Business can get a little slow from time to time, as every entrepreneur knows. Wondering what you can do to get things moving again? Here are 10 options I have learnt from observing several brands:
1. Promo! Promo!! Promo!!! People love promos, and why not? The idea of getting a special deal is appealing. There are many kinds of promos you can use to draw in customers. You can offer discounts off some of your goods and services for a period, or you can find some of your less expensive products and offer two for the price of one for a limited time. You can also let potential customers know they’ll be getting a nice little gift when they buy a certain product. Sure you’ll be investing some money, but you’ll get your product in the hands of someone who will love it and tell others. Certainly worth it!
2. Hire a social media manager Your potential customers are on various media platforms, from Facebook and Snapchat to Twitter and Instagram. Since it is advisable to have business accounts separate from your personal accounts, you may find yourself running as many as 6 social media accounts. If you can afford it, hiring a professional to handle social media accounts for your business is worth it, as it frees you to focus on the actual work.
3. Contact your existing clients This is one reason why it’s a good idea to get your clients’ contact details. While it’s ill-advised to bother them with incessant messages and calls, once in a while it’s good to check on them to find out how they’ve enjoyed your product/service, let them know of new offers, or just to wish them well. Even if they’re not in a position to purchase anything at the moment, you’ll be creating top of mind awareness. Who knows, they may just happen to have a referral for you.
4. Create a new package Knowing how to mix your various services to make them attractive to different target audiences is very helpful in business. People may not come in for a particular service, but when combined with one or two others, a different appeal is created. This way, people who ordinarily may not have paid attention to a single offer, are drawn in and hopefully, hooked!
5. Talk to a stranger Even if you have a marketing team, nothing can take the place of you, the person with the vision, selling it. Every once in a while, striking up a conversation about what you do and how it helps people, opens doors.
6. Give flyers to your friends Friends and loved one can be invaluable when it comes to bringing customers your way. However, not everyone is able to talk, so it helps if you have a flyer that says it all. That way, they can say the little they’re able to and then hand out your flyers to complete the job. Remember to make your colours attractive, your information well written and your font legible, especially your contact details. It goes without saying that the email address and numbers on your flyer should be kept functional.
7. Bulk SMS This is a good way to get the word out about your business. The same rules for contacting existing clients apply: don’t overdo it. You don’t want to irritate people. Also, make sure you let people know how your business can help them. It should always be about them, not you. Don’t forget to include a number to call.
8. Offer free consultations This is a fantastic way to give potential customers a sneak peek into what they’ll be getting if they patronise you. When you offer useful advice and solutions to their challenges, the next logical step is execution, and that’s where your business comes in.
9. Articles and interviews A well-written, well-placed article that presents the benefits of your products/services in an interesting, engaging way can attract customers to you. You don’t have to blow your trumpet. Simply focusing on the usefulness of your products/services, and leaving your contact details at the bottom of the article, will suffice. Interview series like Connect Nigeria’s Meet the Boss also gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to tell potential clients and customers about their products and services, while inspiring other to start their own businesses.
10. Give to charity Altruistic customers are attracted to businesses that give portions of their proceeds to charity, so if your business does this, you might want to consider making it public knowledge.
All the best!
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