One of the great things about setting up a small business is that you have the opportunity to become part of the local community. This is especially true if you have a service-based local business, where your neighbors are your primary customers.
However, breaking into an established community isn’t always as easy as it is necessary. Some businesses live and die depending on their loyal local customers, so it’s vital to get involved as soon as possible. Here are some ways to help you make a stamp in your area.
Picking Your Location
Your business location can make a huge difference to your success. Ideally, you should rent a retail space that is both visible and easily accessible. While you don’t necessarily want to be surrounded by potential competitors, it is beneficial to find a commercial area with other local stores.
Marketing Your Business
The classic marketing adage is that, if people don’t know your business exists, they can’t buy from it. Even if you have great prices and an amazing product, marketing matters.
In the local market, traditional marketing methods still reign supreme. Use billboards, posters, and corflute signs to advertise your brand and sales that might be on. You can also use business cards and, if possible, support other local businesses by offering a business card swap. Other ways to advertise your business locally include newspaper and radio advertisements. You can also get a lot of mileage out of digital advertising techniques, such as social media.
Local Collaborations
Not every other business has to be a rival. One of the best ways to get ahead in business and life is to collaborate. Find a niche, then find other complimentary businesses to work alongside, rather than against.
How could this work?
A common example is in the wedding industry. A florist and a bakery might have the same customers, but they aren’t competitors. So one way for both businesses to benefit from one customer is to offer promotional deals for the other company.
There are other ways to collaborate with other businesses as well. Vendors can be your best friends, so look for ways to make great deals for your business and your customers.
Photo by Amina Filkins
Getting Involved
One of the best ways to collaborate with other businesses, get to know other business owners, and market your business, is by joining expos and events. Get involved with local market days so you can win over more customers.
You can also join up with charities and local establishments like schools. The more visible your company is in the community, the more it will become an integral part of it. This, in turn, will turn your potential customers into neighbors.
The personal experience matters to a lot of people. They’re more likely to buy from a friend than a stranger, so do what you can to become that friend. Look for opportunities to get to know customers, business owners, and other members of the community.
One of the great things about setting up a small business is that you have the opportunity to become part of the local community. This is especially true if you have a service-based local business, where your neighbors are your primary customers.
However, breaking into an established community isn’t always as easy as it is necessary. Some businesses live and die depending on their loyal local customers, so it’s vital to get involved as soon as possible. Here are some ways to help you make a stamp in your area.
Picking Your Location
Your business location can make a huge difference to your success. Ideally, you should rent a retail space that is both visible and easily accessible. While you don’t necessarily want to be surrounded by potential competitors, it is beneficial to find a commercial area with other local stores.
Marketing Your Business
The classic marketing adage is that, if people don’t know your business exists, they can’t buy from it. Even if you have great prices and an amazing product, marketing matters.
In the local market, traditional marketing methods still reign supreme. Use billboards, posters, and corflute signs to advertise your brand and sales that might be on. You can also use business cards and, if possible, support other local businesses by offering a business card swap. Other ways to advertise your business locally include newspaper and radio advertisements. You can also get a lot of mileage out of digital advertising techniques, such as social media.
Local Collaborations
Not every other business has to be a rival. One of the best ways to get ahead in business and life is to collaborate. Find a niche, then find other complimentary businesses to work alongside, rather than against.
How could this work?
A common example is in the wedding industry. A florist and a bakery might have the same customers, but they aren’t competitors. So one way for both businesses to benefit from one customer is to offer promotional deals for the other company.
There are other ways to collaborate with other businesses as well. Vendors can be your best friends, so look for ways to make great deals for your business and your customers.
Getting Involved
One of the best ways to collaborate with other businesses, get to know other business owners, and market your business, is by joining expos and events. Get involved with local market days so you can win over more customers.
You can also join up with charities and local establishments like schools. The more visible your company is in the community, the more it will become an integral part of it. This, in turn, will turn your potential customers into neighbors.
The personal experience matters to a lot of people. They’re more likely to buy from a friend than a stranger, so do what you can to become that friend. Look for opportunities to get to know customers, business owners, and other members of the community.
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