What business wouldn’t benefit from more customers? Below are tips to increase sales for businesses by thinking locally. They are inexpensive and designed to reach customers quickly.


Show up locally. This means identifying tools that drive local business. Examples include hyper-local direct-mail tools, e-mail campaigns and saturation mailings that can be geographically targeted to reach more of your best customers in a radius around your business.


Think direct mail. With the prevalence of e-mail, print mail volumes are low, so there is less competition in a physical mailbox. Saturation mailing campaigns, also known as “occupant” mailings, are directed at all of the residential and/or business addresses in a particular area. These are perfect for customer growth efforts or customer retention pushes. 


Target e-mail campaigns by geographic location. Find an e-mail list provider that can give you accurate, deliverable e-mail addresses by zip code. This is an easy, cost-effective way to promote your business locally.


Include a call to action with a limited time to act. Requesting an immediate response with a clear deadline creates a sense of urgency and is more likely to keep the offer top of mind for the customer.


Use offers to increase traffic. For instance, a 50-percent-off-entrées coupon can drive new customers and entice old ones.


Put your business on the map. According to one report in which Google was cited, 20 percent of all searches include a geographic parameter — think local to get local. Create a Google Places account and verify your business listing has the correct “NAP” — company name, address and phone number — listed.