Congratulations on taking that leap; you’ve turned a dream into reality, and struck out on your own. Marketing can be a daunting aspect of starting a new business, but it really needn’t be. Indeed, here are just five tips that could take you to success in a relatively short space of time…
Perhaps the most important advice you could receive at this point is to keep things fresh and exciting. Rather than dedicating all of your time and resources to email marketing, try a few other means of staying in contact with potential customers, including flyers, classified ads, website pop-ups, social media, and newsletters. In fact, the more marketing method you’re able to explore the better. Customers enjoy a little variety every now and again. Besides, you’re more likely to reach your desired audience if you’re able to mix your marketing up a little; engaging those first customers is absolutely vital to your business’s success, so give it every chance of flying.
Whether you send a glossy brochure, regular mail-out, or weekly e-newsletter, make sure you stay in the fore of your customers’ minds by keeping in contact with them. Share company news, alert customers to upcoming offers, or take a moment to introduce a new product, service, or team member; however you use this platform, make sure you’re saying something of interest to your burgeoning customer base. Contact marketing is one of the most popular ways for new businesses to engage with their customers, and it’s so simple to do.
While a lot of marketing tactics may focus on transmitting your message to as many new customers as possible, there’s a lot to be said for loyalty schemes and customer rewards. After all, you’ll want encourage those first customers to come back and trade with you in the future. The kind of reward you offer will depend entirely upon your business, and the clientele you attract. Try offering a discount to first-time customers to begin with, but be sure to include an expiry date; this will attract repeat sales in a specified time frame. Once you’re a little more established consider a loyalty or points scheme, or offering discounts on particular products. You’ll soon find an arrangement that works for you, and your customers.
It can be tempting to focus all of your efforts on reaching out to new customers, but what have you got to show for yourself once they know who you are? The quality of your web content is absolutely vital, particularly as you navigate a market that may already host a number of your competitors. Is your website clear and easy to use? Have you filled its pages with information that’s relevant to your business, and its products and services? Do you endeavour to keep your website up to date? It’s critical that you consider how your website reflects your business, and that you take to the time to keep content up to date. Blogging is a great way to engage customers, old and new. Updating that blog with quality, relevant content, will stand you in good stead when it comes to SEO, too.
Last, but by no means least, we cannot stress how important social media presence is – particularly when it comes to new businesses finding their feet. So many of your potential customers use social media each day. It’s a great platform for exposure, and to engage with your target audience. Sending e-newsletters and mail-outs can often make customers feel as though they’re being bombarded with information. Sharing details via social media, however, will feel a lot less formal – but by no means any less impactful. Reach out with a meme or two, share details that are relevant to your followers, or set up a few sponsored posts. Give social media a chance, and see how it could improve your web presence.
There are plenty of ways that new businesses can create contacts and stay in touch with customers. The trick is to know what’s available to you, and use those resources to the best of your abilities. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in your new venture. Oh, and if you’re ever in need of a hosted phone system, you know where we are!
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