Individuals do not normally shell out funds and precious time into a business unless of course there is actually some gain. An accounting firm can easily give expert guidance to investors as to the problems involved nevertheless this could possibly not only be for profit, in many instances such acquisitions are for taxation reasons.
Local businesses also compete for customers as any savvy business owner will be looking to diversify their products for gaining more of the buying market to grow and develop a brand name within their locality. A small business corner store may sell a whole range of products however a conglomerate enterprise may soon take over a corner store customers by virtue of sheer weight of their pricing discounts that a corner store could not simply compete.
So what is the answer for small business?
Unique service and products, well maybe,for a time until the bigger stores copy that line. Provide unparalleled customer service, yes could work with retaining faithful clients.
The central issue for small business is to brand their name across the marketplace. Surefire exposure and getting known for supply of great customer service and range of products on offer. Great branding, good customer service, dependable range and supply of products will build customer base and guaranteed profits for the small business.
Seems the business owner being the true knowledge holder of his/her own business works tirelessly for double the hours a paid employee would normally work for their income, and why shouldn’t they after all the small business owners reap all the rewards, seems fair. Or is there an easier way?
That is assured in today’s mobile technology world we all live.
The small business can sell its products via a website which takes orders directly from customers locally or regionally at the push of a button. Passing trade, holiday visitors may skip through town and not even know of the goods or services on offer if they are not informed of its location.
Sure roadside billboards can work (if anyone bothers to read them or the small business owner can afford one), radio advertising as well (if the car radio is tuned into the local radio channel) but not every passing visitor will stop and buy a newspaper in order to read an ad.
What is reality for family and local communities is access to the internet by way of smart mobile phones.
Generally people do not leave home without their cellular phone or indeed no more than three feet from their grasp. Mobile search technology is available and increasingly becoming the tradition with regard to immediate access of goods and services.
Obviously then, it is of paramount importance for a small business to embrace the opportunities to increase customer base and passing trade by advertising on Google local search and via mobile search their business becomes known.
In February 2010 Google CEO Eric Schmidt announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that Google will consider “mobile first” in all future endeavors… “Anything Google creates from here on out will be first placed on mobile platform and then be worked around for the desktop. He concluded with saying” Mobile is pretty much the answer in order to everything” announcing a major shift in Google strategy…”
Google not only has local search for small business (free in order to join in order to advertise your local store on Google) but now includes local “mobile search” should mobile phone users seek out a local business for products i.e. pizza, baby goods, medicines, roadside mechanic, in addition Google Maps will supply the directions to be used in conjunction with car Global Positioning Satellite to arrive at the exact business address.
Google has seen a 500% growth in mobile search from 2008 in order to 2010 and a 67% increase in mobile queries in the last quarter alone. “Everything is leading to search.” “Half of local offline businesses do not have websites let alone mobile advertising..their not aware whats going on with mobile marketing.. source from “eMarketer.com.”
“PIPER JAFFRAY” research firm USA has also made this comment.”Considers lead generation the primary goal of local advertising, and suggests that mobile presents a major opportunity on that front.”
“With online search being the preferred method in order to find local business info, and consumers highly connected in order to their mobile phones,especially during the weekends.The research firm predicts huge growth in mobile search spending through the 2012 and beyond.”
“Local lead generation companies will play a key role in bringing small businesses into mobile advertising according to the report.”
Small businesses need to understand that mobile can be invaluable as a channel as online and lead generation players will be educators…As more and more mobile phones come on to the data network significant drop in costs for mobile phone plans eventuate as is already here with “Walmart”, having $45 per month plans with unlimited internet, unlimited text messaging and unlimited calls. The big name retail giants are awake in order to the direction mobile advertising is headed and know that the future is the mobile market for supply of goods and services demand.
As with any kind of advertising strategy, small business proprietors ought to perform some market study prior to they releasing their own Internet advertising campaign.