There is no question that the economy has in the past and still is today having a devastating effect on businesses large and small, not just here in Australia but worldwide.
In most cities and towns you can drive through major business areas and see where storefront after storefront has closed down. Money is tight and savvy business owners know that having a good small business marketing strategy is essential for survival.
Creating Solid Marketing Strategies Is About Understanding Your Customers
Perhaps one of the most fundamental elements of a successful small business marketing strategy is clearly understanding who your customers are.
A small business owner must get “inside the head” of their typical customer to understand their values and priorities and how they will make decisions on how they spend their money.
When budgets get tight, people devote more time weighing their buying decisions.
Knowing the mind of the customer can help you sculpt marketing messages that will most appeal to your target market.
Get A Customers Perspective About Your Business Through Surveys
Customer surveys are an excellent way to help understand your customers.
You can ask customers to take a quick survey in exchange for some discount or even a freebie. Some clients are happy to be asked for their opinion and input, but others need an incentive to take their time to complete your survey. You can do the survey in your store, but be sure to give them privacy while completing it, or you have set up an online survey, even if you don’t have a website yet.
Once you have a clearer idea of what your customer’s needs and wants are, you will be able to plan your small business marketing approach better. You will also be able to know where to spend best the marketing and advertising dollars you have set aside. From the survey, you should not only know what your customers are looking for but also have a clearer idea of where to find new customers.
Choosing The Best Opportunities For Advertising
Will your small business marketing be most effective online, or through more traditional offline venues?
Will new customers be using search engines to find you, or will they be picking up the yellow pages?
Do your potential clients shop at other nearby stores?
If so, talk with other store owners to have fliers for each others store placed prominently so you can leverage foot traffic going into the other businesses. When times are tough, you need to be using the resources at hand that have minimal cost to managing your business but maximum impact.
Isn’t It Time Your Business Went Online
If you don’t have a website yet, you should be working toward building a site or having one built for you. A website for your business can be simple, but it needs to be attractive and professional looking. More and more people are doing research online to find places to spend their money offline, and your website will probably be the first impression of your company for those potential new customers.
Another aspect you need to consider before going online with your business is the internet usage now being reported by mobile users. Currently it is being reported that 66% of all internet searches are being done from mobile devices making it essential for any website to know be mobile responsive.
Using the information you gained from surveying your customers, you can also tailor your small business marketing message to attract new customers. Make sure the main features and benefits which your customers appreciate are clearly communicated on all of your marketing material, from your business cards, fliers, brochures, to your website content. These are just some of the marketing techniques for small businesses that we offer.
With these simple strategies in mind you should be able to gain new customers in no time and grow the value of your business even in tough times. Contact us to get more Marketing Strategies for your business.
