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Show Your Face: Taking Your Business To A Physical Event

7/3/2020

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For many modern businesses, the idea of venturing out of the digital world can seem like quite a daunting one. With most of your work handled online, it’s all too easy to slip into the trap of ignoring things like networking and marketing, with many small companies putting all of their eggs in the online basket. Of course, though, attending a trade show, convention, or other physical events could give your business a meaningful boost. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the work that will have to be done when you’re trying to take your business to a physical event.

The Benefits of Physical Events

Before diving into all of the work you’re going to have to do for this, it makes sense to explore the benefits to make sure that they will have a positive impact on your company. This approach to marketing can be difficult, though it will often be worth the work when you get to see the marketing boost it provides.

  • Building Recognition: Building a name for yourself in the busy world of modern business can be tricky. Attending physical events will enable customers to see your business, ultimately making them more likely to recognize you in the future.

  • A Chance To Talk: Having the chance to talk to customers directly can be an excellent opportunity to spread your message. While this will take a lot of work, talking to the right people could ensure that the word spreads itself.

  • Launch Territory: Launching new products and services can often get lost on the web. Doing this at physical events will draw a much larger crowd, though, and you may even be able to get coverage from media companies in the process.

  • Making Money: Making sales is very common at physical events, with a lot of companies using this opportunity to bring along some of their merchandise to give to customers.

The Stand & Furniture

Once you’ve decided that you’ll be attending a physical event, it will be time to start working on your booth or stand. This needs to be easy to see from a distance, with the marquees and tents you use being printed with your branding for the world to soak up. You can find a supplier for this sort of resource by simply browsing the web. There are loads of companies on the market offering marketing tools like this, giving you the chance to get started with them right away.

Alongside this, you’re also going to need some furniture. Decorating a stand can be hard, and it’s worth thinking about the best ways to enable visitors to try out your products when they stop by. Having interactive areas at events like this can make booths far more popular. You need this stand to act as a strong representation of your brand, and giving visitors access to things that make them happy will make it easier to sell yourself to them in the future.

Your Team

Alongside the booth itself, it’s also worth thinking about the team you bring along to physical events. These people should be dressed in a way that properly reflects your brand. Even the most professional of businesses will use uniforms for this, often incorporating bright colors so that visitors can see them from across the floor. Having your team members look like they’re all part of the same group will make your business look more impressive, while also making it much easier for visitors to find someone to talk to.

Looking at the part will be important to this, but you also need to think about the work you’re doing to train your team. They should all have a good idea of what to say when they are asked certain questions, ensuring that visitors are given accurate information no matter who they speak to. You may also want to talk to them about how they treat customers, with trade show and other event guests expecting to be given the VIP treatment when they visit businesses. This has to be within reason, but it’s better to go over the top than to ignore this side of the event.

Your Freebies & Giveaways

Companies at events like tradeshows often find themselves competing with one another. Visitors will talk, and word will quickly spread when a booth is doing something that other companies have ignored. Freebies and giveaways form a significant part of this, with those who give away the best merchandise often being the most popular. You don’t have to spend very much money on this to make it successful, as there are loads of companies out there that can sell you bulk items with your branding included.

Mugs, memory sticks, and t-shirts are all common at events like this, though some companies will take it much further. If you want to draw massive crowds, holding competitions for more expensive items can be a great idea. You will only need to buy a couple of prizes to make this work, and this can make the whole thing just as cheap as buying a load of freebies to give out. You will need to advertise this sort of competition on social media, and it could be worth looking at what other companies have done in the past to make sure that you can make the whole thing fair.

The Results

The results you get from an event like this will be tied to your ability to plan and organize it well enough. Alongside this, though, you will also need a way to measure your success, but this is easier than you might expect. By giving out discount codes at your booth, you will be able to see exactly how many sales have come from the event, with visitors have the chance to save some money. This can be an excellent way to drive more sales.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on planning your own tradeshow or other events. It can be hard to make the most of something like this, though the more you visit, the easier it will be to make a positive impact.

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The Age of Touchless Customer Experience: 3 Steps to Bring Your Business Up to Date

7/3/2020

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The pandemic has changed how we experience many aspects of our lives, from the way we conduct business, to our personal relationships. Companies will be subjected to the most significant changes, and being ready for them after the lifting of travel restrictions can be essential to remain competitive. Indeed, while you might just be looking at welcoming returning employees, you should also understand what the customer journey was and how it has changed. Even after the curve has been flattened, clients and contractors might not be willing to indulge in human interactions. However, in this case, technology is our size. 
Leverage QR CodesQR codes, also known as Quick Response codes, are bi-dimensional bar codes that allow you to capture pieces of information from any media. QR codes can be found on websites, banners, labels, magazines, and booklets, and other channels. When scanned through your mobile phone, you won’t need to wait much longer than a couple of seconds to learn everything about a product, service, or company. 

Using a QR generator allows your company to acquire personalized codes that can be then transferred on the media channels you are already using. Therefore, clients won’t need to ask for information or spend time looking for more specific details anywhere else. QR codes have become increasingly more popular during the past years as the ideal search marketing strategy. However, today, they are taking on a whole other meaning that customers looking at having a touchless experience are appreciating.
Promote a New Delivery OptionThe human touch is what has made some industries as successful as they are today. For example, the hospitality industry has tried to launch several AI-led hotels, but travelers still appreciate the attention that a hotelier can supply. However, the human factor can also represent the highest risk for many companies, especially those that offer face-to-face services. While we are longing to return to normal, some strategies can help you ride the wave of innovations and start offering that much sought-after contactless experience. 

One of the first steps toward a more touchless business is offering delivery options and virtual services. This can limit the level of human interaction and the possibility of contagion while increasing your clients' trust. While some businesses might not make the most out of this strategy, you can start implementing it within your local community and analyze the results. In most cases, this is an excellent way to retain older customers and gain new ones, while other businesses don’t offer deliveries.
Virtual MeetingsWhether you have enjoyed working from home or not, this trend is not going to leave soon. Indeed, it has been predicted that many businesses will have to deal with this new reality for a long time. In terms of consultations and meetings with clients, things might stay as they are for a while. Therefore, investing in a virtual meeting app or software can help you save on budget and ensure privacy and security. 

Undoubtedly these changes will require you to level up your skills and understand better the opportunities that technological advancements are offering. However, the new touchless and contactless customer trend might remain in place for months, and it is paramount to keep the levels of trust clients have in your business high.

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Get Better In Business: Tips To Grow

7/2/2020

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Every business out there wants to grow. They want to pull in more money and make their business better by driving into their market more fully and having a bigger market share. It’s not easy. Especially at the moment when Covid-19 has changed the face of many industries out there. Things will continue to change too. Experts have predicted a global recession due to the economic fallout of coronavirus. It’s a tough time to exist in many industries, let alone grow a brand. But it can be done. So many businesses aren’t just succeeding at the moment, but thriving. These tips can set you on the right path but remember, every business is different and unique. What works for one won’t work for another, so take all advice carefully and make sure you apply them to your business in a bespoke way. 

Know Your Customers

How can you expect to grow if you don’t know your customers? Knowing your customers means you can change what you offer to ensure you sell more. It’s easier than you think too. There are lots of ways you can get to know customers. Feedback is a great one, and this user research guide can help you. The simple fact is that you need to follow trends to ensure you stay viable in the marketplace you operate in. It also depends on whether your business lends itself to the same customer coming back for more, or if it’s more of a once and done product. Either way, knowing your customers will help you grow properly and save you money.​
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Expand Into New Areas

A lot of businesses expand into different areas. For example, a business specialising in organising school trips, might branch into organising general holidays. This can help you through tough times as long as you do it right. The trick is knowing you’ll be a success before spending the money, it’s impossible. Try to look at similar businesses which have grown into success in a different area. If they can do it, you can. Research makes all the difference here, don’t spend the money before doing the research. Think about how you’re going to expand and when would be best to do it. A simple example would be expanding into the online marketplace, if you’re only on the high street.

Open Your Payment Methods

It sounds pretty basic, but you’ll get far more custom with more options. If you only take debit, expand to credit too. Make sure you use Apple and Android pay, because the ease of use attracts a lot of people. Also, there are lots of buy now pay later options at the moment, such as Klarna and other similar options. The ability to pay in installments makes a huge difference as it makes the item far more affordable and even appears cheaper. This is especially impactful if you sell items which are quite expensive such as TV’s, or computers. The benefit of using these companies is that they usually do all of the credit checks for you, so you know you’ll get paid.
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4 Ways To Remind Your Customers/Clients You're Still Around

7/1/2020

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Nobody anticipated the effect that coronavirus would have, especially on businesses. All businesses, from global giants like McDonalds to small local businesses, have suffered in some way. But as things start to shift towards a return to normality, it’s important that your business reconnects with clients and customers to help rejuvenate your business and help you return to profit.

With some effective marketing, you can help drum up some renewed interest in your business. Here are 4 ways to remind your customers or clients that you’re still around.
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1. Hit up your mailing list

Your mailing list is one of your business’ most powerful assets. If you can launch an amazing newsletter, then you can generate a lot of leads or sales for your business. Spend time crafting something eye-catching and worth reading - if you can include a ‘welcome back’ offer or another kind of promotion, it could give you the push your customers need to get in touch.

2. Use text messages to spread the word

Many businesses underestimate the value of using text messaging for their business. People have their phones to hand most of the time, and unlike an email which can take a long time to be read, a text will be seen straight away. You can use text messaging for businesses in a number of ways, including a short notification to let people know you’ve reopened, or to promote a special deal or offer. Affordable and simple, your business could enjoy several benefits that come with using text messages for business.

3. Create an attention-grabbing social media campaign

A social media campaign is always a good way to get attention. By planning a creative social media campaign, you can find ways of connecting with your existing followers, with the bonus of engaging with new ones too. Involve your followers in your plans - sharing content can go a long way towards helping your business spread the word on social.

4. Host an online event

Why not kick things off with a launch event? For businesses that might have closed for a while, some kind of event could be just what you need to explain any changes, introduce new products or services, or simply have a bit of fun. Live streaming can be a fun and exciting challenge for your business, and could be an easy and free way to connect with your audience. Many businesses have turned to live streaming during the pandemic, so if you’ve not been making the most of it, perhaps it’s time to start.

Whether your business has had to adapt or you’ve simply ceased trading for a while, it will be a great feeling when things start returning to normal. Keep your customers and clients up to date on your plans and find ways to bring them back on board. Help your business get back on its feet by reminding your customers or clients that you’re still here, and you’re ready for them when they need you.​
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5 Block Radius, LLC 
and Craig C. Powell
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