Many business owners in Panama believe that to attract more customers, they need to go viral, have thousands of followers, or invest in massive advertising.

But that's not true.

Today I'm going to show you how you can attract more local customers using simple strategies, with a low budget and without needing to be a social media celebrity.

You have active social media, but new customers aren't coming

You post on Instagram. You make stories. You share promotions. You even invest in some ads. But at the end of the month… no new customers have bought from you.

This is one of the most common mistakes local businesses make.

Thinking that by “being active on social media,” new customers will come. But the reality is different.

You're investing time, but you don't see results

You're dedicating time (and money) to generate content, pay for designs, publish posts, and maybe run basic campaigns...

But the messages don't come.
The followers don't turn into customers.
And the phone doesn't ring like it should.

Has this happened to you?

Relax, you're not alone.

This happens to most local businesses because they're focusing their energy on the wrong metrics: likes, followers, views.

The reality is these metrics don't pay the bills. Real customers do.

Use this strategy to attract customers ready to buy

The good news is you can attract more local customers, even with few followers.

Here I’ll explain how to achieve it step by step:

1. Target people who are already looking for what you sell

You don't need to go out and look for people. There are people right now searching on Google for phrases like:

• “Lawyer in Panama near me”
  
  

• “Dental clinic in San Miguelito”
  
  

• “Beauty salon open Sunday”

These searches are from people ready to buy. And you can be there when they make that search, using Google Ads.

The best part is that since they are people already searching, you don't need to convince them much. Just show up at the right time.

2. Optimize your Google Business profile

Having an updated profile on Google Business Profile is key to attracting customers who are nearby.

• Add quality photos
  
  

• Updated hours of operation
  
  

• Customer reviews
  
  

• Click-to-call phone number

This helps Google show you in local searches with phrases like:

“café in Bella Vista”
“labor lawyer in Panama City center”

And that means more calls and visits to your business.

3. Create local intention ads on social media

Instead of only posting organic content, use Meta Ads to segment by geographical area and show your ads to people who live near your business.

Example:

If you have a salon in Costa del Este, show ads only to women aged 25 to 55 who live in Costa del Este, Chanis, and surroundings.

This lowers the cost of the ad and increases the chances of receiving bookings or visits.

4. Include an irresistible offer with urgency

A good strategy without an offer… doesn't sell.

Add a reason for people to act quickly. Something like:

• “Only this week: haircut and blow-dry for $9.99”
  
  

• “Free initial legal consultation for the first 10 clients”
  
  

• “10% discount on dental cleanings until Friday”

Important: Urgency makes people stop thinking and act.

5. Make it easy to contact you (without losing customers on WhatsApp)

The most common mistake is only putting a number in the profile and expecting people to copy and text it.

Instead, use tools like:

• Direct WhatsApp link with preset message
  
  

• Call button on Google Business
  
  

• Simple form on your website to schedule appointments

The easier it is to contact you, the more customers you'll close.

Traditional strategies vs. Local digital strategies

Conclusion

You don't need thousands of followers to attract more local customers. You just need to be in the right place at the right time, and make it easy to contact you.

And if you want us to set up your local advertising strategy to start generating real results, we help you from the first step.

Contact us today at Fresa Marketing and transform your social media and ads into a customer-attracting machine.