Local businesses can seem like a difficult choice for new entrepreneurs. This is because you’re not afforded some of the luxuries that online at-home businesses can take advantage of, such as global outsourcing and a wider variety of platforms to advertise on such as social media. Although we can still take advantage of digital strategies to grow our businesses, the bottom line is that a local store needs to rely on its location in order to grow the business.
Doing this will require some serious planning and innovative thinking in today’s business landscape, so we’re going to talk about five simple ways that you can empower and grow your local business and take it to the next level.
1. Utilize radio and print advertising
As a local business, you have to utilize local advertising methods such as radio and print in order to reach your intended audience. You’re likely not going to reach audiences in other cities or even on the other side of town, so until you grow incredibly popular to a level where people are willing to travel just to visit your store, you’re going to need to utilize local advertising platforms like radio and print such as newspapers.
2. Get to know your suppliers
Whether you’re buying wholesale rugs online or going to a local market to source ingredients for your bakery, you have to think about getting to know your local suppliers because they can provide excellent value for money no matter what you’re purchasing. Getting to know suppliers comes with plenty of advantages such as getting your supplies delivered in a timely manner, getting exclusive loyalty discounts and also learning about the industry and getting free tidbits of information.
3. Don’t neglect the power of social media
Although people might not want to visit your store from halfway across the country, social media can still grow and promote your brand by building up a solid digital presence. This will help with search engine optimization, online exposure and ultimately help to grow your company.
4. Get involved with the community
Even if your business can’t directly contribute to the community, it’s always a good idea to try and get involved with local events and find ways to get your name out there to the public. For instance, if you’re a bakery then you could provide snacks for community parties, or if you have a relatively large venue then you could host community events or even consider starting fundraisers.
5. Create a friendly and approachable atmosphere
Lastly, make sure your store is friendly and approachable. You want to get people to notice your store and feel like they should explore what you have to offer instead of being intimidating. Make sure you look for ways to create a more welcoming business such as training your staff to be more polite or having a nicer window display that shows off your products and services and piques people’s interest so that they’ll visit your store instead of just walking past.
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Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.