Most business owners are look to expand their business and most business owners know about TV and radio ads and how expensive those can be. Using the premise of sowing and reaping, you can expand your business exposure using simple methods.
Basically, you will give away something in exchange for their name and email address so that you can keep in touch with them. Normally it takes between 7-9 touch points or pieces of content to turn a prospect into a buying customer. Feed them often enough with valuable content and you will become an expert in their eyes and then they will purchase from you.
1. Local businesses wanting more customers in surrounding towns can add those town names to the keywords for their website. Even if your business is digital and you know you’ll be physically in a certain area for a specific period of time, you can use the same technique along with creating a blog post and email campaign to those in the target area to let them know that you would like to work with them during that time. This is very easy to do. Let’s say you are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You would simply to go Google and type in “cities within 50 miles of colorado springs” and you will receive several links with the surrounding cities and towns.
2. Reach out to radio stations and let them know you’re looking to expand or you’ll physically be in the area, let them know what you do and that you would like to speak on their station about a particular free offer that you have put together for their listeners. Let them know that you are available for interviews! Have their listeners sign up for a yummy piece of content that would be of great interest.
3. Create a “sizzle reel” for your website and put it on YouTube as well. You could feature your Signature Service and also mention that you are currently working to expand into a certain area. Direct people in the video back to your website to sign up to get your yummy offer.
4. Video of tips/tricks for YouTube and Facebook. Be you have a particular pet peeve about something in your industry, this is also a great way to educate your ideal client. Don’t be afraid to be controversial because that will get a conversation going and create more interest about your field.
5. Volunteer your services to local non-profit agencies and first responders. They are out in the public all the time and they are respectable citizens.
6. Be sure to claim your Google Places ad and utilize it to direct people to your website. Be sure to have your hours of operation on the ad along with your phone number so people can contact you. If you’re in a hard to find location, include a map or a link to Google maps so that they can just click and navigate to your front door.
7. Get out and network in the community by offering value added information at a free event. This could take the form of a teleseminar or webinar to really expand your global reach. At the free event, invite people to a discovery discussion where you could find out if you’re a fit to work together.