Local Marketing Made Simple for Garage Door Businesses

If you run a garage door business, you already know that location is everything. Most of your customers are homeowners or businesses found in your community, meaning your marketing efforts should focus on local visibility. According to Google, mobile searches of ‘where to buy’ and ‘near me’ have increased by over 200% in two years, with mobile searches containing ‘repair near me’ having grown by over 110% in the past two years.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to expand your customer base, here are actionable local marketing tips to help you stand out from the local competition and generate more business.

1. Optimize – or Create – Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (previously Google My Business) is your digital business listing. Your Google Business Profile allows you to manage how your business appears on Google Maps and Google Search, meaning that when potential customers search for things such as ‘garage door repair near me’ or ‘garage door installation in [your city]’, your business will appear. Google will typically show results for local business listings first, making it even more important that your business is appearing as a local business.

Be sure to fill out every field in your profile, including hours, services, service area, photos, and FAQs. The more complete your profile is, the more trustworthy and relevant it appears to both Google and potential customers. For additional help and resources visit their YouTube account.

Don’t have a Google account yet?

And, if you’re not convinced of the power of using the internet to grow your business, 99% of people have used the internet to look up information about a local business, according to SEOProfy. It was also found that 88% of consumers who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit or call a store within a day.

2. Target Local Social Media Users

Social media is a powerful local marketing tool if you know how to use it that way. If you haven’t already created social media pages for your business, now is the time to get started. Social media continues to be a top way for homeowners to search for local businesses, allowing them to easily access reviews, recommendations, and opinions on service.

Focus on the platforms your target customers use. Facebook is great for older homeowners with added benefits like Facebook ads, while Instagram or even TikTok can reach younger homeowners or those in newly built communities. Relatable and useful content is the key to success, no matter the platform. Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, makes it easy to learn and use their platforms to advertise or boost posts to a target audience in a location range that you choose.

Even if you don’t put ad spend toward your posts, social media is still an invaluable tool you should prioritize for your business. Post interesting content, such as before-and-after photos or garage safety tips, to grow your following. Consider joining local Facebook groups and following their marketing guidelines. Many groups have opportunities for business owners to advertise their services.
New to social media? Canva is a free graphic design platform that makes it easy to edit already-made templates to fit your brand.

3. Use Local Service Ads (LSAs) by Google

If you’re not using Google Local Service Ads, you may be missing valuable leads. These ads will appear at the top of local search results with a Google Guaranteed badge, and you only pay per customer lead, not per click. This builds your local credibility and encourages homeowners and customers to choose your business over competitors. As a garage door business, Local Services Ads allows your business to appear at the top of Google Search results in the areas you operate in. Potential customers will click on your ad to either call you, send a message request, or even schedule an appointment. It’s an affordable way to generate local leads at a budget you set.

To qualify, you’ll need to pass a background check and have proper licensing and insurance. Once you’re verified, you can customize your service areas, business hours, and lead categories.
Learn more about LSAs here.

4. Sponsor Local Events and Teams

Sponsoring community or charity-based events in your local community offers a great opportunity to raise brand awareness. Not only are you supporting a great local cause/event, but you are also gaining valuable impressions on your brand each time your name is advertised, whether on social media, on television, or even on the back of a T-shirt! Your brand also builds a positive image through its community-based reputation. It’s also a great way to network with other local businesses – you never know when you’ll need that connection.

Look for school fundraisers, town parades, farmers’ markets, or local home shows. Even donating to an auction (e.g., a free maintenance check/service) is a low-cost way to build awareness. Sponsorships range from branded merchandise to VIP access, depending on the event and sponsorship level. By sponsoring a cause close to you and your business, you set yourself apart as a community-oriented brand.

Take photos at the event to share on your own pages. This creates content and reinforces your local presence.

5. Encourage Employee – and Customer – Advocacy

Many businesses – large or small – underestimate the impact of the voice of their employees. As members of the local community, your employees have networks filled with potential customers, and these potential customers already trust them. Encourage them to share positive on-the-job stories, before-and-after photos, and helpful tips. If you haven’t already created a list of social media expectations for your team, be sure to do so. It’s important that your employees know what they can and can’t, share externally, as well as best practices when asking homeowners to share images of their homes.

When it comes to customers, a happy customer is one of the best local marketing tools you have access to. Encourage them to share a positive review on Google and/or Facebook, increasing your reach while continuing to position yourself as the go-to local garage door business. If you’re just starting, or looking to really grow your reviews, consider offering an incentive such as a referral bonus or entering into a prize drawing as a way to thank the reviewer for their time. Keep an eye out for reviews and be sure to reply to each with gratitude or a solution if the customer wasn’t satisfied with their service.

Bonus: Polish Your Website (if you haven’t already!)

Even without a marketing or design background, you can still build a great, easy-to-use website for your business. According to research shared by Forbes, 71% of businesses had a website in 2023, with 43% of small businesses planning to invest in their website performance. With that said, it’s also important to pay attention to the impact a bad website has on your business. Forbes found that 88% of online users wouldn’t return to a site after a bad experience and 61% said they would go to another website if they couldn’t find what they were looking for in five seconds. If your business doesn’t clearly show the services you provide to the communities you serve, you could be losing business to your competition! Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy are just a few of the top free website tools available to get started.

Build Your Marketing Plan Day by Day

The garage door industry is competitive, but local marketing gives you a serious edge. By focusing on visibility, trust, and community, you can build a following of loyal customers who turn to you first. Plus, they’re more likely to tell their neighbors about you! Use these strategies to begin planning your local marketing efforts and each day your presence will grow.

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