Small businesses make up the backbone of our communities. And, that makes local businesses more important than ever. How so? According to Civic Economics, “48% of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores.”
This is especially important to keep in mind knowing large retailers like Amazon capture nearly one in every two dollars Americans spend online. And, coffee giants like Starbucks continue to grow, doubling their revenue between 2010-2015 to more than 19 billion dollars.
However, we can thank small businesses for keeping the economy afloat. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), more than half of the U.S.’s jobs since 1995 were created by small businesses. And since 1990, small businesses added 8 million jobs, while big businesses eliminated 4 million of them.
While the numbers these mass retailers continue to amass seem daunting, we can relate to these businesses in more ways than one – Like the fact that they all focus on customer loyalty, retention, satisfaction and service, because they know they’re vital to success.
That’s where Fivestars INSIGHTS comes in. Here, on this blog platform and small business knowledge base, we try to provide you, small business owners, with helpful small business marketing, social media, customer loyalty, service, and satisfaction advice. Because they are important and vital to success, and you deserve the knowledge and the means to implement them into your business strategy, too.
As we say goodbye to 2016, do keep in mind: What these conglomerate companies can’t do, is give the attention to detail, familiarity, friendship, relationships, sense of community, and satisfaction one gets from loving and supporting a local business. This will always put your business on top!
With that, here are the top 50 most popular small business marketing and customer loyalty advice articles of 2016 – And, here’s to more knowledge and growth in 2017:
50. 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Point of Sale System
49. 14 Sales-Boosting Valentine’s Day Promotions to Send Your Loyalty Members
48. How Instagram’s New Business Tools Benefit Local Businesses
47. 7 DIY Sites to Make Amazing Marketing Materials
46. The 10 Commandments of Customer Loyalty Marketing
45. How Instagram’s New Business Tools Benefit Local Businesses
44. 3 Loyalty Program Blunders You Can Learn From (and Avoid!)
43. Customer Acquisition vs. Retention: Which One Should You Choose?
42. Just How Valuable Are Your Loyal Customers?
41. What Can Tank a Loyalty Program? 10 Things to Avoid Just That
40. How to Use Instagram to Snag Sales
39. How and Why Loyalty Marketing Really Works
38. 4 Sunny Marketing Ideas to Heat Up Summer Sales
37. 4 Unique Ways to Advertise Your Loyalty Program
36. 4 Things You Need to Prep Now for the Holiday Marketing Season
35. 3 Ways Small Businesses Can Market to Millennials
34. 4 Ways Your Staff Can Increase Customer Loyalty
33. Want Increased Repeat Business? 5 Things You Need to Know About Loyalty Programs
32. Drive Weekend Traffic with These 3 Promotions
31. The Surprising Cost of Hiring Bad Employees
30. 4 Perks Big Brands Give Customers (That You Should Too)
29. 9 Must-Use Instagram Tools That’ll Make Your Business Pics Pop!
28. The Top 42 Marketing Words that Tempt and Turn Off Customers
27. Slow Business Days? No Way! 5 Easy Ways to Battle Sluggish Sales
26. What Do Customers Really Want from a Loyalty Program?
25. 4 Marketing Efforts You May Not Be Doing That Keep Customers Coming Back
24. 3 Promotions to Send When Introducing a New Product, Item, or Service
23. 7 Social Media Tools for Socially Savvy Small Businesses
22. What Not to Do: 4 Ways These Businesses Tarnished Their Reputations on Social
21. The Anatomy of a Great Promotional Text Message
20. 7 Examples of Effective and Festive Holiday Promotions (You Can Create Right Now, Too)
19. 5 Promotions to Send to Attract New, VIP and Lost Customers
18. The Top 10 Most Redeemed Loyalty Rewards
17. 4 Smart Small Biz Instagram Tactics You Need to Tap Into
16. 4 Sweet Valentine’s Day Marketing Ideas Every Small Business Can Use
15. 4 Things You’re Doing to Scare Customers Away
14. 4 Fresh Marketing Ideas to Jumpstart Spring Sales
13. 5 Essential Ways to Increase Local Sales for Your Small Business
12. 5 Things Your Business Should Be Doing on Facebook (But Isn’t!)
11. 13 Frighteningly Easy Halloween Promotions Ideas
10. 3 Quick Ways to Win Back Lost Customers
9. Delivered, Claimed, and Redeemed: Our Promotions Stats and Why They Matter
8. 6 Big Reasons Why You Should Shop Small Every Day
7. 6 Foolproof Ways to Promote Your Customer Loyalty Program
6.How to Ask Customers to Sign up for Your Rewards Program (And Get Stellar Results!)
5. 18 Customer Appreciation Ideas Your Customers Will Love
4. 3 Loyalty Program Trends to Watch in 2016
3. Boost Your Black Friday Sales with These 5 Promotion Ideas
2. 5 Things You Absolutely Need to Know as a Business Owner on Yelp
1. 3 Ways to Use ‘Pokémon Go’ to Boost Sales at Your Business
Which of these topics or tips do you find most useful? And what would you like to learn more about in 2017? Tell us all in the comments below, and most importantly, have a happy new year.
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