One of the primary goals of a retailer is to attract new customers to their store every day. Even in tough times, marketing is a vital component to your success and often many business owners pull away from marketing in hopes of cutting costs to improve profits which is a huge mistake. The good news is that you don't have to invest a ton of money to drive in traffic. There are many low cost marketing ideas that have been proven to generate results and simply using a little creativity, your personality and taking action, these strategies will drive traffic to your store as well.
1)Online Listings
Make sure people can find your listing on line. In today's age, you need to have a website and a listing in Google and Yahoo that is optimize for your category. Make sure people can find you when they type into Google, "Ice Cream" and "Your Local Community Name". Register with these sites.
2)Align with a Charity
Charity marketing is a great way to drive in traffic. Find a cause and agree to give back a percentage of the proceeds back to the charity. The charity you are working with will promote you to their mailing lists and a simple press release will get the media involved. For the low, low price of zero.
3)Partnering with Other Businesses
There are many businesses in your local community that serve the same target market but are in non competing businesses. Be creative and look for ways to partner. For example, a local Pizza shop and a local Ice Cream shop can partner for a Pizza and a Pint combo. Or you can simply do a coupon exchange and you each make coupons available to your customers.
4)Referrals
The best source for new customers is through referrals from existing customers or business partners but many retailers don't feel that they are in the referral business. They are missing precious opportunities to grow their customer list. Put together a strong referral system that is a win/win/win for everyone involved. Offer free products, lifetime memberships to your programs, discounts, whatever appeals to your customer. It starts with simply asking them to refer you.
5)Combo or Package Deal
Be creative and put like items together that a customer may want. Retailers are skilled at the impulse items at the counter, but how about a combo deal for a discounted price? For example, a bakery can sell its cakes for its normal price, but also include a combo for cupcakes for a few dollars more, but a lot less then if bought separately.
6)Local Schools
Partnering with your local schools is an excellent way to market your business. Schools have a built in community so think of ways that you can partner with them. Can you offer free products in exchange for flyers being sent home? How about special discounts? Charity events? Or to support their sports team?
7)Couponing
In retail, couponing is a simple way to generate traffic to your stores. Hold specials and offer coupons everywhere. Hand them out at the register for future business, include them in your product packaging, hang signs, put them on your bags and anywhere a customer or potential customer may see them
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Kellie D'Andrea, The Positioning Coach, teaches small businesses how to attract, convert and retain more customers. She is the creator of the BLAST Marketing System, a program designed to teach you how to brand, lead and sell your products and services so you attract the right clients to your business. To learn more and to sign up for her free weekly marketing class "Marketing Mondays" go to http://www.kelliedandrea.com/blog
