Pet Shops Business Marketing Tip

In the realm of pet shops business marketing (or the marketing of any business, for that matter) consistency is critical.

Here are some important tips for staying on the right track.

Proper Pet Shops Business Marketing is an Ongoing Process

Many businesses employ blitz business marketing tactics (guerrilla advertising and/or frantic e-mail blasts, for example) only when times are tough and they need a boost. But these should be in motion each and every day.

Thus, pet shops must devise a specific business marketing plan and strategies, and stick with these at all times.

For one, it’s a good idea to design an effective business marketing plan that specifically defines both long and short-term goals.

As for long-term goals, you may want to figure out ways to bring more traffic into your store; analyze the competition and discern how you may fill certain voids in your particular market; determine how you will advertise and promote your business on an ongoing basis; examine and revamp your operating budget; and figure out how to grow and improve your inventory and/or services as these pertain to the specific needs and demands of your customers.

It's further advisable to regularly peruse pet industry Web sites (such as Pet Products News International) and pet business trade magazines.

One should also make it a point to attend pet industry trade shows whenever possible. Not only will you learn about the latest products and services, these shows also offer endless networking opportunities. Consistent networking is another important component to successful pet shops business marketing.

Devise Short-Term Business Marketing Goals

These are goals you set to be tackled on a daily basis, such as:

• Updating your social media pages
• Adding new posts to your blog
• Answering your phone in a consistently polite, cheerful manner
• Promptly responding to e-mails, tweets, Facebook and blog comments
• Working on your e-newsletter

Speaking of the latter, it’s important to get those out consistently; you should set a schedule and stick with it.

I also think it’s best for each and every e-newsletter to contain some kind of coupon and/or discount as an added incentive for customers to read the newsletters, and to subsequently visit your business on a regular basis.

As for your social media pages and blog, don’t just use these to hawk your wares. Instead, try to come up with interesting general pet news and tidbits, and ways to engage your customers on an ongoing basis.

(I will cover this in-depth in an upcoming article. So stay tuned.)

Furthermore, every pet shop should have a memorable logo, and this should be on each and every business correspondence.

The Pet Shops Business Marketing Golden Rule!

The one area in which you must be devoutly consistent is customer service. As I have repeatedly pointed out, this alone is worth its weight in gold.

As such…

Treating Customers like Family is Great for Pet Shops Business Marketing

I recently read an article (I don’t remember where) stating that people in retail businesses should treat their customers like they are dating!

I think that’s a bit silly. However, treating customers like family is an excellent idea.

This is the approach taken by my friend and colleague, Brandon Forder, whose family owns the respected Canadian Pet Connection pet shops in Ontario, Canada.

For example, Brandon, his dad/partner, Lorne, and their employees make it a point to get to know each customer and their pets (including remembering their names); they consistently respond to messages and tweets on their social media pages; they send their clients personalized e-mail newsletters for certain holidays; and generally lavish their customers with personal attention.

This business marketing strategy is not only brilliant in its simplicity, it doesn’t cost a dime!

Relationships are the Key Ingredients to Successful Business Marketing

It’s crucial to establish and consistently maintain good relationships across the board, not just with your customers.

It’s important to be on good terms with your suppliers; distributors; salespeople; people in the media; pet shelters and animal rescue groups; veterinarians; others in your general business community (they, too, are often pet parents); community groups; and even other pet retailers.

Be a good colleague, friend, neighbor and an asset to your community overall at all times.

The bottom line is: you are not just selling products and services; you are selling yourself. If you consistently do a good job of this in each and every aspect of your daily life, this is the best business marketing strategy of all!