Most business’ are small and don’t
have a strong national brand to rely on scores of marketing teams to provide
you with content and promotions. But every business needs to have its own
personality and investment within its community to succeed. If your business is
going to grow it has to adjust to its target customer base and there is no one
that knows your business better than you. There are simple ways to reach out to
your local audience through a combination of an online presence, small-targeted direct mail campaigns, and ads in local specialty publications.
You may hear a lot about
localization. Localization is content matched to local media and searches. If
you feel like the return on your local promotional initiatives is hit or miss,
you may be neglecting some basics that can bolster your business and reputation.
Here is a look at three common mistakes businesses make
when it comes to reaching local customers as Posted on
February 28,
2013 by Megan Totka. Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com, one of the largest business directories on the web.
No Web Presence. Even owners of longtime mom and pop establishments can
benefit from a simple website or inclusion in an online directory. It is not
often that a local business owner says he or she has “too many” customers. In
addition to regulars, a web presence brings in new clientele that happen upon
sites when looking for a product or service. Many websites cost very little to
create and maintain, and results-driven online directories are affordable too.
If you are truly at a loss on where to begin in building an online following,
hire someone to help you. The money you invest will pay off over time and many
companies offer a flat fee to maintain the site for you.
Remember that it is not enough to rely on word-of-mouth or
traditional marketing techniques to bring in new local customers. Hanging your
digital shingle in cyberspace is also vital and easier than ever to accomplish.
Give potential customers the answers to their questions in an immediate way in
order to win their business and not lose them to more visible competitors.
Difficulty to Find. This point is similar to having a lack of web
presence but applies beyond the digital realm. If people do not know where you
are located, they cannot give you their business. This means promoting your web
location in addition to your physical address. Unfortunately, people are so
programmed to find the answers to all questions immediately that they will not
take the time to track you down if a competitor offers ease of information. Do
whatever it takes to let people know where you exist, from web presence optimization to
the signage outside your location to inclusion in web listings for your
industry.
There is really no financial advantage to being an industry
“best kept secret.” Ask customers how they found you and how you can improve
your physical visibility. Those that are most loyal to your business will want
to help and will be honest with you. Do not lose customers to frustration or
impatience at having to track you down, instead make it easy to find you and
even easier to buy your products or enlist your services.
Lack of Community Outreach. There is a reason that people say “the more you give,
the more you get.” Find simple ways to give back to the community of your loyal
clients and build your reputation for future local clients. Simple ways to get
involved include sponsoring a local event, donating a product or service to a
fundraising auction or volunteering at a local non-profit organization. Align
your name with a cause that you believe benefits your client base and one that
represents your business ideals.
Not only does outreach earn you the respect of the community,
but it also creates a culture of social consciousness in your business,
encouraging employees to reach out when they are off the clock too. You can
feel satisfied knowing that you went beyond the call of duty to help the
community and build a strong image of beneficence in the process.
Focus on local marketing does not
have to be overwhelming or exclusive to the Internet. There are simple ways to
reach out to your local audience through a combination of an online presence, small
targeted direct mail campaigns, and ads in local, specialty publications that
have a qualified demographic.
Thomas Miner is president of Bartleby Press
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