Small businesses can compete with corporate giants with the right tools.
We can all admit to spending tons of money outside of the local economy. Mostly on businesses that bring packages to our doors & deals to our stores, but cut down employment for our neighbors & growth in our cities. We feel empowered as consumers (as we should). In turn we’ve left the foundation of the local economy disempowered & struggling to keep up. Economic development is cut off directly by corporate sales. Health of the local economy was quoted to be the biggest obstacle for small businesses, with 56% of them naming it their biggest problem.
Offer better customer service.
Big corporations focus on gathering insights on their customers so they can cater to their needs. Walmart caters to their customers with major savings. Starbucks with consistency. Amazon with instant gratification – because that’s what they’re asking for. These big brands are essentially, customer service pros. The disadvantage to these companies is that they can’t match your authenticity & fantastic customer experience. You know your service & products better than anyone else does & you’re deeply invested in it, which means no one can represent it better than you.
Service + Community + Knowledge + Experience = Loyal customers
Build a local brand.
Branding is more than a logo & a color scheme. The impact a businesses service leaves on their customer is the imprint of their brand. Feedback given through reviews supports your brand & encourages newcomers to give your business a chance. 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. Manage your reputation by promoting customer reviews, automating the request for reviews & monitoring to ensure a speedy response to any negative reviews so that they can be neutralized.
Embrace technology.
Studies show that if you aren’t following up within 5 minutes of an inquiry, or requesting additional information – you’re more than likely going to lose a prospect, most likely to a business that does respond quicker. Use tools that automate & quicken processes so you can focus on what truly matters. Automated social media & email replies & live chat on site can help drive in leads.
See how your business is standing in your community! Use our free Reputation Report tool below to gauge the next best step towards taking back local.
Yeah, we want to fistbump you too.
