Podcast Summary: Grow Your Local Business
Episode: Why Growing Your Business Locally First Will Get You Fully Booked Faster
Host: Leslie Presnell
Release Date: April 1, 2025
Introduction
In the episode titled "Why Growing Your Business Locally First Will Get You Fully Booked Faster," Leslie Presnell delves into the strategic advantages of focusing on local markets before expanding globally. Drawing from her extensive experience as a local marketing expert and life coach, Leslie outlines actionable insights and strategies to help business owners achieve a steady stream of clients by leveraging their local communities.
Leslie's Journey to Local Success
Leslie begins by sharing her personal story, highlighting the pivotal shift from broad, unfocused marketing to a concentrated local strategy. Starting her blog in 2010 amidst a saturated online landscape, Leslie initially struggled to gain traction. Her breakthrough came when she decided to "niche down to local to my city," transforming her approach to focus on Baton Rouge's community. This strategic pivot not only increased her audience engagement but also established her as the "local go-to girl," fostering trust and recognition within her community.
Notable Quote:
At [05:30], Leslie states, "Instead of keeping up with the latest fashion trends, I niche down to local to my city. I literally became the local go-to girl."
Four Core Reasons to Grow Locally First
Leslie outlines four compelling reasons why businesses should prioritize local growth to achieve full booking faster:
1. Clarity in Messaging and Audience
Focusing locally allows businesses to "know exactly who your people are." With a defined local audience, messaging becomes more targeted and relatable. Understanding the local community's habits, preferences, and challenges enables businesses to tailor their offerings effectively.
Notable Quote:
At [12:15], Leslie explains, "When you focus locally, you know exactly who your people are. You actually probably know so many people locally who are perfect for what you offer."
2. Instant Trust and Recognition
Local marketing fosters immediate trust and recognition. Being a familiar face within the community builds credibility, making potential clients more likely to choose local businesses over anonymous, global competitors.
Notable Quote:
At [19:45], Leslie remarks, "Local gives you that built-in credibility and connection. They are going to be instantly connected to you."
3. Easier Local Referrals
Word-of-mouth referrals thrive in local settings where personal connections are stronger. Leslie emphasizes that "referrals are much easier when you're growing your business locally," as people are more inclined to recommend services they trust within their community.
Notable Quote:
At [25:30], she states, "Word of mouth spreads like wildfire locally. Someone can just mention something related to your niche or industry, and it goes from there."
4. Tangible and Actionable Marketing
Local marketing strategies are more tangible and immediate. Actions such as attending local networking events, hosting community gatherings, or collaborating with nearby businesses yield direct and measurable results, unlike broader online strategies that may feel abstract and less immediate.
Notable Quote:
At [32:10], Leslie points out, "When you market locally, it's actionable. You just go to a networking event tonight, you ask one person what they do, you tell them what you do. Like, boom. That is local marketing."
Addressing Concerns About Local Focus
Leslie addresses a common concern among business owners: "Won't I be excluding people all over the world and leaving money on the table?" She reframes this perspective by explaining that focusing locally is not about exclusion but about "focusing on who your people are, where they are, what you can say to them, and the actions you can take today." Additionally, she reassures that expanding beyond local can occur organically once a strong local foundation is established, leveraging the credibility and revenue gained locally to support broader growth.
Notable Quote:
At [45:20], Leslie reassures listeners, "You're focusing on local people. Just like when you niche down to something, people outside of your niche can still connect with your message and with your marketing and they can still reach out and buy from you."
Conclusion and Call to Action
Leslie wraps up the episode by reiterating that "local is not a limitation, it's leverage." She emphasizes that building a fully booked business locally provides a stable foundation, making future scaling efforts more effective and less risky. To assist business owners in implementing these strategies, Leslie promotes the LocalPreneur Academy, inviting listeners to join and build a thriving local business.
Notable Quote:
At [55:00], Leslie concludes, "Just start where you are. Start local. And if you're ready to build a fully booked business by growing locally, you've got to come join us inside the LocalPreneur Academy."
Key Takeaways
- Start Local: Begin by focusing on your immediate community to build a strong client base.
- Targeted Messaging: Tailor your marketing messages to resonate with local audiences.
- Build Trust: Leverage local recognition and word-of-mouth to establish credibility.
- Actionable Strategies: Implement tangible marketing actions that yield immediate results.
- Foundation for Growth: Use local success as a springboard for expanding your business reach.
By adopting a local-first approach, business owners can achieve quicker, more sustainable growth, setting the stage for future expansion both regionally and globally.
Learn More:
To implement these strategies and grow your local business, visit lesliepresnell.com and consider joining the LocalPreneur Academy for comprehensive guidance and support.