As the owner of a small business, you may believe that your larger competitors have an advantage where local business marketing ideas are concerned. After all, national corporations have huge budgets and departments devoted to marketing � but what they don�t have is the local advantage. You know your customers, so you know how to reach them. Use these small business advertising ideas ideas to build your brand and expand your reach.

Get Listed

Make sure your business is listed in online directories such as Bing, Google and Yahoo, and on review sites such as Foursquare and Yelp. Online reviews are an invaluable local business internet marketing tool, but you shouldn't forget about brick-and-mortar sources � pay a visit to the chamber of commerce in your town.

Make it Easy to Get Reviewed

Companies with social clout get their listings at the top of search engine results pages, and you need to get your business noticed. You should ask customers to review you, and make it easy for them to do so. Include links to review sites on your site and in your marketing messages to simplify the review process.

Get your Contact Info out There

The name of your business, your address and your local number should be displayed prominently on your site, and it should be consistent across all online media � search engines favor consistency above almost all else.

Take Part in Community Events

Host a community event, or sponsor an event that�s already going on. You�ll get your business� name in the local paper, and it will be spread across social media as people discuss the event.

Make Sure your Site is Optimized for Mobile Devices

Most customers use mobile devices on a daily basis, and your mobile site should be easy to navigate and read. Make sure your company is listed on Facebook Places and Google Maps � almost 40% of local searches are small business-based, and mobile marketing is part of internet marketing for small business.

Start a Rewards Program

If consistently used, a rewards program is a good way to keep customers engaged. Turn a customer�s smartphone into a loyalty card, or have them link a debit card for seamless processing of rewards. Instead of just offering a promotion through email, share them via text message or online. 73% of buyers look for promotions online, and almost 60% visit businesses specifically to redeem a coupon.