neon for Retail
|
 This is a special category for neons. According to BIGresearch report (June 2006), 87% customers research for price and information online, then go to a local store to buy.
Use a neon to post special or popular items, and to send to your database very frequently for discounts and promotions.
|
 Web site - general info & design |
|
Tips:
- You may have lots of items in your store. Make sure to post as many items as you can (increasing visibility on the popular search engines). Post a few each day to make the job less daunting.
- Use photos if you have them
- Focus on products and prices (that's what most customers want)
|
 Action content - detailed offerings & customer actions |
|
Tips:
- List each product as a separate item (very important for search engines)
- Consider use of coupons and regular sale prices
- Make sure to post unique items. If they are picked up by a search engine, it will push more web visitors to your neon site.
|
 Email marketing - top-of-mind awareness |
|
Tips:
- Collect email addresses by passing out feedback form, or simply ask your past customers for their email address so that you can send them tips, updates ...
- Use neon to send out regular emails. Talk about sales, specials, or new items.
- In these emails, don't forget to remind them to send you referrals. One way to do that is to ask them to forward your tips or coupons to their friends and family.
|
 Networking - customers trust referrals more |
|
Chances are, you already network with other business owners to get referrals. Many of your customers could be business owners and refer their customers to you. Let's take this networking online.
- Find a business you like, and recommend them (use neon tools)
- We'll notify them and ask them to reciprocate
- Their nice notes automatically become testimonials on your site (important to customers)
- Link to your neon becomes visible on their neons (unless they choose to block it)
|
|
|
Tips:
- Networking with other businesses. (It would help if they have a neon.) When you make recommendations of businesses you like, chances are they will reciprocate and you get the extra exposure on their sites. Also, customers will find your neon more useful, a place to get your personal recommendations for other services.
- Print your neon URL on your business cards, flyers, classified ads, etc. You might want to get your own domain name (for example: www.yourcompanyname.com) and forward it to the neon URL.
- Expect your customers will forward your promotional emails to their friends. So design your campaign thoughtfully.
- Use the popular community sites to promote your neon(s), such as craigslist, facebook, myspace, forums ...
|
 |