The internet is the benchmark for their first impressions of your business for many people. It’s something you have to be incredibly careful about. You want to do everything you can to keep them coming back and make sure they have a great experience every time.
Locals are an essential part of this equation, so it’s so necessary that you have a guide that lets them know how to support your business.
A local’s perspective can be an invaluable asset for small businesses. Of course, they will visit more frequently, but they will also talk about your company with their friends and family, boosting your profile! With this in mind, here are some tips on creating a local guide for your business.

Tips for creating a local guide
– Make sure your guide is easy to read. People can be hesitant to spend time reading through a long document, so you need to make it as easy on them as possible. You may want to break up the information into sections or chapters and use bullet points and numbered lists for easier navigation.
– Keep the content relevant and concise. It would help if you gave people what they needed and did not overwhelm them with too much information. They know how to show their support without feeling overwhelmed or scared off.
– Include pictures! Photos go a long way in making things more visually appealing, which will encourage people to take a peek at your guide.
Creating the perfect welcome experience
The first step in creating a guide is to create a welcoming experience. As they explore your website, you want your visitors to feel comfortable and at ease, so make sure you have a professional design—your local guide should have a similar look and feel as the rest of your business.
If you’re not already using it, investing in a plugin that can automatically populate your site with content from other websites may be worth investing in. This will give people the sense that they’re being personally taken care of, encouraging them to stay on your site for longer.
The goal is to create an engaging experience that gets people excited about supporting your company. The more effort you put into making them feel valued, the more likely they are to invest in your business.
A great way to do this is by giving them access to exclusive offers or discounts that can only be found on the website. The more loyalty points they accrue, the more likely they are to come back—it’s like getting rewarded for doing something good!
What to do when they walk in your doors
Your local guide should be designed to provide a comprehensive overview of your business for locals. This means it should answer the questions they might have reassuringly and straightforwardly.
What do you want them to do when they walk in your doors? Do you want them to pay for their purchase before they leave? If so, mention this in the guide so that they know.
Do you have a loyalty program? If so, tell them about it in the guide! This will encourage them to return and spend more money.
If there are any discounts or offers available, put them into the guide too! You can also use this opportunity to advertise other events or promotions happening at your company. When customers see a coupon or offer, they’ll feel rewarded for reading through the guide and will know that their time was worth it.
Handle your customer service with care by including how you handle complaints and what kind of feedback customers can give. In addition, it’s important that customers know whether or not there is someone on staff who handles customer service-related inquiries—and if not, where they can reach out for help!
The local guide is also an opportunity to showcase people from all departments at your company. You might include pictures from the warehouse, the kitchen, technical support, and customer service; anyone who does your business what it is today.

How to make them feel like family when they leave
One of the most important things you can do is provide your customers with an amazing experience.
Some small businesses don’t offer any customer service, which can result in patrons feeling frustrated and unappreciated. Others neglect to call their customers by name, which can make them feel like they are just a number.
Every customer is different, so you have to find out what makes them tick, what they want to hear from you, and how you can best serve them.
It’s not about bending over backward for your customers. It’s about ensuring that they are happy with their purchase and that coming back is the easiest decision for them to make!
Take the time to learn about your customers, what they want from your company, and what would make coming back worthwhile for the next time around. You will be surprised at how much it pays off in the long run!
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned how to create a local guide for your business, you’re ready to get started! The first step is to complete your guide in the Business Profile on Google. You can begin by filling in your address, opening hours, phone number, directions, website, and description.
Once you have your guide set up, it’s time to start thinking about the experience you want your customers to have when they visit. Make it easy for them to find what they are looking for, offer them a place to sit or lounge, and make sure they are greeted when they walk in the door.
Finally, give them a reason to come back. If you follow these simple steps, you will have created the perfect welcome experience for your customers.