Do you own a small business? Perhaps you own a specialty boutique in the Riviera Village or you run an online business from your home. Either way, one of the best ways to increase your business is to have your customers market it for you.
Here are three ways you can engage your customers so they start telling their friends (real, virtual and otherwise) about your business.
- Ask them. Select a handful of customers from your database and pick up the phone, compose an email or post a note on their Facebook wall asking how they're doing. Show you care, listen to their feedback and reward them in some way for responding. Give them a reason to talk about your personalized customer service.
- Thank your best customers with a perk, freebie or some kind of recognition on your website. Offer to donate to their favorite charity this holiday season.
- Brag! Did you make a donation to a local charity or sponsor a local sports team? Tell your customers what you're doing to support their community. Invite them to join you in that support by donating, sharing photos, joining a comittee or naming the team's mascot.
Those are just three ideas I came up with on the fly. You know your customers better than anyone. What matters most to them? What would motivate them to talk about you and your business?
