There is an incredible amount of emphasis put on digital marketing to improve your business productivity, but there is more to engaging the customers than what’s available on the Internet. Social media and marketing campaigns have their place, but you still need to focus efforts on the business itself. For those that have a brick-and-mortar location, there may be ways to boost the abilities of your company while connecting with customers and clients.
Elegance as a First Impression
Providing an air of sophistication and luxury can be a welcome first impression for guests into the establishment. This isn’t saying that you should go out and purchase gold-plated door knobs and the like. However, elegance can impress clients as witnessed by professionals such as Stephen Wynn. Offering class and style to his casinos, Wynn focuses on attracting visitors and making a grand first impression.
Attentive Staff
As soon as someone walks into the establishment, your staff should be immediately greeting that individual. No one wants to stand around and wait to be helped. Of course this is dependent on the kind of business you operate as larger retail stores may not need such immediate attention. However, it’s always best to help customers find what they need regardless of your business practices.
Non-Argumentative
Arguing with customers is a sign of unprofessionalism. Like the adage goes, “The customer is always right.” When your staff begin arguing over details with a customer, it bodes badly for the business. Thanks to social media, that customer can take to various sites and report on the behavior of the staff.
Clean Furniture
If a customer walks into your establishment, he or she needs to feel comfortable. If the leather chairs are ripped or feature duct tape repairs, it could give the wrong impression. Regardless of the business, clean and functional furniture delivers a professional atmosphere that is welcome to new customers.
Smells are Distracting
The smell of your establishment can play a prominent role in how customers perceive the business. While some outdoor-based smells may be difficult to disperse, your staff needs to do their best to reduce odors. Some businesses will constantly keep the establishment clean which provides the smell of cleaning supplies – a universal sign of a tidy business.
Minimize the Clutter
Too much clutter can be distracting to customers and may create an unwanted eyesore. This is more commonly experienced in smaller businesses. By keeping the area clean and clear of debris, customers feel more welcome and may be inclined to spend money on your products or services. Guests shouldn’t have to wade through parts and tools to speak with the receptionist.
Cheap Isn’t Always the Answer
Many owners will rely on the cheap replacements and services in order to save money in maintaining and operating the business. While this can be beneficial in some regards, sometimes it’s worth the extra money to have various things done correctly the first time. For example, constantly repairing a faulty air conditioner every year will cost you more money in the labor over time than you would have spent by merely buying a new replacement.
Marketing is only part of building success of your business. If you don’t have a comfortable atmosphere for customers or clients, it could be detrimental to future sales. If the business has a terrible reputation within the local community, the marketing expenses could be a waste of money. Focus inward in order to engage the customers directly.