Better Information Retention

 

 The Invisible Customer

While the customer is always right, he's not walking around the shop and checking in for a chat. He doesn't have to visit your website or ask for an estimate before hiring you. You must prove that your company has what it takes to survive without him.

The Invisible Customer: 6 Things You Must Do To Get Customers Back Into The Shop!

The bad news is that you're taking on one of the most daunting tasks as a business owner - turning lost customers into new ones. The good news? It can be done with simple approaches like using social media to see what people are saying about your business and working hard to turn any lost leads into regular clients who feel at home in your shop again.

1. Create a great website.

This seems obvious, but there's no question that you need to create an online presence for your brand. See what works and what doesn't, then modify accordingly. The key is getting people to find you and pay attention to your messages. When they're on your website, they'll see that you offer the type of services they're searching for. Plus, if your site is easy to navigate (or it can be), more people are likely to stay on it for longer after making contact, which increases the chances of them picking up a sales lead or hearing about a promotion or special deal you're running.

2. Get social media exposure.

Today, your customers are probably already talking about you. A lot of people are sharing their opinions on any given product or service they use via social media sites like Facebook and Google+, so create a page that sets you apart from the crowd. See how users react to your posts and be ready when someone asks a question or makes a complaint. The best part: You can post your work on Instagram and get a huge boost in positive exposure!

3. Offer exclusive deals.

Out of sight, out of mind is a big problem, right? What if you limited the amount of services you offer to a specific number per week? This helps people know what they can expect and guarantees that they'll be taken care of while they're in your shop. The idea is to cut down the anxiety that comes with waiting around for an appointment.

4. Have an open house.

Nothing tells people that your business is for them more than showing them the inside! Hosting an open house event lets anyone stop by and get a close look at your facilities, products and services, which can lead to serious interest from potential clients. And after all, nobody wants to be just another number on a list!

5. Give discounts.

People are more likely to return to a shop that offers special products and deals for loyal customers. With something for everyone there, and not too much of any one thing, you will stand out from the crowd. Offer rewards for new clients, too. Buy a coffee mug from your shop with their name on it? That's a great way to show that they're treated like royalty while they're with you!

6. Ask upfront if they have certain conditions.

Sometimes, the customer has a need that your shop is unable to fill. For example, he might have celiac disease and must be careful about what he eats in your kitchen. Or perhaps he requires an extra-large cup of coffee, which your machine doesn't handle. Instead of trying to skim by with only a portion of that service, ask if they'd like to book you for the whole thing. When you're charging per session, it'll be more difficult to be flexible in such cases.

MAKING THE MOST OF IT

The goal of marketing should not be to make the most money, but to create a quality business that builds trust and love among a community. It's about growing your business, keeping your clients and friends happy, and challenging yourself to reach greater heights - so that you can better serve others.

This article is originally from www.forbes.com . You can read the full article here .

Title: Here's Why You Need More Facebook Fans

URL: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230839

Being a small business owner is hard enough without having to worry about what your competitors are doing. Why? Because the wrong move could destroy your business in a matter of months - or years, if you're especially unlucky. That's why I don't ever take my competition lightly and why I often come up with better ways to attract customers than they do.

Case in point: Facebook.

A free, easy way to build a small business audience ...

I've been advertising on Facebook for about three years. In that time I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't - especially when it comes to small businesses. While you're probably not familiar with the term, small businesses make up 99 percent of all U.S. firms, employ more than half the private-sector workforce and contribute almost half of the U.S.'s gross domestic product (GDP). What's more, local small businesses create two out of three net new jobs annually in this country.

Because of all this, it's easy to see why small businesses need Facebook. They're eager to build an audience and gain new leads - and they're also often willing to spend a little money on Facebook ads if they feel that the user experience is worth it. Think social media? Think small business marketing.

Of course, you have to know what works before you can make an informed decision, which is why in this article I'll walk you through everything that I've learned about Facebook advertising for small businesses. The first step? Finding a strategy that not only works for your business, but also gives you the best return on investment (ROI).

The best way ...

This is where the research and testing step comes in. In order to figure out what works, you need to conduct some experiments. While this might sound like a lot of work, it's actually quite easy when you follow a few simple steps:

1. What are you trying to accomplish?

While this might seem obvious, it's important that you know the purpose of your advertising campaigns before you begin any major planning efforts. Is it awareness? A new customer base? Business leads? You have to know what results you are expecting and why before designing your campaign. Likewise, as I'll explain later, you also need to be able to determine how many people will actually see your ads and which demographics they'll appeal to.

Conclusion? Before you do anything, you need to determine what your return on investment will be. What's the point of creating ads if you don't know if it's going to work?

2. Determine how much time and money you have available for each effort.

When it comes to small businesses, every day counts and every dollar is vital. This means that any marketing campaign you launch should be focused on generating results within a specific amount of time and with a predetermined budget. In this case, I suggest running these campaigns for no longer than three months and spending no more than $1 per lead (per month).