We all know that the economic landscape remains challenging. There’s no magic wand or short term solution to change that, and many business owners feel that they’ve explored all the options and tried all they can think of to put themselves in the best possible position. 

We’ve got 15 suggestions for you to consider that might add up to improve matters. 

1 Set up a Referral Program

Encourage existing customers to refer friends and family by offering incentives such as rewards or discounts. Referral programs draw on the power of word-of-mouth marketing, which can be highly effective and cost-efficient.

2 Offer Add-on products or services

What complementary products or services align with your existing offerings, or items your customers have already bought from you? By pointing out add-ons, you can increase the average transaction value and make your customers feel appreciated and looked after. From your perspective, it’s easier to sell again to a previous customer than to find a brand new one who doesn’t know (or trust) you. 

3 Optimise your pricing

Review your pricing structure and think about things like bundle pricing, volume discounts, or dynamic pricing to maximize revenue. If you experiment with different pricing strategies you may find one that has a significant impression on your business, or a combination that works for you. Even a small increase will help to cover increased costs you’re being charged,  and could revitalise your bottom line. 

4 Joint ventures with complementary businesses

What businesses could you collaborate with that offers products or services that complements yours? Finding an opportunity for cross-promotion allows you to tap into each other’s customer bases, expanding your reach and potentially increasing sales. You don’t have to give away your customer list to make this work either; you can protect your list at the same time as providing credibility to each other’s service or product offer. The key is the complementary nature of the products, and the similarity of the customer base.

5 Enhance loyalty programmes

If you already have a customer loyalty program in place, are there ways to make it more enticing and engaging? Offer exclusive upgrades (which can avoid giving away a chunk of your profit margin), VIP access, or personalised rewards to encourage repeat purchases and long-term loyalty.

6 Upsell and Cross-sell

Train your team to think like a salesperson, whether they have that title or not, and effectively upsell or cross-sell relevant products or services when they’re speaking to customers. (Think about MacDonalds standard question ‘Do you want fries with that?’) This can increase your revenue per customer simply through education and offering the option. 

7 Focus on Customer Retention

Acquiring new customers can be costly, so think about strategies to retain your existing customer base. Provide exceptional customer service, personalise interactions wherever you can, and constantly review your processes to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Subscription models can be really powerful here, reminding customers that they need you!

8 Optimise your website for conversions

Improve your website’s design, navigation, and checkout process to enhance the user experience and increase conversion rates as appropriate. Clear call-to-action buttons and simplified forms can minimise friction and encourage visitors to take desired actions. Speak to your web developer about the updates you’ve missed; they should be the experts here, so use their expertise, and if they can’t suggest anything, find one who wants to help you and is proactive.

9 Leverage user-generated content

Encourage customers to share their experiences with your product or service through testimonials, reviews, or social media posts. This ‘user-generated content’ builds trust and social proof, attracting new customers and driving conversions. Use testimonials and reviews across different platforms and all of your marketing, but ensure too that you’re watching and responding quickly to any negative comments, and acknowledging the positive promptly.

10 Implement Email Marketing campaigns

Develop targeted email campaigns to nurture leads, engage customers, and promote new products or offers. Personalise your emails and segment your audience to increase open rates and click-through rates. Making your customers feel that you’re talking only to them is really powerful.

11 Optimise your online presence

Ensure your business is listed accurately on online directories, review platforms, and appropriate social media channels. Monitor and respond to messages promptly and engage with your online community to build credibility and attract new customers. Be sure your posts are appropriate to each channel’s demographic and don’t be afraid to choose your preferred option, rather than trying to be present across too many.

12 Collaborate with Influencers

Identify influencers or micro-influencers in your niche who have a relevant audience and consider partnering with them to promote your products or services. Influencer marketing can generate buzz and drive sales, especially within niche communities, but be careful to partner with those that will resonate with your target market. We usually think online for influencers these days, but what other spheres of influence are there you could utilise?

13 Explore alternative sales channels

Consider selling your products or services through online marketplaces, pop-up shops, seasonal or niche exhibitions or local events. These additional sales channels can expose your business to new audiences and boost revenue, as long as the costs aren’t prohibitive. These will require you to do some homework first, so take the time to prepare, to plan any follow-up that may be necessary and to handle any sudden rush of sales.

14 Optimise your stock management

Review your stock levels and sales data to identify your most popular products and eliminate slow-moving items as far as you can. Efficient stock management minimises carrying costs, reduces waste, and maximises profits. Many businesses went through this process as we came out of the Pandemic but haven’t been back to it since. Markets have shifted dramatically in that time, and it’s definitely time to repeat the exercise if you haven’t already.

15 Offer educational or value added content

Share your expertise and provide valuable content through blog posts, videos, webinars or social posts or white papers. This positions your business as a thought leader and builds trust with your target audience, potentially driving conversions and customer loyalty. The book ‘They Ask, You Answer’ will take you through this process in a very structured and logical way, and explains the power behind openly sharing information around your industry as well as your own business.

Not all of these suggestions will be relevant to every business, but hopefully some will be helpful! If you’d like to talk about any of them in more detail, or how they may apply to your business, please get in touch.