A small business that focuses on serving a given local market cannot effectively compete with large companies that cover a wider geographic area. Such local companies focus on local marketing initiatives as a way of helping them gain a foothold in the market. To be successful in local marketing, small businesses develop a customized marketing strategy to attract customers and retain them. When effectively carried out, local marketing is beneficial in various ways, as hereby outlined. Increased networking with businesses and customers Local marketing allows a business to network and woo the local customers and businesses. Depending on the local marketing strategies utilized, a business can gain more foothold as far as exposure to customers is concerned. This level of exposure is essential as it can help the business form franchises and partnerships with existing businesses while also reaching out to more customers. Establish dominance in the market Focusing on a local market through localized marketing strategies helps a business to channel its resources and energy on one area to experience an increased return on investment. If successful, the strategy can give a business a competitive advantage over other businesses which spread out their marketing strategies across a large geographic area. Increases creativity Reaching out to localized markets over time demands that a business improves its marketing approaches and incorporate the necessary levels of creativity. Such creativity is vital for the business to attract the interest of the same customers over and over again. It also demands that the company expands its product base as a way of meeting customers’ demands while also growing its revenue. A better understanding of the market Focusing on a local market over time gives a business a chance to boost its knowledge of the local population. This is particularly helpful for the business as it will be capable of categorically moving on to other markets in the neighborhood after dominating and understanding the market well. The competitive advantage gained from such market dominance can later be translated into financial income and profits. This article was originally published at HenryVinsonConsulting.com