The idea of starting a new small business in a big city can be overwhelming, especially in major cities like New York and Los Angeles, but also in other cities like Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. It can be harder to stand out when there is so much competition concentrated in one area— but it’s not impossible. Here are five tips on how you can make your business stand out in a big city.
#1: Offer Good Customer Service
The majority of people are willing to pay more for great customer service, and they’re even more likely to choose your business over your competitors if you offer both great customer service and lower prices. People tend to go wherever they feel that their business is appreciated, so make sure that you provide this experience for your customers.
Also, keep in mind that word of good customer service travels quickly, so your satisfied customers will tell their friends and family about your business. But the opposite is also true: word of bad customer service also travels quickly— if not quicker— and this can cause you to lose business.
#2: Establish an Online Presence
Being a small business in a big city can work to your advantage, especially when you leverage the power of the internet. People love to travel to big cities for all of the popular attractions, but they also like to visit small businesses that can give them a feel of what life in that city is like. To attract tourists to your city and your business, you’ll need to establish an online presence, and this is done by creating a business website and being active on social media.
Even if you don’t offer products for sale online, you should still have a business website that lets your visitors know what it is you’re selling. Your business website should also include pictures of your product and your business’s physical address, email address, phone number, and social media handles. Using social media platforms allows more people to become aware of your business, so when they’re searching for something to do in your city your business is more likely to come up.
#3: Get Active in Your Community
Engaging in community events is a great way to stand out from your competition. The people right there in your city are your main audience, so what better way to stand out than to get to know them? Participate in local events or host one of your own!
#4: Consider Contests, Promotions, and Sales
One thing that’s clear about all customers is that they love getting a good deal, whether it’s a discount or a free item. With that being said, consider running sales and promotions as a way to catch the attention of your audience. Of course, every other business across all industries will be doing the same, but you can stand out by running “odd” promotions and sales. For example, in addition to running the usual Black Friday and Christmas sales, consider running sales on National Cookie Day or National Hat Day, or whichever national day makes the most sense for your business.
Also, consider running contests and giveaways on your social media pages and in person— just make it clear on your social media that participants must be able to claim their prize in-store if you can’t mail it to them. Likely, larger businesses in your area aren’t running these types of promotions, so this will certainly make your business stand out.
#5: Create a Compelling Brand Story
Finally, you’ll want to ensure your business has a compelling story, making it a business that your customers know they can trust. Make your core values known to the public by creating a mission statement and/or by demonstrating these values through all of your actions.
Also, let your customers know that what’s important to them is also important to you, whether it’s protecting the environment or supporting a particular cause. Overall, customers want to know that doing business with you is safe and that their personal information will be guarded, and having a managed security services provider can do that. Your business must be well-protected against potential cyber attacks.
Overall, your customers will want to know that you’re providing a good product, that you care, and that you’re not trying to rip them off in any way. Gaining the trust of the public is the best way to make your company stand out among the competition.
