The ‘Face’ Of Small Businesses Today
Yesterday I got a chance to have lunch with the publisher of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and I discovered we both were products of family owned small businesses just like yours. We talked about how it shaped our work ethic and was/is the foundation of the values we have today. We reminisced about how the business was the “heart” of the community, in my case it was located on the main street running right through the middle of town. It offered the community a service that was unrivaled, given that it was the only business around that you could get what it offered. There was no competition, had a loyal customer base without needing any advertising, marketing, or promotion. The hours of operation were at our convenience, and the operation policies benefited us. We could do this because..well…there were no other options.
Today, that is almost un heard of. Thanks to the Amazons, Walmarts and PeaPod.coms, consumers have limitless possibilities—which ultimately changed how people like my dad did business. Now everyone is competing with the faceless “big guys” regardless of location. The Web has brought the world to our front doors and as I have pointed out in previous writing, it is no longer about what local businesses want, it is what the consumer wants. The small businesses that take full advantage of available technology will ensure that they keep up and even surpass their competition.
Some local businesses ignore digital marketing because they believe it was only for larger companies. That is simply not true in the digital age. Digital marketing opportunities like email, social media, and online advertising are affordable and easy to start. And State Street Digital can give your business the edge in attracting and keeping customers. Your competitors are taking advantage of it, and so should you!
