"ouside the box" thinking & solutions for Internet marketing.

The Simple Truth
Regardless of what type of local business you have, it needs one or both of the following to grow.  Getting more  customers through your door and/or more qualified prospects contacting you every day.  It’s just that simple.  But as you know, making this happen is much easier said than done.

Internet to the Rescue?
Making smart use of available local Internet marketing tools is a really effective way to make this happen fast.  If you aren’t thinking about using the web as a big part of your marketing efforts, then you need to put it on your near-term radar. I know you’ve probably heard this before, but there are compelling reasons for why you need to do this.  The single biggest reason is that the majority of shoppers, for all kinds of local goods and services, are turning to the Internet first to find what they’re looking for and whom to purchase it from.

Here are a few facts:

• For every dollar U.S. consumers spend online, another five to six dollars are going to offline purchases that are influenced by online research.
  (MIT Technology Review)
• 97% of Internet users in the U.S. gather shopping information online, and of those consumers 51% explicitly characterize their behavior as “Shop Online”, “Purchase Offline”.
  (NPD Group)
• 74% of Americans use online local search, like Google local search, to locate local businesses.
  (Kelsey Group)
• 82% of local searchers follow up offline via an in-store visit, phone call or purchase.
  (TMP/comScore)

There’s much more of the same, but I think the above facts make the point.  If you have a local business, you simply can’t ignore the fact that your potential customers are turning to the Internet first in place of the old marketing standbys like the Yellow Pages and Newspapers.  Chances are excellent that your competition is paying attention and taking action. What’s holding you back?

The Answer Is In The Mix
While the Internet offers an ever-expanding list of powerful tools and opportunities to effectively market your local business, it’s not the only type marketing you should be doing.  There is offline marketing you should be doing as well. Simple things like making sure all of your printed materials – business cards, letterhead, brochures, coupons, fliers, signage, etc. – carry information about how to contact your business electronically via email or a web site.  If you don’t have a web site yet, invest some time to make a specific list of what you would want it to do for you. All of these things leverage and support whatever you may be doing or plan to do online and vice versa.

One Size Does Not Fit All
Choosing the right combination of online and offline marketing varies individually by business. There isn’t a single formula that works for everyone. There can’t be. It will always vary by goals, budget, internal resources, average type and size of sale and exactly who your customers are.  That said, choosing the right consulting service provider to help you define and implement a winning local marketing is vitally important.

Are You Ready?
Are you tired of spending and depending on traditional marketing tools like print Yellow Pages and Newspaper advertising and not getting the results and accountability you’re after?  Then it’s time to rethink your local marketing and get the results you want and need.  If you’re ready boost your business now using the latest, smartest and most effective local marketing strategies and techniques, then contact me today for a free consultation.  I promise you it will be time well spent.