Local Business Social Media Marketing: What Works in 2025

Running a local business in 2025 means one thing — you can’t afford to ignore social media. Whether you’re a café, salon, real estate agent or tradie, your customers are spending hours every day scrolling, liking, and watching.

That’s where local business social media marketing comes in. It’s not about posting just to post — it’s about showing up where your customers are and building real connections that turn into visits, bookings, and sales.

So what’s actually working this year? Let’s break it down, plain and simple.

Why Social Media Still Matters

If you’re wondering whether social media marketing still works for small businesses, the answer is absolutely. It’s where people go to find out who you are before they walk through your doors.

Your social pages are the new shopfront — and first impressions matter. When your posts look active, consistent, and genuine, people instantly trust you more. It’s that simple.

And the best part? You don’t need a massive budget or a marketing degree. You just need a clear voice, a bit of consistency, and a strategy that feels authentic.

1. Keep It Local — Always

Your biggest advantage as a local business is… being local. Use it!

Share what’s happening in your neighbourhood — a local market, a fundraiser, or a customer success story. Tag nearby businesses, use location hashtags, and show your audience that you’re part of the community.

When people see your business showing up in their feed alongside places they already know and love, you become familiar. And familiar means trusted.

That’s what local business social media marketing is all about — being a real, active part of your local area online.

2. TikTok, Reels and Shorts Continue to Dominate

Video is still king — especially short videos. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are where most people spend their time, and it’s where local businesses can shine.

The trick? Keep it real. You don’t need perfect lighting or fancy editing. Just pull out your phone and show what makes your business tick — a behind-the-scenes moment, a how-to, or a happy customer.

Short videos grab attention fast and make people feel connected. They also tell the algorithm, “Hey, people like this!” — which means more local eyes on your brand.

3. Talk With People, Not At Them

One of the biggest shifts in 2025 is interaction. People don’t want brands that just post and disappear — they want ones that talk back.

Reply to comments, answer DMs, and jump into conversations. Even a quick emoji reply shows you’re listening. When people feel seen, they come back.

You can also build community by asking questions, running polls, or tagging other local pages. It’s not about shouting the loudest — it’s about showing up like a real human who cares about their customers.

4. Let Your Customers Do the Talking

Your customers are your best marketers. Reviews, tags, and shoutouts from real people beat any ad.

Encourage happy customers to share photos or videos of their experience and tag your business. Then repost it. This kind of local business social media marketing builds instant trust — people believe other people more than they believe ads.

And when potential customers see real locals raving about you, it removes doubt. That’s free, authentic advertising you can’t buy.

5. Smart Ads That Stay Local

Organic posts are great, but adding a few smart ads can really boost results. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even Google (Radium) now let you target people right in your area — within a few kilometres of your store or service zone.

That means you can show your offers, events, or promos to the people who are most likely to buy. No wasted spend — just local attention.

Combine this with remarketing (showing ads to people who already visited your page or site), and suddenly your brand is everywhere they scroll.

6. Automation That Saves You Time

Let’s be honest — running a business and keeping up with social media is a lot. That’s where automation comes in.

Tools can now help you reply instantly, schedule posts, collect reviews, and even manage leads — all without you glued to your phone 24/7.

That’s what Marketing Now’s Saas system was built for: to simplify your marketing, automate the repetitive stuff, and help you focus on what you do best — running your business.

Automation doesn’t make your social media robotic — it makes it consistent. You stay responsive, visible, and on-brand, even when you’re busy serving customers.

7. Be Real, Not Perfect

People follow people, not faceless brands. Show the faces behind your business — your team, your customers, your space. Post the small wins and the not-so-polished moments too.

Authenticity always beats perfection. In 2025, it’s what helps local businesses stand out online. A quick clip of your morning rush, your team setting up, or your dog greeting customers can get more love than any “polished” ad.

The goal is connection, not perfection.

8. Measure What Matters

It’s easy to get lost chasing likes and followers, but those aren’t the only numbers that count. What really matters is how many people message, visit, book, or buy after seeing your posts.

Keep an eye on the basics — engagement, reach, and conversions. And if you’re using tools (like ours 😉), you can see which posts are bringing real results.

Knowing what works means you can do more of it — and stop wasting time on what doesn’t.

Let’s Make Your Local Business Stand Out

Social media is no longer just a marketing extra — it’s how your customers find you, trust you, and choose you.

If you’re ready to grow your audience, boost engagement, and turn your social presence into real results, we can help.

Marketing Now gives you everything you need — smart tools, automation, strategy, and support — to make your local business social media marketing effortless and effective.

Call us at 03 9998 1979 or Contact us today to see how the Marketing Now Saas system can help your business show up, stand out, and grow in 2025.