For any local service business in the US, staying competitive is no longer just about providing exceptional service. Today you need a strong digital presence to stand out and reach your customers.
Why? Because customers make decisions based on what they see online. If you aren’t appearing in their feeds or search engine results, then you will lose out.
This article expands on the importance of building an online presence in 2025 and how to do it.
Why You Need an Online Presence!
Consumer behavior has changed a lot over the years. Today, if someone's pipe bursts, they immediately grab their phones and search for “emergency plumbing near me.” Nobody is looking through the yellow pages anymore.
Here are some data that highlight why having a strong online presence is critical:
Local searches dominate searches: 46% of Google searches are made by people searching for a local business or local service (Search Engine Roundtable).
Most people searching for local services are ready to buy: 97% of users searched online to find a local business, and 78% of these searches resulted in a purchase (SafariDigital).
A strong online presence drives in-person visits: 72% of consumers search for products and services online before trying to visit the local store within five miles (HubSpot Marketing Statistics).
Seeing your brand/services online may lead to visits: After making a search on Google for a local business, 76% of people visit that business within 24 hours (Google).
A strong online presence drives customer calls. 88% of mobile searches made for local businesses led to a call within 24 hours (Nectafy).
Social media marketing can increase lead generation: 54% of social media users use platforms like Facebook, Twitter (now X), TikTok, and Instagram to search for products and services (GlobalWebIndex).
Online reviews can impact how users perceive your brand: 93% of consumers say online reviews will affect shopping choices (Frontiers).
To put it plainly, local service businesses with a strong online presence grow faster than those without.
The Cost of Not Being Online
Failing to establish a strong online presence can have some damning consequences for your business. First off, you are losing money and customers to your competitors, who have sterling reviews, and social media presence, and are showing up on Google searches.
But even if you manage to acquire some customers, you stand to lose them to competitors with user success stories and testimonials, before-and-after photos, and others.
Most importantly, not having an optimized website and social media accounts would be admitting that you are not and don’t plan to be the local leader in your field. You will miss out on sales, partnerships, and even local recognition.
Trends Shaping Online Presence in 2025
Short Form Videos:
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube dominate user engagement. Local businesses are showcasing their services using short-form videos on these platforms and others.
Voice Search Optimization:
Remember when people typed in “pressure washer near” me into Google? Today people are asking Alexa, Siri, and other AI tools to find local service providers. This means your content needs to match how people speak, not just how they type.
Hyperlocal Targeting:
Gone are the days of targeting whole towns and cities. Today, successful local ad campaigns require neighborhood-level targeting to reach the right customers.
AI-Powered Tools:
Artificial intelligence has revolutionized marketing. There are several AI-powered tools available today to help businesses build a strong online presence and engage their customers.
Steps and Tools to Build a Strong Online Presence
1. Audit Your Digital Footprint:
Audit your website. Ensure it is visually appealing, mobile-friendly, and loads fast. Also, optimize your site for search engines.
Tools: Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to check and optimize your speed and use page builders like Elementor to make your website appealing. Conduct keyword research with Arefs and Semrush and use MozLocall or Bright Local to manage your local SEO efforts.
2. Claim Your Google Business Profile:
A Google Business profile ensures you appear in Google Maps and local search results. Claim your account, update your details, and constantly post on your profile.
Tools: Use Google Business Profile Manager to optimize your profile and Canva to design visual content to keep your profile engaging.
3. Engage on Social Media:
Consistently share updates, promotions, behind-the-scenes content, and other content on social media to drive brand awareness and engagement.
Tools: Use Hootsuite or Buffer for scheduling posts and Meta Business Suite to easily manage your Facebook and Instagram accounts.
4. Gather Reviews:
Reviews play a critical role in gaining customer trust. Ask satisfied customers for reviews and respond to both positive and negative reviews.
Tools: Automate review requests with tools like Podium or Birdeye. Use Google Review and Yelp for business owners to monitor and manage reviews.
5. Invest in Paid Advertising:
Run Google Ads or social media (Facebook, X, etc.) ads to quickly reach your targeted demographics.
Tools: Use Semrush or Ahrefs to identify high-performing keywords to target for your campaigns.
Conclusion
Building a strong online presence in 2025 is no longer an option but rather a necessity. Fortunately, you can improve your online visibility by leveraging the tools we mentioned above and following current trends.
Start small and stay consistent. Remember to reach out to us at Succession Marketing if you need help. We specialize in helping small and medium businesses grow their online presence and customer base.
Call us today at 305-809-6360 or email us at Ana@SuccessionMarketing.com for a free consultation.
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