When you are a small business, there will come a time when you “max out” with your marketing. It could be that you are a local store who has already picked up the vast majority of customers that live in your area and are interested in your products or services. You might even be experiencing a period of stagnation after an active period of growth in your early days.
It’s part and parcel of running a business, but it’s also important to remember that there are a vast array of tactics you can employ to get yourself out of the rut. In this guide, we’re going to explore how startups and small businesses can extend their reach to find new customers while keeping their current clients happy. Let’s take a look at some of your options.
Incentivize your current customers
Never forget about your current clients. When you start targeting new territories or markets, it’s easy to make previously loyal clients feel a little let down. In fact, you should be incentivizing the people that have helped build up your business. Consider offering them loyalty deals if they introduce a friend or recommend you to other firms, and you can also make people your “brand ambassador”. They get a good deal, while you get a whole bunch of new clients to impress.
Build an app
Apps are a big deal these days. There are millions of them to help people learn new things, solve productivity issues, and just use for entertainment purposes. And they are a perfect way of getting in front of an audience of – potentially – billions. Get in touch with an app developer and give life to your idea. Join a mobile app network to ensure that your product is getting in front of as many relevant people as possible. And then it’s just a case of analyzing your data to find out more about what your new customers like and their habits, giving you invaluable market information which is ripe for you to exploit.
Be newsworthy
Media exposure can be hugely beneficial to businesses of all size. And if you have something interesting to say, you will find that industry journalists – who are always looking for a story – will be more than happy to accommodate you. But what constitutes a “good” story? Perhaps you have picked up some interesting statistics from your current customers that can help you form an insight into your industry. Maybe you can get involved with a local charity event, or your products and services are used to help others. You can even use websites like HARO to answer journalist’s questions directly and get referenced in local and national media – all of which will help you extend your network and get exposure to new markets.
Direct mail
Finally, ignore the traditional method of advertising at your peril. Direct mail – whether it’s sending out brochures and leaflets on a national scale of just dropping flyers through letterboxes – can have an enormous impact on your reach. Knock up a good flyer and include some compelling copy and a good deal, and you will find that it can give you a tremendous return on your investment.
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