Business owners should always be looking to how they best can serve their customers.
Sure, you give them the products or services they want or need, give them those items at a reasonable price, put some solid customer service efforts behind them, you should be all set, yes?
What too many people running business sometimes forget is that along with the above-mentioned items, customers also want information. What kind of information you may ask?
In many cases, it is the information that is rather easy to provide them with; you just don’t always take the time or effort to do it.
Informing the Public Can Be Your Greatest Move
When it comes right down to it, providing customers (current and those who might come your way down the road) with information on not only your products and services, but trends in your industry etc. can be so beneficial.
So, how best to offer such details?
Some of the avenues you should be using include:
- Press releases – Although some businesses have gotten away from these tried and true vehicles to deliver news, many others know better. A simple one-page press release can do wonders for your brand. Make sure, however, that the press release has some meat to it, not one that is just being circulated for the sake of getting your name in front of more consumer eyes yet again. Also make sure that the press release has noticeable contact information on it in the event individuals want to reach out to your business;
- Email newsletters – While texting and mobile marketing may have cut back on some companies using email newsletters, many others still find the value behind them. Your email newsletters can be a true beacon for alerting the public to not only the products and/or services your brand offers, but also how you set yourself apart from competitors. Make the newsletters easy to read, include imagery wherever possible, promote the newsletters on social channels, and keep them compelling. Again, this vehicle is a great means for your brand to stand out as both informative and authoritative;
- Social media – Yes, some business owners shy away from social media, stating they don’t know if they can ever truly get a real idea of its return on investment (ROI). Others, however, have seen how powerful social media is, helping brands quickly accelerate their sales numbers over time. Use your time on social networking sites wisely, always looking to get the most out of it. This doesn’t mean that you need to (or should for that matter) be on social sites 24/7, but it does dictate that you spend a fair amount of time honing your social skills. Along with sharing, tweeting, pinning and more at the best times of the day and night, make sure you have an idea of the demographics you want to reach with your social media efforts. Finally, always take a positive tone with whatever you post on social sites. The last thing your brand needs to be seen as is one that is combative with consumers, be they customers or just those speaking out against your business for one reason or another. Positivity is the name of the game when it comes to being active and productive on social media;
- Mobile marketing – Businesses really don’t have a choice but to be involved with mobile marketing these days. As more consumers demonstrate how important their mobile devices are to them on a daily basis, brands must accommodate them. Your business can improve its chances of landing more sales when you meet consumers in the mobile world. From offering them timely sales opportunities to rewards and savings on products and services, don’t be left in the dust when it comes to benefitting from mobile marketing.
In your efforts to retain current customers and attract new ones, always keep in mind how important it is not to leave any of them behind.
From an information point of view, not leaving any interested consumers in the rearview mirror should always be one of your main goals as a business owner.
When customers do get left behind for one reason or another, there is usually another business waiting there to benefit from it.
