Day: March 24, 2016

Three Ways to Market Your Community

Posted by Retail Attractions Blog on March 24, 2016 in Blog | No Comments

Marketing plays a crucial role if you’re planning for economic growth in your city. And I’m not just talking about attracting new businesses though that is an essential step. If your community is going to remain successful, you also have to continue marketing yourself to and maintaining relationships with existing business partners. You’ll also want to encourage a steady stream of visitors to your community so they can patronize local restaurants, shopping areas, and other businesses.

economic-business-development-ways-to-market-your-community

To New Businesses

The first step in attracting new businesses to your community is knowing what you have to offer. You’ll need to analyze your community and come up with strategies for effective marketing. Retail Attractions is your best asset in this process. We’ll work with you to take stock of obstacles and assets about your current situation, find funding, compile reliable and useful demographics, and manage marketing efforts.

You’ll also want to tap-in to resources on the state-wide level. Most states have a department to oversee and encourage economic development. Experts recommend having a liaison between your city and these allies who is skilled in marketing the community to new businesses. Retail Attractions can help with this as well, and we’ll also be there to advise and assist the city once you’ve found an interested developer.

To Existing Businesses

Businesses that are already in your community are the easiest to reach. They’re already very familiar with your town and know what to expect from you if they decide to expand. You also have an existing relationship with retail developers who’ve built in your city before. If they had a good experience, they might choose to work with you again.

One of the best ways to encourage new economic growth from existing business relationships is to get off on the right foot. Retail Attractions has extensive experience working with businesses and developers and knows what they’re expecting from a community. We can help you anticipate their needs and promote a smooth relationship that’s headache-free for all parties. Always remember to address any of your business partners’ concerns promptly and in a way that shows them how much you value the relationship.

To Visitors

Businesses are more likely to invest in a location where there’s a steady stream of customers. Making your community more attractive to visitors and encouraging new people to move into the community has the added bonus of attracting new business.

Word-of-mouth marketing is the most successful, yet it’s also hard to pin-down. You can’t force people to tell their friends what an amazing time they had shopping at your new mall, eating in a restaurant, or touring the community. What you can do is plan carefully to market your community’s unique brand and partner with other local, regional, and state tourist organizations. When your visitors are happy they’ll visit again themselves, and they’re also likely to tell a friend and market your community for free.