Local Tips For Social Media Marketing NYC-Based Businesses
The City That Never Sleeps runs 24/7 on social media 🌆
When he wrote “New York State Of Mind, " Billy Joel was onto something. New York City is more than just a concrete jungle; it’s a state of mind!
If you’ve been to the Big Apple, you know there’s nothing quite like the thrill of the hustle and bustle, the jerk of the subway car, and the illuminating lights of a Broadway marquee. And if you’re a NYC-based business, you’re tasked with a unique and challenging job: Creating an authentic depiction of NYC life for the natives and maintaining the city's allure for folks who have yet to visit.
I’m about to spill some of the best-kept secrets on social media marketing nyc based businesses. Keep scrolling, city-lovers!
Local Tips For Social Media Marketing NYC-Based Businesses
#1: Highlight Local NYC Events
Just because your business doesn’t have an event every day doesn’t mean there’s nothing for your audience to do. Hundreds of events are happening across the city on any given day—and there is something for everyone. By sharing local events near your business, you’ll strengthen your position as a local expert and increase your visibility for people in the area.
Some of my favorite places to find the latest NYC events are:
The Official Website of the City of New York: https://www.nyc.gov/events/events-filter.html
NYC.com: https://www.nyc.com/events/
Downtown Alliance: https://downtownny.com/
NYC For Free on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyc_forfree/
New York Locals on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newyorklocals/
Because NYC is such a hot tourist destination, people visiting want to know about the new trendy restaurants and clubs—because you always need a place to eat before (or after) a Broadway show. These are a few of my favorite creators to follow for the best local restaurant suggestions:
Chew York City on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chewyorkcity/
Morgan Raum on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tooomuchfoood/
NYC Food Gals on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nycfoodgals/
NYC Food Favs on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nycfoodfaves/
#2: Utilize Google My Business
If you have a brick-and-mortar store in NYC and you’re not using Google My Business, you are missing out! Google My Business bridges the gap between social media and local SEO. You can post updates and share photos and reviews to boost local rankings and take your borough by storm.
Here’s what you need to do to get started:
Step 1: Set up a Gmail account.
Step 2: Set up, claim, and verify your page on the Google My Business page.
Step 3: Add the best photos of your storefront, interior, and products.
Step 4: SEO optimize your business description and services.
Step 5: Establish a strategy for regular post updates, events, promotions, and announcements.
Step 6: Monitor your insights to see how well posts perform. And be sure to respond to any inquiries that come in!
#3: Engage, engage, engage
Every borough in NYC is united by one thing: community. Why should your strategy on social media be rooted in anything else?!
Ensure you’re online and promptly responding to all comments, DMs, and tags. The more consistent you are in welcoming your followers to your page, the more likely they’ll be to roll into your business and become a life-long customers.
Read more: Is Your Engagement Down? Don’t Panic
#4: Use New York-Inspired Hashtags and Keywords
Don’t listen to the haters. Hashtags DO still hold value in 2024, and coupling them with strong keywords will create the perfect SEO cocktail. The trick? Prioritize locality and quality over quantity.
You can use up to 30 hashtags on posts, but we don’t recommend maxing out. Stick to fewer, more high-quality tags representing your brand and each specific post.
In our experience, using a mix of industry-specific, local, and post-specific hashtags harnesses the best results in the realm of social media marketing nyc based businesses. Your keywords can be similar to your hashtags, with a few more post-specific keywords included.
#5: Be The New Yorker
If someone is a native New Yorker, trust me—they’ll let you know it! Living in NYC is a unique experience; your social media content should reflect that. Share stories, insights, and experiences that will resonate with your fellow New Yorkers; this builds trust!
And don’t be afraid to tap into the crazy local stories or happenings constantly popping up. Remember the Portal to Dublin? Or the giant hot dog in Times Square? Those concepts were born to be parodied on social media!
#6: Partner with NYC Influencers
In one of the most creatively diverse cities in the world, you are in no shortage of finding the perfect social media content creator to help spread the word about your business! Collaborating with local influencers can help boost your credibility and your reach.
Reach out to your local uptown girl to collaborate on product launches, new openings, or joint promotions for products or services!
#7: Share Local Reviews
The power of a positive review is just as strong as Carrie Bradshaw’s Cosmopolitan. Sharing glowing reviews online builds credibility, trust, and a sales funnel that is constantly moving.
All it takes is one mom from the playgroup to see your reviews online, share them with the rest of the group, and boom, you’ve got yourself six new customers who will share their positive experience online or otherwise!
#8: Partner With Other NYC-Based Businesses
Looking to improve your reach and create memorable experiences for your loyal customers? Partner with other local businesses! Team up for joint giveaways, events, or even product collaborations. It’s all about give and take—you’re sharing your audience with them, and they are sharing theirs with you!
The Niche Shop, a vintage secondhand clothing and home decor store, is ALWAYS partnering with other local businesses and creatives to host events in their shops and throughout the city. They’re crushing the social media marketing nyc game!
Another campaign I LOVED that was so New York-coded was the 20th Anniversary celebration of Wicked the Musical! They partnered with SO many local businesses to bring people all things pink and green to celebrate a remarkable achievement.
P.S. This one is coming back with the launch of the Wicked movie, which is coming later in 2024!
It’s Up To You, New York—Make Your Socials Shine Like the Chrysler Building!
You’ve worked hard to establish your business in the city, and your hard work shouldn’t go unnoticed. Eight million people live in New York; if nearly all of them are on social media, that bodes well for your business. So what are you waiting for? Social media marketing nyc based businesses is allll the rage.
The Scott Social team has clients and team members based in NYC who are ready to help take your social media presence to new heights. We’re like the subway—we’ll take you just about anywhere. Get in touch today, and let’s get social!
WRITTEN BY:
Angela LaRose
Copywriter + Social Media Strategist
