How Nationwide Manufacturers Can Interact With Native Communities

Paps Shaikh, Chief Commercial Officer at Nextdoor, shares six ways national brands can improve their local marketing.

When life as we knew it was taken from us, the communities around us became critical. We forged an emotional connection with our local area that is here to stay.

This trend toward local living is a big cultural shift, but what does it mean for national brands? How do they need to position themselves to be successful? And how should they appear and behave locally to be accepted as part of the community?

Here’s how national brand marketers can increase impact and engagement in a local world:

1. Support Local Projects

There is a growing expectation that national brands will go above and beyond to support areas in which they have been welcomed to do business. In fact, nearly three-quarters (69%) of Nextdoor members expect national brands to raise funds for local causes.

Co-op is a great example of a company that is celebrated for its community fundraising – raising over £100m to support local communities. Other ways to give back include sponsoring soccer teams, visiting schools, or picking up litter to protect the local environment. Today’s consumers expect a two-way value exchange with any organization that has established itself in the local area.

2. Share positive impacts

To be truly accepted in the local area, national brands must reinforce the impact they are having in the community, whether it is creating jobs or improving mobile coverage. Local people are likely to be more receptive to brands when they understand their individual contributions to building a strong community.

3. Create connections

As people feel more connected to their local areas, there is an opportunity for brands to build more meaningful relationships by showing how much they care about towns, villages and cities across the country.

This could be as simple as referencing local landmarks, offering deals for nearby tourist attractions, or using more emotive language regarding the local area. Our research found that two-thirds (65%) expect national chains in their area to tailor their products and services to the local community.

4. Personalized approaches

Every neighborhood is unique and needs to be approached differently. Urban audiences, for example, lead very different lives from those in rural communities, and companies must adapt their marketing accordingly.

There is room for improvement here, with just 23% of our members saying that the national networks in their area show an understanding of local nuances. It’s not all up to brands though, as advertising platforms can provide insights to help them deliver the right messages to the right areas.

5. Understand the needs of the community

There is a certain level of guesswork from national brands when it comes to what local people need and want. Of course, market research can provide useful information, but it will never be the same as real-world feedback and engagement with neighbors, businesses, and public services. These are real people with real lives, not just numbers.

6. Support independent stores

National brands may find their place in the local ecosystem alongside independent stores. Tesco, for example, got it right when beer gardens opened for the first time since lockdown by running an ad encouraging people to visit their local pub.

Those companies that care for those around them and find their own role within the local community will generate more brand loyalty. By thinking carefully about how they appear, act and behave locally, they will become an important part of strong, vibrant and resilient neighborhoods.