There are myriads of reasons to Think Local, Shop Local, Drink Local and Buy Local... Join the North Texas LOCAL FIRST TEXOMA initiative and let's count the ways!  Sign your business up and improve your local search engine results by joining hands with other local business owners...

Shop & Search

Local First

Shop and search Local First is more than a catchy slogan -- it's way of life. The difference we can make by supporting the local economy is huge! When we shop online or at the Big Box store, that money is doing very little to help the local economy. Most of it is shipped off to corporate headquarters. Local businesses do business with other local businesses and the money is circulated and re-circulated many times over, benefiting local fire, police, schools and other important services that help make a thriving community. So, before you shop online or at the Big Box store, check LocalfirstTexoma.com and keep it local whenever possible. It makes a big difference!

10 Reasons to Shop Local
Local Search Enhancement

Why does my local business need Local SEO?

Local SEO is a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy that helps your business be more visible in local search results on Google. Any business that has a physical location or serves a geographic area can benefit from local SEO.

What is Local SEO?

Local search is important for businesses because people who are searching locally are inherently lower down in the funnel as they are likely looking for a nearby solution to an immediate problem or need, like where to eat for dinner or finding a doctor. This is backed up by data - according to Google, "76% of people who conduct a local search on their phone visit a physical place within 24 hours and 28% of those searches result in a purchase. Expanding that date range to a week - the percent who make a purchase jumps to 88%."

Who Needs Local Search?

If your business or venue has at least one physical location that clients can visit or if you visit or serve customers on-site a presence on local search sites like Local First Texoma can greatly enhance your "findability factor." Businesses with a strong local component include restaurants, banks, doctor's offices, retail stores and local services like plumbers and electricians. Local First Texoma, Google Business Profile, Google Maps, Apple Maps, iOS Spotlight Search and Yelp are all local SEO platforms that improve your visibility, search ranking and results.

Local Links Enhance SEO

Local link building plays an important role in Local SEO. Local links are relevant and important to search engines and can provide an opportunity to connect with the local community. These links should be primarily focused on the business-specific location. Engaging with local search platforms like Local First Texoma through sponsorships and involvement in Buy Local initiatives can be a fulfilling way to earn links and build brand awareness on and offline.

Texoma area concerts

12/13/2024 NELLY CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
12/13/2024 NELLY CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
12/13/2024 JOHN LEGEND WINSTAR 8:00 PM Thackerville, OK
2/14/2025 ZACH TOP CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
2/15/2025 KANSAS CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
2/20/2025 THE RED CLAY STRAYS CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
2/21/2025 TOM SEGURA CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
2/21/2025 SAMMY HAGAR WINSTAR 8:00 PM Thackerville, OK
2/22/2025 RASCAL FLATTS CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
2/28/2025 JORDAN DAVIS CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
2/28/2025 STEVE MILLER BAND WINSTAR 8:00 PM Thackerville, OK
3/1/2025 AMY GRANT WINSTAR 7:00 PM Thackerville, OK
3/7/2025 REBA MCENTIRE CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
3/8/2025 ROD STEWART WINSTAR 8:00 PM Thackerville, OK
3/14/2025 DANCING WITH THE STARS CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
3/21/2025 CHARLIE CROCKET CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
3/21/2025 BROOKS AND DUNN WINSTAR 8:00 PM Thackerville, OK
3/23/2025 BONNIE RAITT AT&T STADIUM 7:30 PM Dallas, TX
3/29/2025 THEO VON CHOCTAW 8:00 AM Durant, OK
3/29/2025 CHICAGO WINSTAR 8:00 PM Thackerville, OK
3/31/2025 CHARLIE CROCKET CHOCTAW 8:00 PM Durant, OK
4/5/2025 INTOCABLE WINSTAR 8:00 PM Thackerville, OK
4/14/2025 AC/DC AT&T STADIUM 7:00 PM Dallas, TX
4/19/2025 BOYS II MEN WINSTAR 8:00 PM Thackerville, OK
5/9/2025 POST MALONE W/ JELLY ROLL AT&T STADIUM 7:30 PM Dallas, TX

Join the movement and see your Texoma area business grow and blossom. Click here to join your voice with ours.

Doc Holliday Saints & Sinners festival returns! Join as we celebrate the boomtown of Denison in the 1870-80's with authentic old west reenactors from the past when Doc Holliday had an office in Downtown Denison! Events will include authors, historians, wild west photo ops, wagon rides, kids activities, petting zoo, gunfights, a costume contests, food, live music, and much more.
View More Upcoming Events Try Local. Think Local...
TEXOMA ARTS SHOWCASE

Key Events Highlight

SHOP & SEARCH LOCAL FIRST

Your community is waiting. Patronize the local guys and keep your money circulating. It's fine, sometimes, to shop online or at the "Big Box" in your town. But if you patronize the local guys, maybe they'll stay around!

Call Us

Keep money in the community.

Compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses keep dollars local longer, enriching the whole community. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, nearly half goes back into the community and our tax base. For every $100 spent at a chain store, less than 15% is recirculated.


Embrace what makes us different

In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinct character have an economic advantage. If we wanted to live somewhere that looked like everywhere else, we wouldn’t be living in the Texoma region.


Create more good jobs.

Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally, offer greater loyalty to their employees, and in most sectors provide better wages and benefits than chains do.


Invest in the community.

Locally owned businesses build strong communities by sustaining our historic town centers and linking neighbors. Local businesses are owned by people who live here, work here and are more invested in our future, because they directly feel the impact of our decisions.


  • Why do we create local landing pages?

    BACK YARD SEARCHES...

    Local landing pages help customers locate resources in their own back yard.  46% of all searches have to do with location – an SEO statistic that highlights the relevance of local search marketing. Small to medium-sized businesses not implementing basic local SEO strategies will miss out on ranking for almost half of all Google searches. Comprehensive and engaging location landing pages also improve your online visibility and reputation by helping you gain Google authority. Local landing pages significantly boost your local SEO efforts if they include the three most important ranking factors in Google's algorithm:

    * Relevance: How well your local page content matches the users search intent

    * Proximity: How far the business's location is from the searcher, based on Google's data

    * Prominence: How well-known and well-respected a business is that is tied to domain authority. Authority is a crucial driver of your rank on search results pages, especially if you have plenty of credible links on each location landing page. Each landing page should interlink with relevant social pages for that site. Multiple links emphasize your site's authority and more authoritative sites rank higher in local searches.

  • How can I use LFT to build my client base?

    Like the old downtown model

    During the initial stages of downtown development, buildings were constructed in close proximity to each other. This was to encourage window shopping, which allowed visitors to view the offerings of multiple businesses. In present times, a similar concept can be applied through our community publishing system. By adding your

    business, more people in the Texoma region will become aware of the products and services you provide.


  • Give me the statistics. Bottom line it for me.

    Here's the numbers...

    * 98% of consumers used the internet to find information about local businesses in 2022.

    * 76% of consumers “regularly” read online reviews when browsing for local businesses.

    * Local and organic searches together make up 69% of overall digital traffic.

    * 87% of consumers used Google to evaluate local businesses in 2022,

    * 42% of local searches involve clicks on the Google Map Pack.

  • Why is local SEO important for local businesses?

    Why is local SEO important?

    In today's digital age, consumers often rely on search engines to find products and services in their area. By focusing on local SEO, businesses can effectively target these consumers, making it easier for potential customers to find and choose them over their competitors.

  • Importance of SEO for Small Businesses

    Improve Your Online Visibility

    SEO allows you to generate a massive amount of awareness online as people search for words and topics related to your business. With that awareness, you can get them to visit your website or location and become a customer. This can allow a small business to stay competitive among larger companies, especially in their local area. Here are some local SEO stats that show just how important it is to optimize your business for local searches:

    • 97% of all online searches are from people trying to find a local business
    • 88% of people searching for a local business will call or visit the business within 24 hours
    • 58% of American adults have used voice search to find a local business

    SEO is always changing, and it’s been changing for small, local businesses towards marketing specifically in one local area. People who are close to you and actively searching for your type of business represent a highly desirable group of people you want to find you.

Upcoming Events

April 27 - Downtown Denison, TX

Doc Holliday Saints & Sinners festival returns! Join as we celebrate the boomtown of Denison in the 1870-80's with authentic old west reenactors from the past when Doc Holliday had an office in Downtown Denison! Events will include authors, historians, wild west photo ops, wagon rides, kids activities, petting zoo, gunfights, a costume contests, food, live music, and much more. 

Latest News & Updates from Local First Texoma

Take the Local First Challenge

Try Local. Think Local. Buy Local. Drink Local. local first texoma.

01

Try Local First

Before you run down to the Big Box store or order your item online, ask yourself the question - can I buy this from a local merchant or business? Can I buy this from the local Farmer's Market?

02

Think Local First

Patronize the Local Guys and keep your money circulating. It's fine, sometimes, to shop online or at the Big Box in your town, but patronize the Local Guys and maybe they'll stay around.

03

Buy Local First

Buy from locally-owned vendors and keep the money circulating in your local community. Buy from the corporate giants and send the money out of town. It's your choice...

04

Drink Local First

Pick your poison - whether it be a local coffee shop, brewery, winery or distillery, keep your money circulating in your own service area and see the local economy thrive.

Call today for a FREE listing for your  locally-owned business 903-39LOCAL

Why Shop Local?

Businesses owned by local people that are free to make their own operating decisions benefit our community in a variety of ways.

  • Give great service

    Independent business people genuinely love what they do, and have the ability to go above and beyond to make sure you are a satisfied customer - saving you time, money and stress.

  • Contribute to our community's economic success

    More money stays in our community when you patronize locally-owned businesses than when you go to a national chain - money that is used to employ local people, support local nonprofits, and buy local products.

  • Create community

    Independent businesses reflect the values and interests of the community, and often serve as gathering places where you can meet your neighbors, friends, and the owners of the business.

  • Offer unique goods and atmosphere

    Local businesses and organizations offer goods and services that you might not find anywhere else, helping make our area y a vibrant, authentic place that is different than other places.

  • Give back to the community

    Local businesses sponsor and participate in events benefiting the community and donate goods and services to local nonprofit organizations.

  • Improve our community's environment

    Because they live here, local business owners see their businesses' impact on our environment and community and have the freedom to implement innovative programs to address these issues and take decisive action.

  • Create great places to work

    Local businesses have human-scale workplaces that value and involve their employees and are flexible and fun places to work and shop.

  • It's your choice!

    If you'd like to see these businesses that contribute to the vitality of this area thrive, search our localfirst.biz web portal and online coupon directory start thinking and shopping Local First!

  • Let's put our money where our mouth is...

    We vote each day for the companies, venues and organizations we'd like to see thrive by shopping and supporting them with our greenback dollars. We all say we want to shop local first, but isn't it time we put our money where our mouth is?

Local First Spotlight: 

Texoma Arts & Entertainment

Local First Spotlight:

Local Shopping Rewards