The 21st century and the worldwide recession have actually put the pussy among the pigeons where small business is concerned , but there are plenty of straightforward no-cost and low cost solutions for small businesses to maintain and even increase market share. As small shops find they can’t compete against giant conglomerates they unavoidably fail, unless they can offer more to their customers. This is done by smart marketing and offering value and a better experience to the purchaser.
So, what’s the answer to this worrying problem will our only choice be to buy like drones in these giant warehouses?
If you’re the owner of a bricks and mortar consultant store like a camera shop or a tool store likelihood is that you are battling to make profits by cutting margins and outgoings radically. This country has to get back to offering worth in the form of wonderful post-sale and pre-sale customer service, offer experience and employ folk who know what they’re doing, not someone who has neither initiative, personality nor experience.
Look at what the major chains don’t offer and you will see that customer service is a thing of the past, their stores all look the same and if they have not got what you want, you’re sunk. Local businesses are what make a community and people who’ve selected to start their own businesses have a passion for what they do and they like to help when was the last time that happened in your local Wallymart?
Google is doing everything to prompt small local businesses to get an internet site. If you’ve a highly specialized business your website can straight away become number one when anyone searches for Your Town and your specialist service. Just this simple low cost promoting solution can bring in lots of new consumers. For a small fee you may be listed in local directories, your local Chamber of Commerce and on Angie’s list, which should sum up to more visibility and less cost than any costly magazine or weekly paper ad, and don’t forget mobile web access.
Starting and maintaining a domain is not complicated or pricey, these days an attractive WordPress site can be built in two hours all it costs is monthly hosting and a site name fee. On a local strip I recently asked eleven small business owners if they had a domain and only 1 expounded yes. If you want to start your own business the market is wide open to help these folks out and make yourself a great living, I just wish I had the time.
All a small local business wants is a Google map of where they are a page explaining what they do, a section that gives opening hours and contact details, some great photographs and maybe a record of the business and that’s it! Add an opt in box and a once a month newsletter can go out, discounts can be despatched and sales announced, and with the addition of some affiliate advertizing the site can basically make the business owner some money even after covering the minor costs concerned.
Online businesses have a much tougher time getting themselves to the top of the search engine listings. They have tougher competition and have to address back linking, article writing and SEO and many other promoting methods they must employ to achieve success. A small local business blog built on WordPress can also function as a means for customers to ask about services and goods as well , cutting back on in-going telephone calls that always come when trying to deal with other purchasers. It is all about attraction selling and getting business back to the way they should be unique, beneficial and informed businesses with wonderful client service that supply an delightful shopping experience for all who walk through the door.
Discover some useful tips for keeping a SUCCESSFUL small business afloat in these daunting economic times! Stay ahead of the COMPETITION by using these simple strategies.
