The phone may be ringing off the hook, you have 234 emails to answer, payroll to process, and bills to pay…. However, reviewing and planning a few little ways to build your business marketing is worth the high cost of your precious time. Like reading this newsletter, pondering new ideas, planning little changes, and pursuing things that aid your business forward are worth it. They can inspire, encourage, and help fill up the future sales funnel for you!
I’ve reviewed the article, “35 Essential Marketing Ideas for Small Business Owners” by SemRush.com, and have narrowed it down to my top 5 for you to consider, plan, and ponder. Adding in a few new marketing efforts each month will build new habits and practices that are leaning toward business growth and future success. Consider them and what may work for you!
1. Offer Free Trials
Offer a limited free trial of your product or service to let customers try before they buy. Check in with the customer during the trial to offer tips and tricks and answer questions. At the end of the trial, ask the customer for their feedback. If they chose not to purchase your product, ask them what influenced their decision. Use this information to improve your product and free trial experience.
2. Referral Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses
Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the most powerful ways to build trust and grow sales. In its 2022 Consumer Intelligence Survey Series on Trust, PwC reported that 91% of consumers are likely to buy from a company they trust, and 88% are likely to recommend the company to others.
When customers trust your business, they are more likely to recommend it to their friends and family.
Use the referral marketing ideas below to engage customers and build credibility.
3. Encourage Happy Customers to Share Their Experiences
Encourage customers to share their feedback on Yelp, Google, social media, and other local business directories.
When a happy customer talks about a positive experience with your business, it will inspire confidence in prospective customers.
For example, Green Earth Pest Control’s customer Ben M. left a five-star review and positive feedback on Yelp about their experience:
Encourage customers to rate and review your business simply by asking. Email, text, and in-person review requests are a great way to receive a steady stream of online feedback. Pro tip: Target customers who are likely to give you a great review. Email a satisfaction survey to customers and then send a follow-up referral request to the ones who rate your business the highest.
4. Offer Referral Incentives to Existing Customers
Offer existing customers a free product, discount, or another perk to encourage them to refer friends and family. Promote your referral program on your website, social media, and store if you have a physical location. Automate the process with referral tools like Influitive or ReferralCandy. As long as the value of the incentive is less than the value of a new customer, this can be a profitable strategy for you.
5. Share Testimonials to Build Credibility
Positive testimonials are a powerful endorsement for your business. To take advantage of this free marketing tactic, highlight testimonials on your Google Business Profile, social media channels, website, and marketing materials. Authentic endorsements from satisfied customers are a persuasive way to turn prospects into paying customers.
At North Country Website Design, we help clients not only create and manage websites but also plan and promote their business marketing. If you want to work on a specialized creative marketing plan with us, please reach out—we’re here to help.
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