Attracting new customers to your establishment is one of the most difficult aspects of operating your own business. Whether you operate a restaurant, retail store or work from your office, it’s important that you are able to attract the attention of potentially new clients.
There are lots of different marketing ideas that you can use for your business, and in this article we will take a look at some of the most effective ways in which you can quickly and easily start promoting your business. If you are looking for a little bit of inspiration, then carry on reading.
Be active online
Having a website is vital for all businesses, whether you are a small independent business or a multinational one. Your website is your 24/7 shop window, and people can find out more about what you offer or what products you sell. There are a number of factors that are important when it comes to an effective website.
You’ll need to make sure your website is fast loading, is responsive, which means it works on all devices from desktop computer to mobile phones, and is well optimized for the search engines.
You should also be active on social media, as there is a big chance that many of your existing and potential clients are, and it’s a great way to showcase your products or services, as well as keeping your clients up to date with the industry. When it comes to your social media content, everyone loves a gif, so why not spice up some otherwise boring text with some eye catching gifs.
Be seen in the neighbourhood
A great way to increase visibility for your business is through your signage. Do you have an effective sign outside at the front of your business? Does it convey the right message about what you do?
If your sign is an electric one, is it working properly? Do any of the bulbs need to be replaced? If you see that your sign isn’t doing a good job and you want to replace it, consider going with an LED neon sign.
These signs are perfect for businesses and a great marketing tool. LED neon signs have huge visibility, even during daylight, and are available in a range of colours and styles. There are a number of high quality suppliers of LED neon signs such as Neon Mama, who offer a huge selection of unique neon signs and products.
Offer free samples
If you are operating a food or drink business such as a restaurant or café bar, then a great way to create a buzz about your products is to hand out some free samples.
Everyone loves a freebie – even more so if it’s something you can eat. You can have a couple of people outside your place of business handing out a variety of samples of food that you offer in your restaurant. It’s a great way to get people to experience the type of cuisine that you can enjoy at your place.
If you are running a café bar, then offering some free cups of coffee to passersby, especially during those cold winter days, is a great way to grab yourself some attention. Handing out some free samples is a very cheap option for many businesses, and will be something that can be prepared very quickly.
Advertise locally
If you are based in a small town or community, then another way you can effectively market your business is through local medium such as radio, newspapers or even television. The option you choose will of course be affected by your budget, but ads in local newspapers shouldn’t be too expensive and are a great way to create brand awareness and grab the attention of people.
You could also do a little advertising on local radio, or offer to sponsor one of their weekly shows. Though this will probably cost you a little more than newspaper advertising, it’s a great way to get heard.
Run sales or special deals
Nothing grabs the attention of shoppers on the street like a “Sale” sign in the shop window. Many retail shops run sales throughout the year, and don’t just wait for times such as Black Friday or New Years sales.
If you have old stock that you’d like to move, then running a flash sale is a great way to do this. In addition to having posters and signs in your window, you could also have someone outside handing out flyers. Even running a short advertising campaign in your local paper can help spread news about your upcoming sale.
You could also run some special offers depending on your business. For example, a coffee shop could run a “buy one get one free” coffee offer, or a restaurant could have a special where a meal for two includes a free bottle of wine. There are lots of deals and offers that you can promote for your business which can be great for marketing.
Run a rewards program
One way to keep customers loyal to your business is to offer them rewards. It is very easy to set up a digital loyalty program that allows you to offer points to your customers, which they can then redeem for prizes or other deals.
There are different types of digital loyalty programs, such as one for cafes or restaurants where each time a customer visits they have the digital card stamped. For retail stores, you can award various points based on their actions, such as a purchase of $20 or lower earns a single point, while one of $50 or more is worth 4 points.
It’s a great way to keep customers coming back to your business, and a bit of fun as well, allowing you to interact with your clients much more frequently.
Some final thoughts
There are lots of different marketing campaigns that you can try for your business, and most of them are not too expensive to do.
Some can create a short term buzz about your business such as a flash sale or through handing out some freebies, while others such as the loyalty program are long term strategies that can keep customers loyal to you for a number of years.
