The Benefits of Shopping Local for Valentine’s Day

You might not expect a digital marketing agency to advocate “shopping local” but local boutiques offer many benefits that you just can’t find online - a unique selection of products, the opportunity to “touch and feel” and immediate gratification (even faster than Prime shipping).

A recent study by Deloitte indicated that consumers plan to spend 51% of their holiday gift budget online. Given stiff competition from online specialty sites, online department stores (e.g. Target and Walmart) and course Amazon, local retail shops have continued to hone their offerings - improving selections, offering complimentary gift wrap, personal shopping consultants, and even organizing shopping nights with wine tastings or music.

If you’re looking for unique shops in the heart of Chevy Chase, here are a handful worth checking out:

Catch Can offers a wide selection of mostly natural, domestically made women's wear including footwear, handbags, jewelry, soaps and lotions, cards, stationery, furniture and housewares.

Tabandeh showcases the talents of designers worldwide.

DePandi sells the latest Italian designed and custom-made clothing for men. Ambassadors, professional athletes, and many foreign Heads of State trust DePandi for exceptional service.

Claire Dratch is revered as "one of America's best stores" by Women's Wear Daily. They offer a select boutique fashion to a cosmopolitan clientele.

Periwinkle wide open sun-filled shop with bleached floors and shelves brimming with products from around the world including candles, children’s toys and novelties, frames, pottery, journals, boxed notes and fresh chocolates.

Write For You is a premier retailer of fine stationery and invitations. Personalized stationery makes for a unique gift and is always appreciated.

Now, what if you’re a proprietor of a local shop competing against the online retail giants? That’s where local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in. Just by virtue of your physical location, your business has an enormous advantage in ranking well for local search terms such as “gift shop Chevy Chase”.

Here are 5 key SEO tactics that will have your business ranking locally:

• Get listed on Google My Business. Local searchers are looking for a business’s address and location. Its free and enables you to put your name, address, phone number, hours, directions and other useful information about your business on Google Search and Google Maps. Be sure to keep your business’ information consistent across any directories you’re listed on.
• Optimize your URLs, tags and content, and keep the content fresh. Having a blog on your site and updating it with information about new products and services, or new uses for older products and services is a great way to provide valuable information to your site’s visitors.
• Secure links to your website. Start with other local businesses, your suppliers and partners, and ask them to link to you. Has your business supported local non profits? Ask for a link. Is your business a member of the local chamber of commerce? Ask for a link.
• Own your business’ reputation. At a minimum, you must encourage your well served and happiest customers to review your business on Yelp and Google+. Reviews are valuable to consumers and help them to choose where to shop.

Good luck and best wishes for a Happy Valentine’s Day!