Let’s face it. Small businesses are at a major advantage when it comes to early adoption of new media platforms for marketing and customer service.
You are more nimble and less bureaucratic, which means you can get things done without committees and over-analysis. Once you decide that these new tools are about serving your customers, you can dive in and get started doing just that.
Geolocation is new now like Twitter was more than three years ago. Early adopters, especially those in business, will be at a major advantage when the bandwagoning masses climb aboard.
Getting started now means that you will have a foothold established with your audience. Your brand will be established. Customers will know what service you provide, how well you provide it, and what you do better than your competition.
You will have identified your geolocation superusers, and will have outsourced your word-of-mouth marketing to them.
Now is the time to start growing your business with geolocation.
Here are a few quick points to keep in mind as you get started:
Identify Incentives
Identify what you will offer over social networks that will generate appreciation and awareness. I’ve written about free tacos.
Identify Superusers
Talk to them. Bring them in. Reward them. These are the people who will do your word-of-mouth marketing online and on the streets.
Establish On-location Signage
Signal to your customers that there are incentives to participate online, whether within your geosocial networks or other networks like Facebook and Twitter.
Cross Pollinate
Tell your onsite customers about your geolocation incentives. Find ways to bring online customers into your shop. All your marketing is interrelated.
Verify
How do you appear in services like Foursquare, Gowalla, and Google Latitude? Correct wrong information.
Measure. Analyze. Tweak.
How are you doing? Are you meeting your objectives? Everything is a moving target. Adjust your strategies as necessary.
Got questions? Let’s chat in the comments.
Related posts:
- Four steps to growing your business using Foursquare
- Foursquare for business and marketing: Use this video to educate your customers, staff and clients
- Google testing geolocation marketing
- Make your business Foursquare-friendly in just a few minutes
- Geolocation marketing: Foursquare makes it easier for small business owners
