Join Us to Learn Why Customer Experience Disrupts Marketing

Come out to Cafe Helios on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. for the latest installment of the Carolina Innovators & Design Thinkers meetup, featuring marketing innovators Sarah Wechsberg and Steven Keith, founders of customer experience firm CXPilots. The two speakers will share insights on the new frontier in marketing – customer experience.

Learn why Why 92% of CMO's are moving budget from advertising-based marketing to customer experience in September's meetup

Learn why Why 92% of CMO’s are moving budget from advertising-based marketing to customer experience in September’s meetup

The new frontier of marketing is all about knowing your customer and serving them better because of it. These two customer experience advisers will share the top three tenets of modern customer experience and how you can apply these insights.

RSVP on Meetup.com to join us – and many thanks to Glenwood South’s Cafe Helios for serving as this month’s venue and food sponsor!

RMG Client Recognized for Social Media Success

We love seeing our clients recognized for their industry-leading work efforts in marketing and social media are so honored to be involved in their efforts!

Hillman Real Estate Group featured for best practices for social media marketing for real estate agents

Hillman Real Estate Group featured for best practices for social media marketing for real estate agents

Check out Hillman Real Estate Group’s blog post, “Hillman Real Estate Group Featured on Industry Best Practices Blog“, for more details on their recent industry recognition for their proven results with social media marketing on Facebook and the tactics that Placester.com say prove that Hillman Real Estate Group’s Facebook page us an “undeniable success“.

Luxury Daily Features Positive Outlook for “Main Street” Retailers

Typically it’s the big names in luxury featured in Luxury Daily’s articles, but in a piece by Pam Danizeger, the online trade news site shares positive vibes for small retail and service providers in light of the decline of the traditional mall shopper:

“Today, the sameness and ubiquity of the big-box store experience is beginning to show fatigue. Walk through any of the nation’s 1,000 or so enclosed malls and you might notice they all look much the same.

Filled with the same stores offering the same merchandise at the same sale price, it is too much of the same thing. Consumers are beginning to look for something new and different and finding it on Main Street, not in the malls.

..

Specifically, demographic shifts, with both aging Baby Boomers and young millennials looking for a more personal shopping experience, as well as heightened expectations from affluent consumers, will favor the special services and products that only local small businesses can provide.”

Read the full article, Nation’s highest-potential shoppers are turning away from the mall, at LuxuryDaily.com for more insight into this retailing trend.

Is your small retail or service-based business poised to offer an exceptional experience to consumers as they leave the mall and return to your neighborhood business? Call (919-229-9725) or email me (Lisa@RaleighwoodMedia.com) to take advantage of this offer for independent businesses: a free, one-hour audit of your brand’s online presence and the accompanying in-store experience! Simply mention this blog post to take advantage.

5 Things Every Small Business Email Should Include

Small business Saturday email marketing tipsFor the eighth year in a row, iheartretail.com is publishing our annual listing of all of the local retailers and brands participating in Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday that we can find. Our goal is to help shoppers keep their holiday spending local, and to help retailers bring more business in their doors. It’s a labor of love that takes hours upon hours to collect, publish, and promote.

Last year, I read over 100 emails within one 24 hour period from retailers promoting their weekend offerings to compile the annual shopping guide. Some were great, some had lots of room to improve. Here’s my advice to you for email marketing success.

5 Things Every Email You Send Should Have Inside!

1. A Reply Email Address

Ditch your email system if it uses no-reply and for Heaven’s sake, put an email address you actually check. Don’t make your customers chase you to contact you, because they will just shop elsewhere.

2. Your Business Hours

Just because you’re open normal hours, don’t assume your potential customers know what they are – and if you’re operating extended or shortened holiday hours, this becomes even more important. Your customers are in a rush due to the craziness of the holiday season, so help them out here.

3. A Phone Number That Will Be Answered

Again, holiday shoppers are experiencing nutty schedules, the demands of family, a condensed work schedule, and more. Sometimes, they just need to know if you have something in stock or if you can make their special request happen. Be ready for their calls and make it easy for them to reach you!

4. Your Website

I know this seems crazy, but you won’t believe how many businesses, especially retailers, forget this important link. This is the ideal place to send your audience when they have questions outside of your business hours! (It also offloads your email and phone traffic if you answer their key questions right on your website) PS: Don’t forget to put all of these important points of information (phone, hours, etc.) on your website, too. This is where your audience will likely look before they call you!

5. Physical Address

Keeping with the theme of convenience for your holiday shoppers, don’t forget to remind them where they can physically find you if you maintain a brick-and-mortar business. (If you’re online only, at least include your city and state so that those paying particular attention to shopping local will know that you’re their neighbor, too!)

6. Freebie Advice! Don’t Procrastinate

The old college rule still rings true: don’t procrastinate! Don’t wait to let your audience know what’s going – especially when it benefits them. If you wait until Thanksgiving or Black Friday to send your Black Friday promotions out, you’ve missed out on a huge majority of shoppers who’ve already made their plans. If you wait until the day of your promotion to email them, you’re likely going to become just an impulse purchase or a late add-in to their schedule. Make sure you send out your info in time to be a priority of theirs, not an after thought!