Anyone with a business can tell you, referrals can be the driving factor in keeping it afloat when the economy experiences declines. When many find themselves in an economic struggle, they also realize that this can hurt their favorite local businesses. When times are hard, you may find that it is your referral marketing consumers who will rush to help you stay above water. To gather these vital consumers, you will need to take some time to advertise. Here are a few helpful referral marketing ideas that any business can use.
Referral Marketing Ideas
Even if your business is geographically limited, the digital age has brought us nearly endless opportunities for advertising.
Make a Website – If you haven’t yet built one, make yourself a website. There are so many available formats online. Many of them are incredibly user-friendly and free. Even if you have one landing page with your businesses information, that is still better than nowhere at all. You should have all relevant business information displayed. Your business number and address included. This site will become the landing spot for all of your digital activities, so make it good. It will represent your business to viewers.
Links on YouTube Videos – Make sure that you always remember to leave a link to your business at the end of any videos uploaded. Not only will this benefit the original viewer who may already know what your message is, but those viewers that the original viewer shares with may be introduced to your business for the first time.
Instant or Private Messaging – Use those chat opportunities to promote your business. If and when possible, join chat services that are focused on your industry. Many of these types of chat services allow and encourage others to promote their own wares or services. Take the time to get register and make sure to fill out any and all profile information, most especially the areas that ask you for links. Put your website, YouTube, or blog links there as well.
Paid Advertising – This might be where capital gets serious, but dependent on your industry, it could be well worth the investment. Advertise on other people’s websites, post ads on online games. A good rule of thumb is to choose a percentage of your capital to invest and stick with it. Don’t forget about banner or search options either, those may be the best alternatives for your particular service or product. Ask an expert if you are really unsure, before you make any serious non-refundable investments.
Share Media – Aside from YouTube videos which do offer a platform that many already peruse, there are other forms of media that one can employ to generate referrals. Slideshows, mp3’s, tools, programs and even podcasts can be used to generate marketing referrals.
Take the time to explore the best digital options for your business. In doing so, you may run into even more options that were not more openly advertised. In fact, private promotional networks offer some fairly impressive tools and education to help you push your business forward into a new digital age.
