Two most important questions every business should be able to answer:
- Why do people do business with you now?
- If people aren’t doing business with you now, why should they?
Why should people do business with you?
Do you have a compelling reason why people should do business with your rather than your competitors? Is there something that you do better than your competition? Alternately, try to think of areas in the industry where there is a void that you could fill.
Ask your current customers/clients why they chose to do business with you rather than someone else. Their answers might surprise you. Once you’ve decided what makes your business unique, make sure you express that in every touch point with your prospects. Add it to your print advertising, your online presence, make sure your sales people know what it is that sets you apart. Be sure that they are letting everyone they talk to know about that unique selling point.
Quick way to get a top listing!
Getting a top ranking result in the search engines is getting easier now for those who serve a local clientele. Most search engines such as Google and Yahoo have local business listings that show up first for a local-based search phrase. I’ll use our business as an example, if someone is looking for web design services in the Woodstock, CT area, they might type in a phrase such as: web design, woodstock, CT.
Because they are using a State or Town in the keyword phrase, Google/Yahoo pull results from their business listings and a map to feature in the top results. Because we have a Business Listing on Google, our site shows up in the top results. See image:
To get your business added, sign up at the following links to add your business profile to their database. Google Local Business Center and Yahoo Local Business Best advantage of all, it doesn’t cost anything and if your site is new, you won’t have to wait weeks to get listed in the search results!
Maximize The Results of Your Marketing Dollars
Business Stimulus Starter Web Site Packages
Click Image to Enlarge
We have two special packages available for you to choose from depending on your needs at this time.
“Service Providers Starter Package” ~ $500!
- Custom Design by Professional Marketing/Design firm with 10 yrs experience
- 4 pages that you can update yourself, change text, add photos, etc.
- Includes a blog to keep your content fresh (Search Engines love that!)
- Contact form so that you’ll get required information from your customers
- Assistance in getting your domain name registered and hosting set up *
- Personal assistance from a fellow service provider in your local area
Or
“Pre Site Online Brochure” ~ $175!
- 1 Page Custom Designed with your logo and company colors
- List your services, contact info, and up to 3 photos
- Free domain name registration for the first year**
- Free hosting for the page
Call us: 860-481-4870 or fill out the contact form below to get your business online today!
* Hosting at our recommended providers starts as low as $60/year with free domain name registration.
** After the first year, domain name registration is only $12.95/yr.
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In today’s economy, everyone is feeling the pinch, yet it is still necessary to market your business. Below we have 5 Free or Low Cost ways to market your business. Hopefully you’re already trying some of them or will put some into practice within the next couple of weeks. Enjoy!
1. Is Your USP Boldly Shown To Your Customers?
The most powerful tool in your marketing toolbox is to stand head and shoulders above your competitors. Does your Unique Selling Proposition separate you from others in your field? Your USP should explain the benefits your customers/clients can expect to receive when they choose your business rather than the others.
2. Increase Your Value per Sale
Try packaging your products/services to increase the value of each sale. For example, if you owned a beauty salon, you could offer a coupon book of 6 visits/hair cuts for the price of 4/5. By doing that you’ve just increased the value of that sale and you’ve locked that customer/client to you for the rest of the year/half year/etc. Think of ways that you can try this in your own business.
3. Bouncebacks – Increase the Value Of Your Customer
Offer a coupon good toward their next purchase/visit. Gets them coming back.
4. Bounceback + Referral – Increase the Value of Customer + More Customers/Clients
Give your customer/client a coupon good for their next purchase/visit along with one for a friend when they both come back together. Customer-10% / Friend-20%
5. Follow Up – Customer Loyalty
Do you have a system in place to follow up with your customers/clients? Did you know that approximately 68% of all business lost is due to not following up with the customer/client after a sale? It is much easier and cheaper to retain customers/clients who have done business with you already than it is to go out and get new ones. Also keep this in mind for referrals. If you are consistently keeping your name in front of them, they will be more likely to refer you to their friends when someone is looking for the services/products you offer.
Customers and potential customers visit your web site with expectations, and it is crucial for you to cater to them in order to have your business thrive. Local customers already familiar with you might be willing to overlook small errors or discrepancies, but first-time visitors tend to be less forgiving and will move on to the next business down the line if they find yours lacking. As a general rule, it is good business and marketing practice to proof your web site for text accuracy and effective presentation.
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