Four States Small Business Blog

In the face of various challenges, like increased competition, declining reimbursement and insurance changes, private practices need new and effective marketing techniques to maintain a steady flow of patients.

Foot traffic is essential to running a brick-and-mortar business, as more traffic opens up more opportunities for sales and customer engagement. This, in turn, leads to higher revenues.

Building brand awareness is key to promoting your business. It refers to the extent to which customers can recall or recognize a brand, and it can have a positive impact on your marketing efforts, consumer perception and revenue. For this reason, most businesses rely on brand awareness campaigns to increase their visibility.

TV and radio advertising have been two of the most consistent mediums for reaching consumers. For years, they were the only two methods for getting the word out to target audiences, delivering branded messages and promotions. However, the emergence of other channels - specifically digital - has given advertisers more options for reaching their audience. Interestingly enough, while TV watching is declining, radio listening remains strong.

Did you know that only 2% of website traffic converts on the first visit? Retargeting can effectively help local businesses re-engage potential customers that visited their website but did not take action. And… it works. Retargeting can result in a 147% increase in average conversion rates when properly integrated. Additionally, retargeting has been found to increase branded search results by at least 500%.

It’s no secret that many auto shops have trouble attracting women to their business. And although they also need car maintenance, you’ll find that not too many shops really cater to women on their level. Done right, marketing to women can create a huge opportunity for auto repair shops, as 85% of people bringing in their vehicles to be serviced is women. Here are 4 strategies auto shop owners can use to better market to women:

Non-profit organizations are committed to serving and improving the local community, but marketing is often a major challenge. To help support their missions, the Zimmer Cares program gives $50,000 of free radio advertising to a select number of non-profit organizations each quarter that were selected by Four States listeners. This allows the organizations, which often struggle to get their message out, to benefit from the power of the radio group's reach and advertising skill. Such a boost can result in a significant increase in donations for the charity, and therefore, to the good that it can do in the community.

Tractor supply businesses can be a targeted market, so it can be difficult to reach the right customers without wasting money on market segments that have no interest in these products. This is a common marketing challenge, and it can hinder your ability to get the attention of those who would be eager to buy.

Fortunately, digital marketing options can help solve this problem quite effectively. They allow for the advanced targeting needed to bring about the maximum possible ROI (return on investment) from marketing campaigns. These methods also make use of today's most popular online tools and channels, such as social media, online search, and digital promotions. They can be combined with broader options, like radio advertising, for even greater impact.

The temperature has dipped, the mittens have emerged from storage, and the rush of business has dwindled considerably. Winter can feel particularly chilly for a seasonal business that relies on warmer weather. While lawn care may seem to be tied to those higher temperatures by default, smart lawn care marketing ensures that your brand is the first one that "springs" to mind once the thaw rolls around. Here's how to keep your leads warm no matter how cold it gets outside:

In all but the warmest climates, roofing jobs are typically done during the spring and summer months. This is partly due to customer demand, but it is also because it's much harder to do the work in colder temperatures or when the roof is covered with snow, for example. Because of these things, business for roofers tend to lag during the winter, and it is often tempting to stop marketing during this off-season. However, it is a mistake to do this. People look for roofers all year round, and often decide who to call long before they actually pick up their phones.