Marketing

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Photos: The Key to Your Restaurant’s Online Success

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A few years ago phone manufacturers introduced a “food mode” function to their cameras. The fact that this came before the recently released “portrait mode”, designed for taking fantastic photos of people, shows us how much photos of food influence people’s dining decisions. But the use of the photos to market restaurants extends much further than just photos of food.

The Influence of Instagram

Instagram, the photo-centric social media platform, has steadily climbed to the top of the social media chart and has managed to hold that spot for quite a while. Its secret is no secret. Its secret is photos. This in itself is evidence that the image is a powerful influencer, so much so that many restaurants around the world cottoned onto this fact and started creating extremely photogenic dishes to attract customers, as well as utilizing certain design aspects of their locations to attract even more customers!

People Prefer Photos

Studies show that the optimum Facebook post is 80 characters long. That’s shorter than a tweet! This fortifies the fact that, in a world where we are constantly scrolling rather than reading, it is the visual, not the word which catches people’s attention. When potential guests are looking for somewhere to eat they’re first going to judge a restaurant on the images they find before they even read any menus, descriptions, or reviews.

Restaurant Online Success

Produce Professional Photos

Photos offer a way for a restaurant to present its location and its offerings in an appealing way to potential guests. Yes, they’re an influencer, and the average joe, out there posting photos of the food and design elements of a restaurant but it is often the restaurant’s own photos that people see and judge first. The fact that everyone else can pull out a camera and snap a picture should give restauranteurs and managers, even more, drive to provide high-quality images of both their food and their restaurant to the public in order to try and entice them through the door, rather than leaving it to the average photographer who takes a photo with their own opinion in mind.

Today, everyone has a camera in their pocket to capture whatever they wish, with many people snapping a photo and then immediately posting it. Images make up a huge percentage of marketing in today’s world, and the rapid rise of photo-centric apps like Instagram and Snapchat shows us that high-quality images are integral to the success of any business. Utilizing professional photography to market your business is one of the best things you can do to make your promotional material, website, and social media even more attractive to your customers.

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Friendly guys approaching happy girls at brewery pub outdoor on winter time - Friendship concept with young people having drunk fun together drinking beer at happy hour promotion - Vivid color filter
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3 Factors of Successful Restaurant Promotion

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Restaurants can no longer rely on just their regulars to keep their business afloat. Margins are getting thinner, and goods and staffing are becoming more expensive. It is therefore crucial that each promotional campaign run for your location delivers a return that far exceeds the original outlay. There’re three factors which contribute heavily to the success of a marketing campaign and getting these right means that you’ll be on the road to success!

Know Your Goal

Successful Restaurant

What is the goal of your promotion, is it press or profit? Of course, all promotions are targeted at increasing traffic and, thus, increasing profit; however, there’re two main methods of promoting. The first is by promoting a limited time offer (LTO) to draw in customers and get the profits right away. The second method is to promote your business and your offerings in a more general way and expect the profits to trickle in slowly over time as people return to your business for you being you. Use the method which fits your financial and business needs. Need cash fast or want to offload excess stock? Run an LTO. Want to remind your local community and visiting tourists that you’re still there? A more general advertisement is needed.

Know Your Target Market

Each promotion you produce is targeted at a specific market, these can be classified by age, gender, sports fans, whether or not you’re targeting new or existing customers, and many other things. Knowing your target market before restaurant website design Chicago for your promotional strategy is key to its success you advertise on buses, you may not hit too many young customers, however with a targeted boosted promotion on Instagram then you’re sure to hit the screens of many potential customers in your target market.

Accurate COGs

The cost of advertising needs to be carefully weighed against the returns you expect from your outlay on promotional materials. Sometimes this can be difficult to calculate but needs to be done in order to ensure that your marketing investment was worthwhile. If you’re running an LTO then it is essential that you work out the cost of goods for that offer. Some offers are ridiculously priced because they’re a tactic to get as many people in through the door as possible in the hope that they’ll return soon and pay full price. However, if you’re just looking to offload some products and create space in your storage area then carefully analyze your COGs for all items involved before committing to running the advertisement.

High quality, well presented, and well-directed marketing is necessary to help restaurants survive in today’s world of heavy competition. When restaurant web design Chicago is your next promotional campaign, begin by setting parameters for each of the three points above and you’ll find that everything else slots easily into place and that you’ll feel much more confident about having a successful campaign.

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8 Ways to Market Your Restaurant After COVID-19

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Restaurants have faced an extraordinary burden due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From having to close their doors and switch to takeout catering, to slowly reopening with reduced capacity, restaurateurs have faced unprecedented challenges. Although Illinois is now in Phase 4 of the COVID-19 recovery plan, which allows for restaurants to operate at 25 percent capacity, foot traffic is nonexistent and many diners are wary of returning to public places. Restaurant marketing has never been more important than it is now. Here’s what you can do to help your restaurant to attract new business and thrive despite the pandemic.

Keep customers informed. With so many states at different stages of social distancing, it’s hard for diners to know what businesses are open and when. Make sure all your social media profiles and website contain the latest information on your opening hours, services, and menus, and include the date you added that information so customers know it’s recent.

Inspire confidence. Many people are nervous about going out in public, so demonstrate what you’re doing to keep your staff and customers safe. Share your cleaning and social distancing protocols, take photos or videos of your outdoor seating areas, and broadcast the fact that you take safety seriously.

Share your ambitions. One of the positive outcomes of the coronavirus pandemic is the support the general public has shown to small local businesses. Capitalize on this by telling your story, and sharing your dreams and goals for your restaurant. Remind diners that when they choose your restaurant, they’re directly helping their local economy to survive.

Publish a recipe. Does your restaurant have one particular recipe that outsells the others? Or one dish that screams “signature?” If so, make it available on your website or social media for people to cook at home. It’ll give diners who miss your food a chance to remember how good it is—and how much better it tastes when you make it for them!

Plan to go viral. The first restaurant that used teddy bears to fill empty seats and enforce social distancing made national news, as did the string quartet that performed to an audience of 2300 potted plants. What fun way can you separate seating in your restaurant?

Ask employees for help. Chances are some of your staff are more active on social media than you’ll ever be, and between them they could have thousands of followers across all the major platforms. A behind-the-scenes TikTok video from a staff member might have more social impact than a dozen posts on your business Facebook page.

Speak to local influencers. Search for food bloggers in your area who are willing to post about your business. For the cost of a free lunch, you can reach local foodies who are craving what’s on your menu.

Diversify your business. Make your own bread, pasta, or sauces? Consider selling the elements of your menu, not just whole dishes. Rethink how to utilize your supplies and kitchen to keep your business afloat.

A report by OpenTable suggests a quarter of restaurants won’t reopen after COVID-19. Yours doesn’t have to be one of them. Be a success story with Allevi8 Marketing’s restaurant marketing ideas.

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9 Ways to Improve Your Business During the COVID19 Pandemic

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help with small business covid19

9 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS DURING THE COVID19 PANDEMIC

As the spread of the COVID19 pandemic continues and the hysteria grows, all of our small businesses are without a doubt taking a BIG hit. In Illinois Governor JB Pritzker ordered the closing of both restaurants and bars for the entire month of March. With social distancing increasing, we are trying to look on the bright side. Running a small business is very time consuming and many times we forget to work on the internal workings that help our businesses run. With some “quarantined” free time, here are nine ways to improve your business during the COVID19 pandemic. 

Improve Your Website. Have you been putting off that new web design? Do you have features you have wanted to add but don’t want the website downtime? Well, we have some downtime. There may not be a better time with business paused than now, to improve your company website. 

Add Automation. Marketing automation is one of the four most popular methods for creating personalized customer experiences. Even if it is something simple, like adding a chatbot to your website, automation will improve your business efficiencies as it continues to grow once the coronavirus is behind us. 

Content Creation. Freshen up your brand by redoing some of your marketing collateral. Here at Allevi8 Marketing, we are in the process of doing just that. Get rid of the old flyers, business cards, and brochures and bring in some designs to elevate your company image. 

SEO. 70-80% of search engine users are only focusing on the organic results and investing in search has never been more important. Building an SEO strategy and executing it takes time, discipline and strategic execution. 

Google My Business Page – A typical business receives 59 actions from their Google My Business listing each month. On average, 56% of actions on Google My Business listings are website visits which present a great opportunity to convert visitors into customers. Take some time and make sure you have a Google My Business Page and that it is fully functional. Google has implemented a lot of additions to the Google My Business platform recently. 

Get Reviews. Reviews are imperative in gaining customers in the digital age. There is no excuse now for not reaching out to those customers you have done such a great job with to ask for a review. And better yet, they don’t have an excuse for not leaving you a review! In times like these, we need to help each other out. 

Send Thank You Notes to Clients. A simple thank you goes a long way in appreciating your customers or clients. Get out the pen and paper and send a thank you the old fashion way. It’s a great way to maintain high customer retention rates and an even better way to make someone’s day that may be in need of hearing some appreciation during this pandemic. 

Start a Business Blog. Have you been wanting to add a blog section to your website? Get to typin’! A blog does wonders for your visitor engagement, visitor acquisition, and your website SEO. 

Learn & Grow. I don’t know how many times I find an excuse to not pick up a book or dive into some up and coming marketing tactics. During our quarantine, the LEAST we can do is learn and grow as individuals and as professionals. Take a look at some books on audible or dive down the YouTube rabbit hole for some industry-specific techniques you may need some refreshing on. 

As we weather and fight the storm that is the coronavirus, know that we are here to help you and your small business. We hope these nine ways to improve your business during the COVID19 pandemic have helped! If you need any assistance during this trying time. PLEASE, don’t hesitate to reach out. Everyone stay safe and please, quit hoarding the damn toilet paper. 

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Allevi8 Marketing is a small business marketing agency located on Chicago’s Southside. We create awesome websites and digital experiences for small to medium-sized businesses. Providing full branding and creative abilities to our clients, we help your business get more customers. At Allevi8 Marketing we provide a wide range of digital and traditional marketing solutions, we will help you grow your business. Contact us today for a free consultation and be where the world is going.

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10 Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs to Use Video

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The strongest vehicle you can use in 2018 to push your brand, increase sales and generate the highest return-on-investment (ROI) is video. Did you know that more than 500 million hours of videos are watched on YouTube each day? If you are failing to utilize video, your small business is missing out on a huge chunk of customers. Allevi8 Marketing provides 10 reasons why your small business needs to use video and how it can improve your bottom line.

Engagement. Vision is our most dominant sense. Most information transmitted to our brain is visual. Having video on your website, on YouTube and other social media channels will keep your visitors and followers much more engaged. Video posted to social media generates 1200% more shares than text and images. While, video attracts two to three times as many monthly visitors to your website.

Boost Revenue. Small businesses who use video grow revenue 49% faster than those that do not. Additionally, studies show that 74% of users who watched an explainer-video about a product subsequently bought it. Having a well put together video strategy that is well-executed will raise revenue undoubtedly.

Increased Credibility. Gaining a potential customer’s trust is a key ingredient to converting them to buying customers. 57% of consumers say that videos gave them more confidence to purchase online. Implementing video may be what you are missing for your small business to take the next step.

Live Video. The introduction and rise of live video on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has created another huge marketing platform for video. The number of people engaging with live videos has increased exponentially year over year. 1 in every 5 Facebook video is live and is watched 3 times longer than normal videos. Strategize a well thought out plan for how your small business can utilize live video in your marketing plan.

E-Mail Marketing. With e-mail marketing losing steam, a great way to boost your e-mail marketing campaign is to add video to it. E-mail that includes a video receives an increase click-through rate by 96%.

Messaging. Whether you’re launching a new product or explaining a difficult concept video offers the perfect platform to get your entire message across. The attentiveness of the prospect is much higher when it comes to video in comparison to text or images.

Mobile Video. We have discussed over and over again the importance of mobile marketing. Video and smartphones go hand in hand. 90% of consumers watch videos on their mobile phone. Produce a high-quality video that will provide strong resolution on all mobile devices.

SEO. As a small business owner, you should always be looking for ways to improve your presence on Google (Search Engine Optimization). You’re 53 times more likely show up first on Google if you have a video embedded on your website. Since Google now owns YouTube, there has been a significant increase on how much videos affect your search engine rank.

Augmented Reality. We have seen the beginning of this already with the latest animated emoji update for Apple’s iPhone X. Augmented Reality (AR/Virtual Reality) is coming to the masses and you should consider how your small business can stay ahead of the curve by implementing it into your video marketing campaign.

The New Google. In 2017, YouTube passed Google in searches with 42 million to Google’s 40 million. If you want to be present on the worlds biggest search engine your going to need to have some video content. Creating a YouTube Channel to push your small business is a must for your marketing campaign.

 

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Allevi8 Marketing is a small business marketing agency located on Chicago’s Southside. We create awesome websites and digital experiences for small to medium-sized businesses. Providing full branding and creative abilities to our clients, we help your business get more customers. From social media management to SEO to public relations, we will help you grow your business. Contact us today for a free consultation and be where the world is going.

 

 

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Artificial Intelligence and Your Small Business

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Technology is all around us. When you ask Siri or Alexa a question, you are using technology. Utilizing voice to text? Yes, another example of technology. When Pandora or Netflix recommend a song or TV show to you, technology. What you may fail to realize is that all three of these examples are also examples of Artificial Intelligence (A.I). Artifical Intelligence offers many solutions that can be beneficial to your small business.

Improve Efficiency. By utilizing automated programming to reorder supplies when they get low or taking advantage of voice services, you can improve your company’s efficiency. Making your small business more efficient will allow for higher productivity levels and increased margins.

Better Customer Service. Differentiating yourself from a competitor with superior customer service is one of the greatest powers a small business can use. Companies have been improving their customer support processes and customer experience through the use of chatbots. A chatbot is a  computer program designed to simulate a conversation with human users over the internet. 48% of consumers would rather connect with a company via live chat than any other means of contact. Chatbots are inexpensive and easy to implement to your website.

Superior Hiring. Has your small business been struggling to find the right candidate? Artifical intelligence will improve your hiring process. Being able to leverage the technology to filter in and out candidates based on your company’s culture profile and requirements is something AI can provide.

Streamline Training. Having employees who can do their job confidently and correctly is essential to a successful small business. You can implement A.I. that assists with the training of your team, and help improve forecasting.

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Allevi8 Marketing is a small business marketing agency located on Chicago’s Southside. We create awesome websites and digital experiences for small to medium-sized businesses. Providing full branding and creative abilities to our clients, we help your business get more customers. From social media management to SEO to public relations, we will help you grow your business. Contact us today for a free consultation and be where the world is going.

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8 Small Business Marketing Techniques to Use in 2018

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As 2017 exits and 2018 enters, it’s a great time to analyze your small business marketing strategy. Marketing is an industry that is constantly evolving and changing. Is your small business keeping up with the latest marketing trends and techniques? Allevi8 marketing provides you with 8 critical marketing techniques to use in 2018.

Be Mobile. The numbers do not lie. You must have an engaging mobile website in 2018. 80% of internet users own a smartphone. Over 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble accessing and 40% visit a competitor’s site instead. Mobile marketing must be a pillar of your 2018 marketing campaign and a mobile website is an absolute must.

Use Video. Did you know that in 2017 YouTube had two million more searches than Google? Video engages prospects much higher than text and images. Not only does it improve the experience on your website but it also improves your social media engagement.

Focus Socially. For the last five years businesses have been told, if you’re not on social media you’re losing customers. So, small business owners rush to create accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Linkedin and all the other platforms. Figure out which networks are most important to your business and spend time growing the followings and creating engaging content. On the flipside, consider dropping accounts that aren’t delivering lead generation and brand awareness.

Local SEO. As a small business, it is important to target local keywords with SEO techniques. A small business can’t afford the huge AdWord campaign like bigger companies can.  Invest some money in search engine optimization to get to that first page of Google. With another year in the books, more people are becoming tolerant to the AdWord listings and scrolling right down to the organic search results.

Advertise Digitally. If you’re not yet participating in digital advertising, 2018 is the year to do it. There are a variety of different options for digital advertising that can be executed on the smallest of budgets. Experiment with different platforms like Google AdWords, pay-per-click advertising, or social media advertising to see what works for your business.

Automate. Yes, personalization is a key component of delivering your message. But don’t become so consumed that you push out marketing automation altogether. Automation can make your life easier and help you leverage your time. Did you know that 92% of small businesses lose money every single month because they ignore marketing automation?

Be Emotional. Focus your messaging to really attack the human emotion. Millennials, especially, want to share and participate in feel-good campaigns. The more volatile emotionally your messaging is, the more likely it is to be shared on social media platforms.

A.I. is Here. The age of the robot is upon us, just kidding (sort of). Artificial intelligence is going to really play a huge role in business not only in 2018 but for years to come. 85% of customer interactions will be managed without a human by 2020. I know what your thinking. I own a small business, there’s no way I can afford something like that. But you can. We explain more about artificial intelligence for small business

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Allevi8 Marketing is a certified Google AdWords digital marketing agency that is Better Business Bureau accredited located on Chicago’s Southside. We create awesome websites and digital experiences for small to medium-sized businesses. Providing full branding and creative abilities to our clients, we help your business get more customers. From design to social media management to SEO to public relations, we will help you grow your business. Contact us today for a free consultation and be where the world is going.

Google Adwords Small business
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7 Benefits to Using Google AdWords

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Advertising has always been an ever-evolving industry, and Google AdWords took control at the turn of the last decade. Google AdWords is a PPC, pay-per-click, advertising model where you only pay when someone actually engages your advertisement with a click. It allows your advertisements to be posted to the top of each Google Search within the keywords you select for your campaign. Google has become the ultimate resource for prospective buyers. 81% of consumers conduct a Google Search before making a purchase. If you want your product at the top, Google AdWords offers many benefits to small business owners.

 

  • Reporting – The measurement ability of Google AdWords is second to none. In marketing, the ability to interpret data and adjust your model is absolutely key to any advertising campaign’s success. With AdWords you can see how many people garner an impression (see your ad) and click on your advertisement. Hopefully, your website is connected to Google Analytics. If so, you can find out even more about your visitors and how they engage with your website.

 

  • You pay for what you get.  When your small business decides to make a media buy it’s a huge expense. Whether it be newspaper, radio or TV you never really know what you’re paying for. With Google AdWords, you are only paying for those who decide to visit your website. This is a huge differentiator.

 

  • Targeting. With Google AdWords, you have the ability to target a specific location, a specific platform (mobile), language or demographic. This is something that alternative options cannot provide. Your ability to shoot an arrow at the bullseye, comparatively as to casting a wide net, is a huge advantage.

 

  • Google. Let’s face it. Google is the ultimate knowledge resource that all people trust to provide them with the information that they want and need. Putting your small business at the top of the most powerful knowledge provider is a HUGE asset.

 

  • SEO Struggle. Search engine optimization is a long process and expensive process (unless you go through Allevi8 Marketing) that sometimes your business can’t afford to endure. Google AdWords put you at the top of the first page without having to add content and backlinking.

 

  • Free Branding. 85% of consumer decisions are made subconsciously. Even if the prospect doesn’t click on your advertisement, they see it, and it doesn’t cost you anything.

 

  • Here to help. Allevi8 Marketing is a certified Google AdWords company that is here to help with the management of your advertising, creation of your advertising copy and advertising consulting.

 

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Allevi8 Marketing is a certified Google AdWords digital marketing agency that is Better Business Bureau accredited located on Chicago’s Southside. We create awesome websites and digital experiences for small to medium-sized businesses. Providing full branding and creative abilities to our clients, we help your business get more customers. From design to social media management to SEO to public relations, we will help you grow your business. Contact us today for a free consultation and be where the world is going.

Retail Marketing
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8 Marketing Tactics to Increase Retail Sales

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“We are in a retail apocalypse!”

“Amazon!”

“Millennials!”

These are a few of the excuses that you may hear from struggling retail stores that have seen their sales slide year over year.  Are these excuses legitimate? Maybe. As of September 2017, there have been over 5,300 major store closing announcements, which is triple the amount during the same period last year. But, maybe not. We have seen major retail brands like TJ-Maxx, Aldi, Ulta, Target and Ross all announce major expansion plans. In June, Warren Buffett announced a 377 million dollar stake in REIT Store Capital Corp, a huge signal that one of the world’s greatest investors believes retail is worth betting on. If your retail business is struggling you may need to analyze your marketing strategies and reevaluate the ways you are trying to generate sales. Today, we provide you with eight marketing tactics to increase your brick and mortar retail sales in the digital age.

Website – Not having a website in 2017 as a business is inexcusable, especially for a retail store. Make sure you have an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) ready website that is mobile friendly and is visually appealing. A website will give your business credibility and provide customers with the information necessary for building their awareness.

E-Commerce – Having a brick and mortar store doesn’t mean you can’t sell products online as well. Look at major retailers like Wal-Mart and Walgreens who have invested millions upon millions in their e-commerce platforms. Offering sales online will not only give you an additional storefront but will allow prospective customers an inside peek of your store’s current inventory.

“Especially as a local retailer, think of the value you can get from a website AND e-commerce site. Help get rid of stale inventory and extend your sales and brand beyond your four walls. Most importantly, you want to be where your customers are – and that is not always where you are,”  says Terrand Smith, CEO, and Founder at 37 Oaks Retail Consulting.

Branding –  Have you considered a brand makeover? Every business must evolve their brand as time goes on. Redesigning a logo, adding fresh signage or redoing a product’s packaging can go a long way in increasing your revenue.

“Branding is one of the tactics that often gets underestimated. There is so much competition out there that it’s important to not only be clear as to how you are different, but to clearly communicate it. Customers have so many options, you want the buck to stop with you,” continues Ms. Smith.

E-Mail Marketing – Make sure you are capturing e-mails from all customers that shop in your store. Collecting an e-mail database and reaching out to previous customers offers a huge ROI.

Social Media – This is another no-brainer in 2017. Make sure your business is active and creative through social media. Have a Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at the very least. Even on a micro-budget, you should commit an amount to advertising on your social channels. At just $5 a day, you can see a good, consistent return over time.

Local SEO – 81 percent of people conduct a google search before buying something. Your business needs to be visible on Google’s first page for local keywords. For example, if you’re a bakery on Chicago’s South Side, you would want to make sure you are targeting keywords like “best bagels in Chicago” or “Southside Chicago Bakery.” Local SEO campaigns can help big time in driving traffic into your brick and mortar location.

Google Verified Business – By far the easiest to accomplish on the list, have a google verified business. Google will send a postcard to your location to validate the authenticity of your store’s location. This will help with your SEO, reputation, and credibility. It’s completely free and only a few clicks away. Here is how you begin the process.

SMS Marketing – Utilizing an SMS marketing campaign can really help improve your sales. SMS Marketing allows you to send a text message to prospective customers offering them special promotions or informing them of your in-store happenings. Coupons delivered via SMS have redemption rates 10 times higher than those of printed coupons and should only continue to grow.

If you’re not utilizing any of these marketing tactics, it’s not too late! In business, sometimes you must pivot and adapt to survive. Applying these digital strategies will definitely help those declining sales, and we are ready to help. We are experts in each tactic and would love to hear how we could help you grow your business.

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Allevi8 Marketing is a digital marketing agency located on Chicago’s Southside. We create awesome websites and digital experiences for small to medium sized businesses. Providing full branding and creative abilities to our clients, we help your business get more customers. From social media management to SEO to public relations, we will help you grow your business. Contact us today for a free consultation and be where the world is going.

 

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