There’s no such thing as a slow season

With the exception of those who work in snow-related industries, hundreds of businesses all over the country are beginning to freak out as the suns of summer begin to fade. The arrival of autumn heralds some serious business challenges for some merchants. We’ve compiled our top five ways to keep customers walking through your doors during the slower months.

  1. Give your customers something for nothing
    Everyone loves freebies; it’s what makes us human. So when you’re keen to keep your customers coming back for more, ply them with free stuff. Loyalty cards are the obvious choice, but think outside the square a little. Get customers to sign up to an email mailing list and give away free keyrings or tshirts (maybe with your logo printed on it for added brand exposure). If they spend more than $150 in one sitting, put them into the drawer to win something awesome. Work with GoBook to create discounted listings, using the customisable calendar to fill your quiet spots when you need to, so your customers get to experience your services at a fraction of the price, and at a time that works for both of you.
  2. What people say about you matters
    Word-of-mouth and reputation is the strongest form of marketing. If you have an incredible time at that new restaurant down the road, chances are you’ll rave on about it to your mates, then they’ll remember you said good things about it when someone else asks about it and spread the good news too. Host great reviews on your website and Facebook page, and encourage customers to use other review sites like Dineout or Menumania so your brand gets out into the public sphere more. If you’re worried about negative testimonials appearing on review sites, it’s really pretty simple; provide the best service every time. Remember, just like good feedback can spread like wildfire, negative feedback spreads even quicker.
  3. Put yourself on the map
    More than 60% of us now own smartphones. Sure, they’re handy for email and social media, but they’re also exceptionally handy for getting around town too. Make it easy for customers to find you by listing your business with Google maps, so customers can use GPS to find you when they’re on the road.
  4. Work as a team
    Business has traditionally been an individualistic industry; these days the ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ mentality is a lot more acceptable – and a lot more beneficial. Create solid relationships with businesses in similar or complementary industries, then work together to create GoBook or GrabOne packages or in-house referral schemes that’ll work for both of you.
  5. Community matters
    Business isn’t just about earning dollars. It’s also about identifying with the community you’re trying to get through your doors. Offer to support local events like school galas and Santa parades. You don’t have to offer the world; raffle contributions or sponsoring a junior netball team is enough to get brand recognition started around your community.

*Creative Commons image sourced from Flikr, Bjorn Giesenbauer