Local advertising used to mean a flyer, a newspaper slot, and hope. In 2026 you have far better, more measurable options — many of them as easy to run as boosting a social post. Here are 12 practical ideas for reaching the customers right around your business, roughly in order from quickest to most advanced.
1. Put your offer on neighborhood screens
The fastest modern move: run your ad on the street-level and in-venue screens in your area. You become "the place I keep seeing" on the blocks people already walk. (See neighborhood advertising.)
2. Draw a geofence around your trade area
Use geofencing to reach phones within a boundary you choose — the few blocks or ZIPs your customers actually come from. Precise, and no budget wasted on people too far to visit.
3. Run a connected TV ad to local households
Yes, a real TV ad — to streaming homes in just your city or ZIPs. CTV targeting makes living-room advertising affordable and local for the first time.
4. Lead with one timely offer
Whatever the channel, give people a reason to come this week. A clear, time-bound offer outperforms a generic "we're great" message every time.
5. Add a QR code to everything
A QR code or short link turns a glance into an action — and a measurable one. It's your bridge from any screen to a booking, a coupon, or a sale.
6. Geofence local events
When a fair, game, or conference comes to town, draw a fence around it and reach attendees while they're nearby and in a spending mood.
7. Conquer your competitors (politely)
Target the areas around competitor locations with a reason to choose you instead. It's one of the highest-intent audiences you can reach.
8. Time your ads to your busy hours
On digital screens you can run a breakfast message in the morning and a happy-hour one at 5pm. Match your message to when people actually buy.
9. Sponsor the moments your customers share
Tie campaigns to local seasons and events — back-to-school, a marathon, a holiday market. Relevance to the moment lifts response.
10. Be on more than one screen
The compounding effect comes from repetition across surfaces: sidewalk screen by day, living-room TV by night, phone in between. That's a cross-screen campaign, and it's what makes a small budget feel everywhere.
11. Reuse your best social video
You already have it. A strong Reel or TikTok can become your screen ad — no new production. (See how to make a video ad for every screen.)
12. Measure, then double down
Watch QR scans, link clicks, and visit lift. Move budget toward what works, tighten your area, and run it again. Local advertising rewards iteration.
The thread that ties them together
Most of these used to require separate tools, vendors, and contracts. Glo collapses them: set your area, upload one video, and run real-world screens and connected TV from one self-serve setup — DOOH first, CTV also — starting at $29/day, no contract. Pick a couple of ideas above, and launch your first campaign in 60 seconds.