Social media is a powerful channel to connect with your community and build awareness in your brand. A strong social media presence will ensure that when people in your community need your products or services, they think of you first.

But, coming up with a good social media marketing strategy for a local business can be difficult, especially for businesses that may not be as exciting or splashy, like pest control companies or plumbers. Who wants to see pictures of bugs or clogged toilets?

However, there are lots of things you can do to create great content that makes an impact on social media. Here are a few ideas to help local businesses come up with effective social media content.

7 social media marketing tips for local businesses

#1. Share what’s happening around town

Stay up to date with what’s happening around town, and share that information on your social profile. Attend local events, take pictures and share them on your social profiles.

Add your brand, social icon or logo to your images, and it will get recognized over time and take up rent space in people’s minds. Make sure your brand name and what you do is clear, especially if the community events you’re posting about aren’t directly related to your business or industry.

#2. Share what’s happening in the neighborhoods you serve

Follow the neighborhoods you serve on social media, and share things they have going on, whether that be community garage sales, block parties, BBQs, neighborhood meetings or any other events.

Share, comment on and engage with content posted by local HOAs and other neighborhood organizations in the areas you serve to ensure that you stay top of mind.

#3. Shout out local sports teams

Keep tabs on the local teams in your community, whether they be college, high school or even recreational league teams, and shout them out. Give them props for their performances.

Consider doing a “player of the week” post or something like that. Go to local games, take some footage or pictures and share highlights from the game. This will likely be highly viewed and shared social content, which extends your reach.

#4. Share information about local charities and nonprofits

Follow local nonprofits, and share what they have going on, whether that be donation drives, benefit concerts or any other events or fundraisers. Donate to charities or nonprofits, organize volunteer days for your team and sponsor their events.

Highlighting local charities and nonprofits, as well as posting pictures from their events, of your team volunteering and more, will help bring awareness to the important work they’re doing for your community. Plus, it’s a great way to show that you’re giving back and committed to serving your community.

#5. Share quality content around what you do

You don’t necessarily need to post pictures of nasty bed bugs or a clogged toilet to post social content that’s relevant to your business.

Another great place to start coming up with social content is to think about the questions your customers often ask. Create valuable content answering those questions, helping people in your community find the answers they’re looking for. Video is a great option for this.

#6. Share stories about yourself, your team and your clients

Humanize your brand and your team and help the community get to know you. The more human you are to your prospective customers, the more they’ll come to like you and trust you.

Post information and pictures about yourself and your team, highlight your best employees and share the story of how you got started. This is a fantastic way to boost engagement, because your employees’ friends and family will like and share the content.

#7. Comment and engage with your community

Social media is not a one-way street. Not only is it important to post your own content on a regular basis, but it’s also important to engage with content in your local community.

Spend time liking, sharing and commenting on content posted by people in your community. You can find these people based on who’s engaging with the city content, non-profit content, local sports teams, neighborhoods, etc.

Social media is a fantastic place to grow awareness in your brand and make key connections within your community, but posting on a regular basis can be difficult, especially for busy business owners.

The Marketing 360® Social app is an easy-to-use social media scheduling tool that allows you to schedule your posts for the week or month — all at once. Learn more and see our plans and pricing.