Small Business Strategies to Keep Your Customers Engaged

This year has hit small business harder than anyone could’ve anticipated. In times with little to no personal contact, how can you and your brand keep your customers engaged? The answer... Merchandising and Promotion! Here are a few ways to stay afloat and remind customers of what you do best.

Staying True to your Brand and Value

With a bit of creative thinking, your small business can still provide the same value to your customers staying home. All you need to do is take what makes your business succeed and apply it to promotion that is accessible without contact.

• Gyms/Fitness Centers: Youtube and streaming accounts have been huge for this industry. This not only allows members to workout from home, but also allows time for technical videos to keep your members from getting hurt. Another big one here is a weekly newsletter with diet and exercise tips. The ultimate goal is to keep your members in the routine of working out so that when your doors open they are ready to go.
• Bars/Restaurants: Recently I have seen a few bars posting drink recipes and blogs showing customers how to make signature drinks. Hopefully they cant do it as well as your seasoned bar tenders so when the quarantine is lifted your patrons will be standing in line to get drinks at their favorite bar.
• Artists: Creating e-commerce stores to sell your art online (Outlined with further detail in our previous blog post)

These are all great ideas for keeping your customers engaged and building a personal relationship. Not only do you want to show customers you’re still here, but also you care.

Merchandising Yourself

Creating merchandise is a proven, cost-effective way to drive sales and keep your customers engaged with your brand. We’ve helped several businesses stay afloat by printing t- shirts, koozies, stickers, enamel pins, tote bags, etc. Every person who wears your custom apparel is a walking advertisement for your business. Branded merchandise can turn customers into fans who will surely remember you long after social distancing is a thing of the past.

Providing value through consumer engagement may seem like a simple idea, but it’s one of the core principles of marketing yourself. With great promotion and merchandising, you can ensure that your business stays afloat while traditional value creation is impossible. It’s time to get out and make those videos, order those t-shirts/stickers, and connect with your audience!