What’s one thing local business owners probably miss dearly?

We’d say the days when they only had to worry about the business next store as their main competition. But unfortunately, competition is increasingly stiff for local businesses thanks to the formation of eCommerce companies and the rise of online shopping.

Luckily, your business can thrive and remain attractive to local consumers despite the gravitation to online competitors, so long as you focus on brand identity, in-person experiences and community relationships.

Here’s how local businesses can take on their online competition.

Build a Strong Brand Identity With a Solid Online Presence

It may seem like local retail businesses have the most competition to deal with these days because online retailers are taking the world by storm. However, local fitness studios, law firms, restaurants and the like, should be concerned with their online competition.

Even medical professionals such as doctors, hospice workers, trained caregivers, physical therapists and mental health professionals must be diligent about improving their online presence to compete with the rise in telehealth.

Simply put, local businesses have to fight for the attention of consumers and clients because intelligent business owners are leveraging digital spaces effectively. No matter your local business, you can compete with major online brands and small businesses by building a strong brand identity with a solid online presence.

First, answer the following questions in detail to define your brand identity:

  • What’s your business’s mission?
  • What’s your unique selling point?
  • What are your brand colors and logo?
  • What are your business’s core values?
  • What are your customer’s core values?
  • What do you hope to do for your customers?
  • What’s your brand’s messaging and tone like?
  • Do you have any additional visual branding elements?
  • What personality do you want to come across to customers?

Then, start building a solid online presence to challenge your online competitors with the help of digital marketing. At the very least, you should create a functional website and profiles for the social media platforms your customers engage on the most. Then, keep your web site and social media updated and stocked with fresh, engaging content.

Offer Unforgettable In-Person Experiences

Another way to take on your online competition is to offer unforgettable in-person experiences at your local store. Despite the rise in online shopping, many consumers still prefer to shop in-store. They love their interactions with employees, the ability to try products, and the feeling they get when they support a local business.

Many online businesses don’t have brick-and-mortar stores. Take advantage of this. View your physical storefront as a benefit, not a burden. Give your customers the interpersonal interactions they can’t get with your online competition.

For instance, you could start a customer loyalty program that rewards customers’ in-store shopping. You could price match all of your online competitors. You could also throw customer appreciation sales and events at your store to entice customers.

Get creative and think outside of the box when designing unforgettable in-person experiences.

Develop Community Relationships

Our final tip for local businesses looking to take on their online competition is to develop community relationships. It’s difficult for strictly online companies to establish solid community relationships because the internet is essentially their community. And it’s enormous.

Local businesses have the opportunity to develop genuine community relationships. When you have face-to-face interactions and authentic engagement with the people in your community, it results in lasting business partnerships and more customers.

You can develop community relationships by:

  • Partnering with local nonprofits
  • Hosting community events at your store
  • Sponsoring youth programs and school sporting events
  • Attending community events put on by the city, nonprofits and other businesses
  • Buying from neighboring companies and getting to know their owners/employees

Conclusion

Local businesses can take on their online competition despite their being so much of it. With a bit of courage, intention and strategy, you too can edge out online brands.

Attract and retain local and online customers by building your brand identity, strengthening your online presence, offering unforgettable in-person experiences, and immersing your business in its community.

Beau Peters is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest with a passion for purpose-driven business content.