Using location-based marketing to promote your business

Location-based marketing delivers targeted marketing messages to customers in particular locations, through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Customers receive these marketing messages by using their mobile device to:

• search for local businesses on the internet
• 'check in' to a particular neighbourhood or business through an online, location-based service.

Some of the most popular location-based services are:

• Google My Business
• Facebook Places
• Zomato
• Yelp.

Simple location-based services (such as Google My Business) provide a list of businesses that match a customer's search terms, along with basic information about those businesses.

More sophisticated location-based services (such as Yelp and Zomato) go much further. Once a customer checks in at a particular place, these services can send them special offers and discounts for immediate use at nearby businesses.

Location-based marketing is an efficient, measurable way to increase sales. This guide explains how location-based marketing works, and how to use it successfully.