Online marketing for small, local businesses can be both intimidating and overwhelming for owners. But it doesn’t have to be! You can easily get started with your online marketing efforts by starting a small list of tasks and working on them throughout the week (or month). Here’s a checklist you can get started with for your online local marketing efforts.

5 Tasks to Boost your Online Local Marketing Efforts:

1. Setup Google Places for Business: Google Places for Businesses is essential for local businesses. Your business will show up on Google Searches, Google Maps, Google+ and Mobile Devises. You can also connect with customers, receive feedback, respond to reviews and post upcoming events. While you’re at it – do this for Yahoo! and Bing as well.

 “43 Percent Of Total Google Search Queries Are Local” – Search Engine Land

2. Setup a Business Facebook Page: Your customers are on social media – a lot. Setting up a Facebook Page for your business will increase trust, visibility and loyalty with your customers. It’s simple to setup – you can get started here.

“7 out of 10 Consumers are More Likely to Use a Local Business if it Has Information on Social Media” – Content Marketing Institute

3. Register or Claim Yelp Page: It’s important to be aware of your Yelp Page. Regardless if you have claimed or registered it, you might have reviews. Add your business information, upload a few pictures and respond to feedback if there is any!

4.  Register on Merchant Circle: Merchant Circle is an online directory for local businesses. It can help you to get found by online searches. There are many of these directories, which we’ll discuss in another task list!