Marketing Consistency

If variety is the spice of life, consistency is the kitchen

We all have daily routines, those inescapable, repetitive, but at times enjoyable tasks we have to complete on a regular basis.

Travel by public transportation, any number of shops to pick up home or office supplies, stopping by a coffee shop for our daily drink, and a cafe for a meal or to complete some work.

Imagine being able to utilize these various stops and interactions to promote yourself, products, or services. Through consistent patronage, businesses you regularly frequent will be more likely to reciprocate provided they know who you are and what you’re selling.

In my experience it’s best to focus on independents versus national chains, you’re more likely to encounter and interact with managers or owners of such properties, establishing a connection with decision makers.

Find businesses which you would be more than happy to promote, places with superior products or services you’re frequenting anyway.

Typically, I would evaluate a few similar businesses, and upon settling on one which fits this description, shop there consistently until I’m a familiar enough face making introduction and engagement easy.

Introduction

Most cafes see hundreds of people daily, unless you have introduced and reintroduced yourself, you may be just another face. Show a genuine interest in the business, it’s staff, greet and regularly engage in conversation.

Go from a simple, “hello, how are you?”, to “what’s the craziest, or most interesting thing you’ve seen today?”. Specific questions lead to real conversation, not the quick, dismissive niceties.

Here’s where consistency comes in, by showing up daily, you become familiar to staff, asking questions, knowing and greeting them by name, will almost certainly motivate them to know and remember yours.

No one wants to feel like an ass, if you’re coming into my shop daily, greeting me by name, you best believe I’ll get to know and remember yours and reciprocate.

This will all transition you into deeper conversations and begin discussing important details; do they enjoy working there, how’s business going, what are their thoughts on the location, are they thinking of expanding, etc.

Being on a first name basis with one staff member can lead to other introductions, and pretty soon, you’re speaking to managers, even owners.

What Can I Do for You?

Almost all businesses have a website and social media presence, as I’m sure you do. After introducing yourself and getting to know the staff, offer to help promote their business or products.

Share pictures, comment and engage with their social media accounts, tell others what you like, post positive reviews on various platforms, all this will be welcomed and appreciated. Make it known to staff and management you’re planning on creating such posts and follow through.

The more skilled you are in terms of social media marketing or website design, the more you can add and offer insight on reaching a wider audience.

What Can We Do for You?

For freelancers, writers, bloggers, or anyone in the web design and marketing space, now would be an ideal time to offer these services.

As someone who regularly visits this business, having engaged with their web presence, ask to speak and sit down with a decision maker. Now, you’re not just a random person asking them to pay you for a service, but someone who has shown you care, and can genuinely provide value.

There are no shortage of online resources where you can showcase their business as well as your design skills free of charge, this would be an ideal, no cost approach showcasing your talent.

Among the many services you can offer, one may include writing an article on the business; what’s their experience been like with Covid19, what do they need from the community, how can everyone ensure they remain operational, maybe highlight some of their best product, etc.

Perhaps you are not in the marketing or freelance space and sell books or other products. You can still create a mutually beneficial arrangement asking this business to showcase your work, either in store or online.

Everyone Wins

Whether this interaction creates a business opportunity for you or not, at minimum it made an introduction, highlighting your line of work to a new set of potential clients.

Building relationships is key to growing any business and consistency, in everything from practicing your craft, to patronage, makes all the difference.