One way to attract more customers to your business is to take a risk with key products or services you offer.
The number one cookie in the United States is the Oreo, produced by Nabisco. Marketing had a lot to do with selling more Oreos than anything else, especially for people who like to dunk their cookie in milk (Remember: Got Milk?) or twist off the top of the cookie and lick the filling. They would risk selling their prime product at a ridiculous price just to move more product and hopefully, send the customer down the cookie aisle with a desire for more! If you want to attract more customers to your business, try promoting one category of products or services up front, as soon as your customer comes into the store.
Another way to attract more customers to your business is to be seen on many online media sites as possible.
Google My Business has got to be high on your plans for showing up on local search results. Too many businesses are focusing their attention on other things that do little for promoting their business or services. As a result, they lose their potential customer to some snappy upstart located way south of them in the large metropolitan retail areas.
Further, maintaining a strong presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter and your own website must be consistent and regular in order to build up a following of people who are local. If you omit something seemingly insignificant as responding to someone's negative review could sink your business faster than you could say, "Jackie Robinson!"
Billboards play a critical role to attract more customers to your business.
Yes, mobile is growing and online marketing is up there in owning the majority of the marketing pie, but billboards fill in that space between work and home or home and shopping that the vehicle driver cannot fill using his/her cellphone.
Bending over backwards in customer service is still one of the best ways to attract more customers to your business and keep them close. The more people see and feel that you love their patronage and frequent visits, even if they don't buy each time, you're grateful to have them come in. A thank-you card with handwritten note inside goes a long way to building loyalty and trust.
As you enter into the holiday season this year with anticipation of a new year just around the corner, it's of utmost importance that we all work together as the local business community to keep business local. It's not just for the big box stores. The "mom and pop" businesses in our community must work together in order to attract more customers to our business or they will go elsewhere.