If you’re one of the 30.2 million small businesses in the U.S and a large number of your customers are local, then you need to be taking some action to ensure your business is locally famous.
While it’s not tough, it does take some planning, consistency and commitment to build a solid reputation for your business within your local marketplace. The good news is that not many of your competitors are doing it. Take a look at these 3 ways to increase foot traffic and generate an ongoing stream of leads to get your brand well known locally.
Find the right networking events and attend
You have probably already considered networking an option, but you might not have looked for the networking events that are actually the right fit.
Your time is valuable, so you need to attend the networking groups that allow you to meet your target audience. Shop around before you jump right into events. Ask business friends for recommendations. Attend different events to see if your key buyers are present. When you find the right groups, it will become clear to you that you should attend regularly.
Make sure to find a custom t-shirt printing company that can print you shirts with your business logo. These shirts are perfect to wear when networking to get the name of your business out there for all to see.
Contribute guest content for local publishers
Your local publishers have shifted their focus to the online realm. They’re on a constant quest to find excellent content related to businesses that are local. This gives you a perfect chance to showcase your knowledge and expertise as a guest contributor and give your business a voice. If you show that you’re an authority within your niche, there’s a chance you might even be able to gain a spot as a regular contributor.
Create incredible relationships with your customers
Part of your sales force is your ecstatic customers. If you try to do everything within your power to delight them, they’ll refer you to their friends and get others excited to be your customer. Continue to educate your customers after the initial sale is a step in the right direction. Serve them better than every other business out there.
Even after you’ve delivered excellent products or services, follow up to see if your customers need anything else from you. Remember to shower customers with appreciation – send them a card with a special coupon on their birthday, write notes of thanks and introduce them to people that could potentially add value to their lives.
