
- Document everything with photos
- Share across all platforms
- Create a simple calendar alert to remind you every month
- The “Know Your 50” Check
- First of every month, ask every customer for two days: “What area are you visiting from?”
- Mark their answers on a simple map
- Note which neighborhoods send you the most business
- Focus next month’s posts and ads targeting local customers from the areas sending fewer folks
- Repeat monthly to track changes
Local Marketing Tips That Work
These local marketing tips are simple but powerful. They’re based on best practices identified by the Local Search Association and verified by thousands of successful local businesses.
The data from Google My Business shows that businesses that post weekly updates see 120% more customer actions than those that don’t. Businesses responding to reviews are 45% more likely to receive visit requests (BrightLocal, 2023).
SOCi’s 2023 Local Search Benchmark Report found that businesses implementing consistent local marketing and social media strategies saw:
- 32% increase in local page engagement
- 45% increase in click-to-call actions
- 67% increase in direction requests
Remember: in those 50.27 square miles around your business, you don’t need to be everywhere – you just need to be where it matters most. Studies consistently show that 93% of consumers travel 20 minutes or less for regular shopping (Access Development Research). That’s your opportunity zone.
Your most valuable customers are in your immediate vicinity right now. According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, 78% of consumers prefer to shop within 15 minutes of their home or workplace.
Start our five steps tomorrow morning, and measure your results over the next three months. The data shows that consistent local marketing engagement leads to measurable business growth. Your 50.27 square miles are waiting.
If you would like to talk with Shout Out about help with this, we’re here, we’re ready, and we know what we’re doing.