Four States Small Business Blog

Great branding is key in attracting clients, developing brand equity and fostering top-of-mind awareness. For small business owners, branding can be one of their biggest challenges. Attending a BrandsFormation workshop, however, can help businesses develop their brand and discover what sets them apart from the competition.

We live in a world where individuals crave convenience – especially when looking for services. And they often look to reviews for simple guidance that help them make smarter buying decisions. In fact, 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as recommendations from a friend or family member, while 73% of them have more trust in a local business with positive reviews. Negative reviews are just as impactful, as 94% of customers say an online review has convinced them to avoid a business.

Advertising jingles are short pieces of music that are associated with a specific brand, product, or company. The best ones are as memorable as good logos, and people can recall them for years - or even decades - after a campaign that features them. Coming up with a good one, however, can be hard for those who don't have the skills or practice to do it. To help with this challenge, we offer Jingle Workshops.

Shopping local provides far more benefits than a unique, personal experience. It supports the creation of local jobs, which in turn improves the local economy. It also helps promote a sense of community, as well as preserve the community itself. When customers shop local, they not only support the business, but also the people around it.

Today, we are highlighting one of the area's top local businesses: Henkle’s ACE Hardware. Even though ACE is a national brand, each branch is owned locally and provides all of the benefits of being a company that's right in town.

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 auto repair industry is currently thriving in the United States. The industry has grown by 2.6% over the past five years, reaching a revenue of $67 billion in 2018. This is primarily due to the average length of car ownership for new and used vehicles, which has increased 60% in the last 10 years - leading to more auto repairs. In addition, 75% of repairs and maintenance completed on vehicles is done at independent automotive shops, in comparison to 25% that is done at dealerships.

Urgent care clinics play a critical role in local communities. They allow individuals to receive quick access to care during hours that their family doctor may be unavailable or when they don't have time to make an appointment. Urgent care has helped reduce the strain on emergency rooms throughout the country and alleviate the high costs of healthcare for millions of American families.

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:

When it comes to legal marketing campaigns, leads are the driving force behind their success. Think about this - more leads usually mean more potential clients for your law firm. One way to reach a large pool of prospects is by using tools that have an expansive reach. That’s where radio comes in.