The low price offerings of huge retailers like Target and Wal-Mart on various items from electronics to clothing in an attempt to rule the market will cause small retailers to fail steadily. When small businesses fail in competition with these giant companies, many people lose their livelihood and valuable resources are lost by communities.
What's the solution for small business to remain in this strong competition?
If you are a bricks and mortar business, you've a battle on your hands, particularly if you offer anything that the enormous chains offer. You've got to become unique, a pro in what you do, and offer the best customer service possible. Then market that fact.
Experience, uniqueness and purchaser service are the three main things which are not supplied by these giant chains. Since the small businesses are the spine of our community, I wish to go shopping at small locally based retailers. Furthermore, they are extremely useful and well informed compared with massive chains where you are not going to get the help you would like.
Google is doing everything to prompt small local businesses to get an internet site. If you have a highly specialized business your website can instantly become number one when someone searches for Your Town and your consultant service. Just this straightforward lower cost selling solution can bring in lots of new shoppers. For a small charge you may be listed in local directories, your local Chamber of Commerce and on Angie's list, which will bring more visibility and less cost than any costly magazine or weekly newspaper ad. And don't forget mobile web access!
Almost all small business owners have the misconception that it is awfully difficult and costly to start and maintain a website. But that's not true. Cheap construction and upkeep of web site has itself become a small scale industry.
All a small local business desires is a Google map of where they are a page explaining what they do, a section that gives opening hours and contact data, some great footage and maybe a history of the business and that is it!
Add an opt in box and a once a month newsletter can go out, discounts can be promoted and sales announced, and with the addition of some affiliate advertising the site can actually make the business owner some money even after covering the minor costs involved.
Online businesses have a much harder time getting themselves to the pinnacle of the search engine lists. They have harder competition and have to deal with back linking, article writing and SEO, and lots of other marketing strategies they must employ to achieve success. But a small local business blog built on WordPress can function as a means for customers to ask about services and products which will also cut down on incoming calls that often come when attempting to handle other shoppers. It's all about attraction marketing and getting business back to the way that it should be: unique, useful and well informed businesses with wonderful customer service that supply a pleasurable shopping experience for all who walk through the door.
