Reach out to your customers

 

The convergence of IT, Communications and Marketing knowledge means that small businesses can offer levels of customer support and interaction that were previsously the preserve of multinational organisations with large budgets and teams of techies and marketing people at their disposal.

 

Permission based marketing solutions are now available to small businesses that can help give you a BIG pressence.

 

By adding forms to website pages and using third party managed services, SME's can build lists and profiles of customers and potential customers quickly and easily.  Many successful businesses maintain regular and relevant contact with their customers, through direct marketing, email, blogs and text messages, increasingly customers expect a 1 to 1 exchange, a tailored experience with their supplier.  ICT and eBusiness tools are becoming an everyday part of this process.  

 

 

Whether you run a coffee bar, a farm shop or a national bank, there are plenty of opportunities to present special offers, recipes, events and updates about new product lines tailored to your customers interests.

 

 

Do you have a quiet period between 2pm and 4pm?  Why not send a text message to your regular customers offering 2 for 1 coffee or a free doughnut with every order when they show you the text message at the till? 

 

Read how Rock Garden (Covent Garden, London) saved 90% on marketing costs and increased sales by sending timely, targetted email and text message campaigns.

 

 

Regular contact with cusotmers updating them about seasonal vegetables, special offers, recipes and news about the shop itself can all help to build customer loyalty and increase sales.  Traditionally this can cost a lot of money when using direct marketing and printed media, none of which helps portray the conservation or environmentally friendly image (even using recycled paper!), by using email and text message updates your business can increase sales whilst not costing the earth!

 

Use emails and text messages to remind patients and clients of appointments and check-ups. 

 

In 2005 the cost to the NHS of nearly 6 million missed appointments was over £575mn, that's a cost of £95 per appointment. How much does a missed appointment cost your business?  

 

If a patient reminder service using mobile phone text messages that cost 10p per item reduced the number of missed appointments by 1% it would save the NHS £5.15mn.

 

Read how Oak Lodge Dental Practice in Liphook, Hampshire, installed a text message appointment reminder system that resulted in improved customer satisafaction levels and saved the practice £1,000's in lost time and paper and postage costs.

 

 

Financial and Environmental Sense:   By reducing the amount of printed media, paper and postal services a business uses, email and text based marketing can actually help to reduce your company's carbon footprint whilst increasing sales and increasing efficiency.