Finding new customers is never easy. Marketers are constantly searching for new ideas on how to promote a product or service in hopes of growing their customer base.
In today’s competitive world, finding new customers is becoming more and more complex, which means that marketing a business effectively requires effort, creativity, and, most importantly, effectiveness.
If you want to start promoting your business as soon as possible, look at these seven marketing tips designed specifically for small businesses looking to gain recognition in their niche without spending too much money. That said, it’s worth mentioning that this article sits well with small companies compared to companies with large budgets
Develop Stronger Relationships With Past Customers
It’s always easier to find new customers than keep existing ones. But if you have a rapport with past customers, you have a built-in foundation on which to grow your business.
Regularly communicate with past clients and nurture these relationships through ongoing conversations and social media. You’ll be far more likely to retain current clients as they become more invested in what you’re doing and excited about your future.
No matter how hard it may seem, concentrate on building relationships rather than only focusing on sales; sometimes, it takes longer, but it leads to long-term growth in all business areas. This way leads directly towards gaining brand loyalty for life.
Improve Reviews And Listings On Google, Yelp, And Others
Improving your ratings on popular review sites like Google, Yelp and Facebook is a great way to attract more clients and generate moving leads. Reach out to former customers you’ve had positive interactions with; if they were happy with your service, they might be inclined to leave you a good review.
Also, consider reaching out to unhappy customers. At the same time, they might not go so far as leaving a good review. It’s still possible that they could do so after being appropriately compensated for their troubles.
Popular review sites aren’t immune from issues of trustworthiness and even paid reviews. Still, it’s much harder for someone in another city or state without means of direct communication with potential customers.
Expand Your Social Media Presence
For most businesses, having a solid social media presence is essential. Customers don’t only want to feel like they’re buying from a reputable and trustworthy brand. They also want to know that their needs and preferences are being heard and addressed by customer service representatives who are just as invested in their happiness as they are.
This sense of collaboration fosters trust, which means you can sell more services. Although Facebook might be more accessible for users (probably familiar with it), it takes time to learn how Google+ works. According to Search Engine Journal, searches made using Google+ had higher conversion rates than those made using other search engines on average.
Create Attention-Grabbing Content
If you’re creating a website for your business, make sure it’s search engine optimized. You can hire someone to optimize it or find templates online to help you build one yourself. You should also create content around why people should move with you instead of any other local moving companies.
The more unique and interesting content you create, like videos and podcasts, the more easily people will find you in Google and social media searches. People who contact you through these channels are much more likely to become clients than those from other means of outreach.
Send Out Emails, Brochures, And Business Cards
This is an essential step, but it’s one of your best options for reaching out. It’s easy and practical — ask someone you know if they’d like a brochure or business card when you’re at their house, so you don’t have to worry about finding someone else’s contact information.
Once you have these, there are many great tools that can help get their names into your database and send out newsletters regularly. You might also want to think about upgrading these tools as time goes on. For example, if you like using an Excel spreadsheet to track contact information but instead use something more cloud-based, consider changing it up once that becomes an option.
Use Influencers
If you want to get in front of a broad audience, you need to first get on people’s radars. This can be done through influencers—people with big, niche followings who are more likely than others to share a given piece of content with their community.
Finding influencers within your industry and asking them if they would repost one of your articles (either for free or for compensation) is a great way to expose your work to new readers. For example, if you run a moving company, you could target local YouTubers who do haul-along videos showing viewers how they pack up and move their possessions.
Advertise Online On Social Media Site
Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest are great places to post about any services you offer. Don’t just plug yourself – include helpful tips for people in your area who may be looking for a reliable mover.
These posts will give you more visibility online and might help attract new customers. The key is to provide engaging content that consumers want to share with their friends.
You could also create a professional Facebook or Twitter account for your business and share updates on upcoming moves or interesting articles related to your field. If you want to reach an even wider audience, consider signing up for social media management software like Hootsuite or Sprout Social so you can schedule posts ahead of time.
This will help ensure that you don’t forget about making posts or tweets when it’s essential for customers in different time zones. On Facebook and Twitter, images are more likely to get shared than anything else, so make sure they look good.
Advertise In Print Media Like Newspapers And Magazines
You don’t have to be a media mogul or work for a huge corporation to advertise in print media. Local newspapers and magazines are usually much cheaper than national ones if you have a smaller business and don’t want to break the bank. Still, they can be equally effective for gaining clients.
Plus, you’ll gain access to thousands of potential clients with just one ad in print media. Here are some great examples of successful local print ads from different companies.
Newspapers and magazines are a proven way of marketing a business, so don’t overlook them just because you have digital media on hand. If you choose to advertise in print media, find out what advertising options are available and how much each option costs.
Host community events
Moving can be stressful and a little lonely. Getting out into your community and building relationships can go a long way toward making those moves easier and (dare we say) even enjoyable. Start by attending local Chamber of Commerce events, joining non-profit organizations, etc.
You’ll quickly make friends in town who are anxious to help you succeed because they want you around. Try sponsoring or hosting local events where people who need help relocating can meet you, learn about what you do, and connect with your services.
If there’s a particular cause that means something to you, consider involving it as part of your marketing efforts—you may find another way for it to grow business for your company.