Small business marketing isn’t about you. It’s about your customer. It’s about knowing who they are and what matters to them, which then enables you to build authentic relationships and anticipate their needs.
Many small businesses naturally take this approach in interacting with their customers, but not everyone takes a customer-first marketing approach.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when building a customer-first marketing strategy.
Know your customer
Knowing your audience is always our first recommendation for any small business or small nonprofit. What matters to them? What problems or pain do they have that you can help solve? What do customers say about your product/service? Reviewing their feedback can help you better understand them and put yourself in their shoes.
Know where to find them
Once you have an idea of who your audience is, the next step is identifying where to find them – and that doesn’t just mean where to find them online. Yes, knowing what social media platforms they’re on is helpful. But a customer-first marketing approach also means knowing where they show up in real life. Are they attending networking events? Are they on the sidelines at your kid’s soccer game on Saturday morning?
Be authentic about it
Customer-first marketing should come naturally to businesses and nonprofits whose mission focuses on helping/serving other people. Yes, businesses need to make money, but for most small businesses, it’s helping other people that drives their action. Be authentic in how you show up for your customers and talk about their needs/wants and how you can help.
Prioritize engagement
Another way to show up authentically is through how you connect with your audience, both online and off. Communication is key, and engagement is critical with a customer-first marketing strategy. People love doing business with people that they know, like, and trust. How are you connecting with your customers and building that trust?
If your business is already focused on serving your customer well, the shift to a customer-first marketing approach may be a subtle one, but it can still be a powerful opportunity to build deeper customer relationships and loyalty.
Need help implementing a customer-first marketing strategy? Schedule an intro call and let’s work together on developing the right strategy for you.