Give Mom and Pop Some Business Love

To the millions who acted on their dream, we salute you. For days on end, you rise before the sun and outlive the burn of the midnight oil. You play a vital role in the US economy and yet you don’t get the recognition you deserve. But on March 29, we celebrate National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. And because you have little time to work on absolutely everything in your business, we’re offering three marketing tips that you can do in your sleep—or at least take less of your time to do them. Get Found Online Google tells us that 97% of consumers look to a web search to find local businesses. With no cost to you and less than an hour of your time, your customers can find you online if you set up your Google Places account. It’s as easy as updating your address, hours and phone number and adding a few photos to help you stand out. It should get your business closer to the top of a search when your prospects search for, “plumber, city, state,” unless of course you’re not a plumber. Leave Your Calling Card It sounds simple, but so many small business owners overlook a basic necessity of doing business. Get thee to a printing company and order some business cards. Then, have them with you at all times. You never know when you’ll run into a potential customer or want to leave one in a conspicuous place for an unsuspecting customer to find. Ask For Referrals Again, we’ll look to the basics. You have to interact with your customers, right? Well give them the best service they can receive all day. Ask your customers if they've appreciated your service. If they say yes, ask if they know of anyone else that can benefit from your business. It may feel like you’re begging at first, but if it becomes a routine with every transaction, you should have more business in no time. Oh, and that’s where those handy business cards can come into play. So as we celebrate National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, we encourage you all to go out and support a local business this week, and everyday.