Small Business Marketing: Tips for Increasing Sales
If you want your small business to succeed, it is critical that you focus on your local market. However, it can be a challenge to target local customers and convert your leads to sales. Here are five local marketing tips to help your small business increase sales.
1. Stay Active on Social Media
Social media can be one of your most powerful tools when targeting local customers. It is one of the first places you can go to engage customers in your business, promote your products and services, and offer discounts and giveaways. When you use social media correctly, you are building a relationship with your customers and promoting your business. The key is to know your demographic and what social media platform they use. According to recent research by the Pew Research Center, 88% of individuals between the ages of 18 to 29 use Facebook, while only 36% of the same age group use Twitter. Consider your target audience and begin building strong social media channels on the platforms your audience utilizes the most.
2. Use Text Messaging
Text messaging allows you to get information immediately into the hands of your customers. This means that by being creative with your marketing strategy, you can entice customers and bring them into your business. Coupons and discount codes are excellent options to promote via text messaging. You can also promote events or sales that may currently be going on.
3. Participate in a Loyalty Program
A loyalty program is an excellent way to retain customers. You can establish the program to best match the needs of your customers and encourage them to come back. This is also an excellent way to bring individuals into your store. Send text messages, emails, or share on social media additional incentives for loyalty members who make a purchase during a certain time frame. In some circumstances, these little incentives are exactly what customers need to get them out the door and into your store.
4. Make it a Family Affair
Sometimes you need to give your customers more than just a good deal— you need to offer them something of value. Hosting a family-friendly event, a class, or a workshop can be an excellent tool to get individuals to your business. Additionally, it can be a great way to subtly market your products and your services. Furthermore, when you promote these events on social media, you can offer giveaways and host contests for individuals who share the post and help promote your company’s event.
5. Improve Your Online Reputation
Your online reputation can hinder your local marketing. Up to 50% of customers who look for a local business online will visit that establishment the same day. However, if you have negative reviews and little information online, they are less likely to visit. Spend time responding to reviews, offer incentives to current customers who write reviews, and build up your website. You must make it easy for individuals to find your business and make them want to come through your door.
By implementing the above tips, you can more easily reach your target audience and build relationships with customers. It is important that you find ways to engage, entice, and retain customers if you want to find success and increase your sales locally.
Interested in learning more about SMS marketing for your small business? Call us at 800-696-1393 or contact us here.
