Local business advertising
Local business advertising ideas that reach real customers.
Most local businesses do not need more places to show their name. They need the right few. Here are the main options, what each is good at, and where advertising on takeaway packaging fits among them.
Google Business Profile
Free and often the best first step. It puts you on the map when people search for what you do nearby. It only helps people who are already looking for you, so it does not make anyone aware you exist.
Local social media and groups
Good for conversation, offers and reviews. The effort is yours and reach depends on the group, so it works best for businesses that enjoy it and keep it up.
Partnerships with nearby businesses
Swapping offers or leaving cards with a neighbouring business costs little. It depends on finding the right partner and being willing to do the same in return.
Leaflets and door drops
Simple and local. You pay to print and deliver, and without a code or link you cannot tell whether they worked. They suit a few streets or a one-off event better than a long campaign.
Advertising on takeaway packaging
Your advert goes on pizza boxes, coffee cups or bags that local shops hand to customers. It is seen at home, at the desk or on the commute, and the shops use the packaging anyway, so there is no separate distribution to pay for.
You choose the area, add a QR code or promo code to see responses, and TradePack handles the design, matching, printing and delivery.
Which should you choose?
- Start with a complete Google Business Profile and a few reviews.
- Add one channel that creates awareness, rather than five at once.
- Give every channel a way to measure it: a code, a link or a question at the till.
- Keep what works, drop what does not.
Who advertises on packaging
Local services and shops with a customer base nearby: salons, gyms, dentists, estate agents, garages, tutors and independent shops. Apps, online shops and brands can also use it, aiming at a set of towns or cities.
Questions people ask.
What is the best way to advertise a local business?
There is no single best way. Most local businesses do well starting with a complete Google Business Profile and reviews, then adding one channel that builds awareness, such as local social groups, partnerships, leaflets or packaging ads, and measuring it.
How can I advertise locally without paying for delivery?
Packaging ads avoid separate distribution because the shops hand the packaging out with their normal orders. You pay for the print run, and TradePack delivers it to the shops.
How do I know my advertising is working?
Give each channel something you can count: a QR code, a promo code or a simple question when people book. On packaging, a QR code can point to a page you control, so you can count scans.
Can small businesses advertise on takeaway packaging?
Yes. A campaign can cover a few postcodes around your business. Tell us the area and what you want to promote, and we come back with options.
What can't be advertised?
We never run adverts for gambling and betting, tobacco and vaping, adult content, payday and high-cost loans, or political campaigns.