Having the best products is not enough. Small businesses need to market them properly in order to attract customers. This is a challenge without the large stash of cash needed for traditional strategies like TV, radio, and print ads. Fortunately, creativity and technology can go a long way towards affordable campaigns. Below are business marketing ideas targeting both new and existing customers:
1. Maintain a blog.
Most business websites are composed of static pages. They contain basic information about location, products, services, pricing, and contact details. These rarely get updated with new details, so people don’t have any reason to go back after their initial visit. It’s a good idea to create a blog and maintain it with new posts on a regular schedule. This could cover relevant business news such as product launches, upcoming sales, and other notable changes. The posts could also revolve around frequently asked questions, allowing the owner to provide a greater level of clarity than in the FAQ page. Search engines like well-maintained sites so this blog increases page rank.
2. Hold contests.
Virtually every business has their own social media pages. It’s a good strategy to increase online visibility and stay in touch with old customers. Just make sure that you are constantly creating content that people find useful and interesting. Otherwise, they will simply ignore your posts or even unfollow. Consider increasing engagement by holding contests from time to time. Dangle prizes in exchange for follows and shares. You can also ask customers to answer a simple question, post photos with your products, and so on. The winner could be chosen randomly in a draw. You can also reward effort to get better entries.
3. Start a mailing list.
Email might be an older technology, but it continues to enjoy widespread use. Multiple marketing studies show that mailing lists provide a higher rate of return than social media pages and other digital strategies. That’s why you should not overlook this when crafting a campaign. Capture email through your website or blog by offering discount coupons in exchange. Other options are short ebooks and reports on relevant topics. Customers can also sign up physically in the store to get freebies. Just make sure to send out high quality content to keep people hooked.
4. Encourage reviews and referrals.
A lot of consumers are hesitant to make purchases on products that do not have any reviews. They want some sort of proof that they will be getting a good deal. The reverse is also true. Products and pages with glowing reviews often get more sales. Always encourage buyers to write genuine reviews after making a purchase. Negative ones will help you improve your business. Positive ones will attract new customers. You can also ask existing customers for referrals and reward them accordingly. Harness the power of word of mouth.
5. Develop a loyalty program.
Marketing should not be exclusive to the acquisition of new customers. It is easier to convince existing customers to make another purchase. It makes sense to entice them with strategies such as the development of a loyalty program. For example, you can hand over discount cards for those who make a purchase over a certain amount and provide their contact details. They can use this to reduce the price of their next orders. They may also obtain points with every purchase which could eventually be redeemed as gifts.
6. Give out promotional products.
A nice way to show how much a business appreciates its customers is to give out promotional products. These could be in celebration of a store’s anniversary or a popular holiday. Cheap but useful items provide a high return of investment. They include pens, caps, shirts, and bags. Recipients can develop a deeper attachment to the business. Brand name recall will increase thanks to the omnipresence of the promotional item. For B2B clients, businesses may send premium promo products such as wine, journals, and engraved pens to thank them for their trust.
BTW direct mailing services come in handy for giving out the promo products to your customers.
7. Do follow-ups.
Another way to win people is to follow up after they make their purchases. This shows that the business is not simply after a quick buck and that the owner genuinely cares about the customer experience. Ask them about their comments about the products and services. Positive and negative feedback are equally useful in improving the business. This also provides a chance to rectify errors and prevent bad reviews. Another way to do it is to conduct customer satisfaction surveys with a token gift waiting after completion.
8. Host special events.
Lastly, business owners may host special events to attract crowds to their store. This could be a sale, a cooking demo, a book signing, a music night, a game night, and so on. It will all depend on the business type and the target audience. It is also a good idea to keep an ear on the ground for current trends.
These are just a few of the most effective business marketing ideas used in various niches. See how others were able to use these in their own campaigns and learn from their processes.
