HOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS IN TOUGH TIMES
1. BUILD YOUR CUSTOMER BASE. Direct mail is a great way to get your name and face in front of your customers. If you offer a discount through your monthly mailer, people will look forward to cumulative savings. Build a database of your existing customers and ask them to forward your offer to associates they think could benefit from your products or services.
2. EDUCATE YOUR CUSTOMERS. Use a monthly digital newsletter to let them know what's new in your business. Each month highlight another product or service you offer. They may know you for one product, but not realize you can provide other services as well.
3. THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT. Look up your competition on the web. Stop by their offices. Figure out what sets you apart from the rest of the pack. What do you have or do that they don't? Find your niche and focus on that, then promote it.
4. GIVE YOUR CUSTOMERS SOMETHING FOR THEIR BIRTHDAY. When you gather contact info on a client, ask the month of their birthday. File it in your database and send them a birthday present each year. Offer them a dollars off coupon good for that month. You'll find repeat customers looking forward to that yearly discount and planning their needs around it.
5. SHOW YOUR QUALITY. Be sure the direct marketing pieces you use, your website, and any promotional materials you send out reflect the level of professionalism you want to portray. You can only make a first impression once.
6. TARGET THE RIGHT PEOPLE. A little research can go a long way. Be sure you are sending materials to people who want and need your services. In the case of digital information, be sure you always offer an opt-out option, so they won't consider your email annoying spam.
7. SIMPLIFY YOUR MESSAGE. The old K.I.S.S. principle works. Keep your marketing pieces clear and to the point. There's always next month to roll out the new promo.
8. DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO, when you say you are going to do it. Reliability is essential. By the way, we all mess up. When it happens, take responsibility and clean up the mess, then get back on track. Customers appreciate honesty and integrity.
9. STAND OUT IN THE CROWD. Everyone gets inundated with junk mail everyday. Make your marketing piece stand out from unsolicited mail by making it a little bit bigger, a little bit glossier, a little bit more colorful than most. Put your face on it. It's more difficult to toss out a gorgeous, glossy color postcard with a recognizable face looking up at you. People need to know that your mail is not junk mail.
10. CALL SILVERBEAR GRAPHICS TO GET THESE TIPS WORKING FOR YOU. We have a lot of experience in helping people get their information out to their customers in ways that produce results. Let us help you promote your business and grow!