Nextdoor Advertising Guide

The next big thing in small business marketing is right around the corner, and it’s Nextdoor.

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/804008/ad-blocking-reach-usage-us/

As a result, small businesses need to find new and creative ways to reach their target audiences. Nextdoor provides an opportunity for businesses to connect with their customers in a more personal and effective way.

My Personal Experience

Nextdoor isn’t for every business, but it helps nearly every type. Here are the types of businesses that flourish on Nextdoor.

1. Service businesses that rely on word-of-mouth recommendations, such as plumbers, electricians, and gardeners. 
2.  Retail businesses with a local focus, including neighborhood bakeries, bookstores, and toy stores. 
3. Restaurants that want to build a connection with their customers and boost repeat business. 
4. Home-based businesses, such as dog walkers and pet sitters, that need an easy way to spread the word about their services. 
5. Businesses looking to build a rapport with their customers and generate leads through positive customer reviews. 
6. Companies that offer services or products targeted at a specific geographic area, such as real estate firms, mortgage lenders, and pest control businesses. 

Nextdoor can benefit businesses of all types, but it is particularly well-suited for those that want to build relationships with their customers and be active members of their community. 

Source: https://blog.nextdoor.com/2020/12/16/nextdoor-insights-series-4-2020-brought-us-home/

Nextdoor reports that the top three home services searched for by users were plumber, house cleaning, and service electrician. If you own and operate one of these types of businesses, Nextdoor is definitely worth considering as a marketing tool.

I’ve been using Nextdoor for about a year now to connect my clients with new customers and market their businesses and campaigns. And I’ve found it to be one of the most effective marketing tools available, especially for small businesses.

Here’s why:

The Way People Use Nextdoor is Changing

It’s no longer just a way to find out what’s happening in your neighborhood. More and more, people, especially parents and homeowners, are using it to find recommendations for businesses, services, and products. In 2022, 78% of parents with children at home say they value neighbor recommendations. That number jumps to 89% for parents on Nextdoor.

This is good news for small businesses because it means that you now have access to a huge audience of potential customers who are actively looking for recommendations. In fact, in the first week of my client’s presence on Nextdoor, he was able to get connected with two new customers!

Nextdoor is Hyper-Local

One of the best things about Nextdoor is that it’s hyper-local. This means that you can target your marketing efforts to a very specific geographical area by using zip codes and an adjustable radius.

For example, when I launched a Nextdoor ad campaign for my estate sales client, I used the platform to reach out to neighbors in his service area and let them know about his business. 

This was extremely effective because he was both able to target new service areas and get the word out to his community.

Nextdoor is Personal

Another great thing about Nextdoor is that it’s a very personal platform. Because it’s based on your real-life neighborhood, you can use it to build genuine relationships with your customers. Trust and credibility are key for your target customers, and seeing your business recommended by members of their community on Nextdoor is a seal of approval from their trusted neighbors.

I’ve found that one of the best ways to use Nextdoor is to create personal connections with customers by responding to their questions and concerns in a timely manner. This not only helps build trust, but it also shows that you care about your customers and their experience with your business.

These personal connections are incredibly valuable, and they’ve helped my clients turn one-time customers into lifelong fans of their business. In fact, in May of this year a survey of Nextdoor neighbors found that users are impacted by local and business recommendations — 96% have seen business recommendations on Nextdoor, 89% value neighbor recommendations for products and services, 72% have been influenced by a business recommendation on Nextdoor, and 71% have shared one.

Source: https://about.nextdoor.com/press-releases/nextdoor-releases-new-insights-report-revealing-the-power-of-neighbor-recommendations/

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is this: If you’re looking for a way to reach more new customers and build deeper relationships with them, you should be using Nextdoor.

If you’re a small business owner or marketing for a small business, Nextdoor should be on your radar. The platform’s data-driven approach to marketing and its focus on building personal relationships make it a powerful tool for small businesses. 

If you’re not already on Nextdoor, definitely consider creating a profile and utilizing the platform to reach new customers in your community.