How to Attract Consumers

Regardless of whether your business is new or has been operating for a while, you are always seeking to attract new consumers to purchase your products or services. Thanks to the explosion of the Internet, the potential to bring in new customers now extends well beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar business. Below, you will find helpful tips on attracting consumers locally and from across the globe.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Website
• Marketing materials

Use the Web and Know Your Target Market

1. Understand what sets your product or service apart from others. Competitors are most likely selling the same product or service; figure out what is it about yours that would entice people to buy from you instead. Do you offer a more competitive price? Superior customer service? Find out what your competitors are doing, do it better and highlight this quality in all your advertising and promotion.

2. Know your target audience. Become familiar with the people who are most likely to buy your product. Regardless if it's men over 40, stay-at-home moms, tweens or seniors, understand your target audience and have an idea what magazines they are reading, websites they frequent and what they watch on TV. Knowing who you are targeting will help you focus your marketing and advertising efforts.

3. Advertise effectively. Create marketing materials that project a positive, attractive image to the public. Focus your advertising efforts to catch the attention of your target audience; run ads in publications they are likely to read, attend an event where they may be found, and leave brochures, fliers and business cards in places they are most likely to congregate.

4. Treat loyal customers exceptionally well; offer "exclusive" deals and special discounts. Consider offering special discounts occasionally to frequent customers. Depending on what type of business you have, consider a frequent shopper's card, where customers earn something free after making a certain number of purchases. You can also consider offering a savings program each time they refer a new customer to you.

5. Embrace e-commerce and its potential to reach new consumers. Create a website if you don't have a one already and sell your products online, where you can reach an entirely new market from across the globe. A presence on the Internet is often the fastest way to grow a retail business. Another option to increasing your web presence is to sell your products on eBay and Amazon.com and utilize social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to market your business.

Tips & Warnings

• Network as much as possible; join the local Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations. Consider creating an email newsletter, which will highlight new products or sales.
• Be careful not to "spam" consumers.

References

• 21 ways to bring in the business
• Seller tools and Ebay stores
• Webstore by Amazon

[sheavenangel38]

on 12/13/2009 This a great steps now that the holidays are here. It helps out the small business individuals starting out on their new business adventures. 8+

[dougoliver]

on 12/6/2009 Spoken like a true professional. Well done and thanks

[mdurrell]

on 12/5/2009 I agree well written! 5*

[zemzem82]

on 11/10/2009 great info

[everbling]

on 11/6/2009 Retail, you must be very competive 100% correct.