Did you know that 86.3% of small business owners make less than $100,000 a year in income? Starting a small business can be one of the biggest decisions of your life. It takes months, maybe years, of planning to devise a winning idea, create an actionable plan, build a team, develop products or services, and launch a business. With so many variables to consider, it can be difficult to know where to start. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of seven strategies that will help you double your business with reviews, referrals, and marketing. Let’s dive right in!
7 Strategies for Growth
1. Win your customers’ trust
In today’s digital world, potential customers are far more likely to research your business online before making a purchase. That means that the way you present yourself online is crucial to winning new business. One of the best ways to build trust with potential customers is to collect reviews from your existing customers and post them prominently on your website and social media profiles. When potential customers see that others have had positive experiences with your business, they’re much more likely to do business with you as well.
2. Prioritize your service quality and ask for feedback
You are an expert in the service you provide to your customers. Build your business on a foundation of values and principles that aim to attract your best leads. One of these values, for example, may be an incredible customer experience. A value system enables you to become a trustworthy and reputable solution for your customers. These days, potential customers are much more likely to base their buying decisions on reviews than they are on traditional advertising. Make sure to ask for — and listen to — their feedback so you can continuously provide a service that both meets their requirements and aligns with your values.
3. Offer win-win incentives
Offering incentives to differentiate your business from the competition is crucial to boosting your bottom line. Some of these incentives may include free trials, holiday discounts, and gifts. Also, incentives don’t just end when you get the customer; they should continue throughout their entire lifecycle with your company. Keep them engaged and in the loop for the best results — which leads us to the next point!
5. Have a solid email marketing program
Although you may have thought so, email marketing is not dead. It is alive and thriving, with 66% more sales conversions than any other medium — including social media, internet search, and direct mail. So when you go to compose your next email or newsletter to your customers, do it with the utmost confidence that they may open it and engage with you.
6. Create a referral program and gamify it
Gamifying your referral program is almost always a good choice. By offering a referral program that feels like a game, customers are more likely to stay interested in promoting your product and earning rewards. Using points, levels, badges or goals keeps them motivated while also giving them a sense of control and accomplishment. For example, each referral can give your customer a specific number of points in which they cash in for products, services, and/or gift cards.
7. Create a sense of urgency (The FOMO effect)
If you are unfamiliar with the term FOMO, then it’s about time you learned what it means: Fear Of Missing Out. This marketing tactic has been out there working for centuries. Our tip? Look deep into your business and try to figure out what sets you apart and what you can offer that others don’t. The key to doing this successfully is to truly understand your audience to the point where you know what pains them, how they talk about it, and how your service can enable them to sleep better at night.
To Wrap It Up
Whether you own a painting company business to a courier small business, as a small business owner, you’re always looking for ways to grow your business. Whether it’s increasing sales, expanding into new markets, or simply finding more efficient ways to run your operation, growth is essential to the success of any small business. Service by WorkWave is here to help you run your business seamlessly so that you can do what you do best: provide spectacular service to your customers. The possibilities are endless with Service by WorkWave. Click here to learn more about how you can grow easily with little investment!