Keeping Business Hot Despite the Cold Weather

It’s just after the holidays, tax season is upon us and it’s February; the coldest month of our year. Customers are feeling the chill of the weather and often, the emptiness of their wallets. These factors can cause small businesses to take a serious hit in customer intake, but don’t let Old Man Winter claim victory just yet. Simply Helpful has some tips to warm up any business’s profit margins.

Be Social
It’s not always the easiest staying on top of your business’s social media sites and gaining new followers and friends, but it’s crucial to keep afloat during these icy months. Keep your followers updated, informed and entertained (UIE).

If you follow each one of these topics (UIE), your social media sites will be teaming with interest and your storefront busy. Take advantage of February’s hot topics: basketball and Valentine’s Day. Share pictures/tweet/post your business interacting with these hot topics.

Here are a couple of ideas:
Post pictures and tweet scores of your company enjoying a game of pickup basketball.
Post/tweet yummy game day recipes for basketball season snacks or Valentine’s Day treats.
Share pictures and posts about decorating the office in hearts and sweets.
Encourage your followers to post pictures of their Valentine’s Day wear and tag your company to receive a 10% discount at your business. The ideas are endless.

Meet and Greet
Whether you’re just starting out or scouting new target markets it is imperative for business owners to meet their potential clients face to face. It is tempting to send out an intern or employee to bring in new customers, but in the end, it looks less credible.  Even more tempting is to stay inside all warm and cozy and type away at the computer for a solely technological outreach plan.

People are skeptical, especially when considering doing business with a small company they don’t know much about. The simple phrase, “I am the owner of…” has a strong effect. This increases the likelihood of your proposition being heard.  A face to face connection also makes a huge impact and coupling that with your technology outreach is a winning combination.

Though your staff team and interns are competent, the title of owner will always trump,
“I work for…” when trying to create strong client bonds. No staff?  Why not outsource your blog writing and social media updates with an outside vendor while you’re out meeting and greeting?  It’s money well spent if you can be out there making the bacon!

Show and Tell
Show off your work! By exemplifying your business’s portfolio of successful projects, your social media followers and website browsers alike will apply these projects to their own needs; creating business for you.

From business firms to yoga studios, everyone should be able to share with their potential and current clients the company’s past successes. Not only does this inspire need, but also adds credibility and confidence to your company’s reputation/brand.

Testimonials are a great technique to “back up” your portfolio of projects. They show potential and current customers you are reliable, competent and successful at what you do. This phenomenon is called the group effect. If others in the same group (customers) believe an idea (a company is successful) others in that group will tend to believe that idea as well.

There you have it, three ice melting tips to warm up your business this winter. Dig out from under that snow heap and get ready for a little business boost after using these helpful hints. For more tips, tricks and Simply Helpful advice, check out our website and be sure to keep an eye out for our next blog.