How to Promote Your Local Business on YouTube

At Lillian Purge, we specialise in Local SEO Services and provide practical strategies in How to promote your local business on YouTube, showing you how video can bring new customers right to your door.

Promoting your local business on YouTube involves more than just posting videos. It’s about building trust, showcasing your expertise, and creating content that resonates with your local audience. When done right, YouTube can boost your brand visibility, drive website traffic, and attract new customers in your area.

1. Create a Branded YouTube Channel

Start by setting up a YouTube channel that reflects your business identity. Use your business name, logo, and consistent colours across your profile. Add a clear description of what your business does, including location-based keywords.

For example, if you’re a salon in Bedford, your description might read, “A professional hair and beauty salon in Bedford offering expert styling, colouring, and skincare.” This helps YouTube and Google associate your channel with local searches.

Don’t forget to add links to your website, contact details, and social media pages in the channel description.

2. Optimise Videos for Local Search

Just like with Google search, YouTube SEO plays a big role in how your videos appear in search results. Optimise your video titles, descriptions, and tags with local keywords.

For example:

• Title: “Best Electrician in Milton Keynes – Reliable Local Service”

• Description: “Looking for a qualified electrician in Milton Keynes? We provide affordable electrical repairs and installations. Call us today for a free quote.”

Include your city or region in video tags and add a location tag when uploading your video. This helps YouTube recommend your content to users nearby.

3. Share Local Stories and Expertise

People connect with authenticity. Use YouTube to share your business journey, show behind-the-scenes footage, or highlight your involvement in the local community.

Examples include:

• A video tour of your shop, office, or studio.

• Introductions to your staff and their expertise.

• Local events or charity initiatives your business supports.

• Tips or tutorials relevant to your service.

If you’re a plumber, for instance, you might create videos like “How to fix a leaking tap” or “5 signs you need a boiler service.” These helpful videos position your business as knowledgeable and approachable.

4. Showcase Customer Testimonials

Video testimonials are a powerful way to build trust. Ask satisfied customers if they’re willing to record a short review or share their experience on camera. Real people discussing how your business helped them carries more weight than written reviews.

Keep testimonial videos short—one to two minutes is ideal—and include your location details in the video title or description. For example: “Customer Review – Roof Repair in Bedfordshire.”

5. Use YouTube Ads for Local Targeting

YouTube Ads are part of the Google Ads network, allowing you to target viewers by location, interests, and demographics. You can run short video ads before or during other videos that your target audience watches.

For local businesses, this means you can display ads only to people within your service area. You can also target viewers searching for relevant topics, such as “accountants near me” or “best takeaway in Luton.”

Start with small budgets to test what works. You can choose formats such as:

• Skippable ads: Viewers can skip after five seconds; you only pay if they watch longer.

• Non-skippable ads: Best for short, impactful messages.

• Video discovery ads: Appear alongside YouTube search results or suggested videos.

6. Collaborate with Local Influencers

Partnering with local YouTubers or influencers can help expand your reach. Find creators in your area whose audience aligns with your target customers. They might review your services, feature your business in a vlog, or create collaborative content.

For example, a café could invite a local food blogger to review their menu or showcase seasonal specials. Collaborations like this introduce your brand to new local audiences in an authentic way.

7. Add Calls to Action in Your Videos

Every video should have a clear purpose and call to action (CTA). Tell viewers exactly what to do next—whether that’s visiting your website, booking an appointment, or following your social media page.

Examples of effective CTAs:

• “Call us today for your free consultation.”

• “Visit our website to see our full range of services.”

• “Subscribe for weekly local business tips.”

You can add CTAs verbally, in video text overlays, or through clickable cards and end screens.

8. Post Consistently and Engage with Your Audience

Regular posting helps build momentum and keeps your brand visible. Create a content plan that includes a mix of how-to videos, testimonials, and community updates. Aim to upload once or twice a week if possible.

Engagement also matters. Respond to comments, answer questions, and thank viewers for their support. Building a community around your brand encourages loyalty and repeat business.

9. Share Videos Across Other Platforms

Maximise visibility by promoting your YouTube videos on other channels. Embed videos on your website, share them on Facebook and Instagram, and include links in your email newsletters.

This cross-promotion not only drives more views but also signals to Google that your content is relevant and engaging, improving its visibility in search results.

10. Track Performance and Improve

Use YouTube Analytics to measure your progress. Monitor key metrics such as watch time, engagement rate, and viewer location. If most of your traffic comes from outside your area, refine your titles, tags, and descriptions with stronger local keywords.

You can also track which videos generate the most leads or clicks to your website. Over time, focus your efforts on creating more of the content that performs best.

11. Highlight Special Offers or Seasonal Promotions

Videos are perfect for announcing time-limited deals or events. For example, if you run a fitness studio, create a short clip promoting a “New Year fitness challenge” or a “Summer membership discount.” Include your local area in the title and description to attract nearby viewers searching for similar opportunities.

12. Encourage Subscribers from Your Local Area

Remind viewers to subscribe to your channel and turn on notifications. You can even run small giveaways or local competitions to encourage engagement. For instance, a local florist might offer a free bouquet to one lucky subscriber in the area.

Final Thoughts

YouTube offers local businesses a dynamic and cost-effective way to connect with their community, showcase expertise, and attract new customers. By optimising videos for local SEO, creating engaging content, and using targeted advertising, you can turn YouTube into a key part of your marketing strategy.

Consistency, authenticity, and local relevance are the secrets to success. Over time, your channel will not only boost brand awareness but also build lasting trust with customers in your area.

We have also written in depth articles on How to monetise youtube and How to repurpose YouTube content for social media as well as our YouTube Hub to give you further guidance.