Location based services (LBS) have grown a lot on social media. Customers now can check in at your business to share their visit with their followers and use special stamps and filters on photos taken at your events. Geotagging and geocoding help you reach people nearby who are most likely to visit your business.Ready to stand out? Let’s dive in!
Why Are Location Based Services Important?
The ultimate goal is to make user feeds more relevant. Friends and family are important to users, and businesses can’t always compete for attention. But showing that your business is nearby can help make your posts more relevant to them.
Popular Location Based Features for Businesses
- Facebook Events: Location information to suggest local happenings to users.
- Facebook Marketplace: Recommends items for sale in the user’s area.
- Snapchat Geofilters: Lets users apply custom filters that highlight your location.
- Instagram Location Stories: Allow people at the same place to contribute photos and videos to a shared story about that event or area.
How to Use Location Based Services to Boost Your Business
- Encourage Customer Check-Ins: Incentivize customers to check in at your business by offering discounts or rewards.
Example: “Show us your check-in and get 10% off your next purchase!”
- Run Location-Based Contests: Use Instagram or Snapchat to host campaigns.
Example: Reward users who tag your business in their Instagram Stories or posts.
- Create Custom Filters and Stickers: Design Instagram stickers or Snapchat filters that highlight your brand or event, encouraging customers to share their visit with followers.
These tactics help customers feel connected to your business while organically spreading awareness.
Why Small Businesses Should Use Location Based Services
- Attract Local Customers: Focusing on your location ensures you reach people most likely to visit.
- Stand Out From Larger Competitors: Many big businesses don’t have the hyperlocal focus that small businesses can leverage.
- Low-Cost Marketing: These tools often require little to no budget to get started, making them accessible for any business.
Getting Started with Location Based Services
Now is a great time to start using location based services to grow your business. Testing these tools can help you see what works best and expand your business’s visibility without a big investment.
