B2B - Small offline business looking for Online methods to increase current sales

by vzvghg
8 replies
Hello,

I have a small business where we sell & deliver beverage & related products.

We phone our customers every week to refill their stock.

Sales are down and I'm looking for a way to increase our customer's sales of our products in their restaurants, cafes, and small stores.

1.What methods could I use to partner with them and help them increase the sales of our products.

or

2. What online services can I add on to our business to give value to our current customers and also increase our sales to each customer.

I was considering the option of helping them all set up websites and selling things like signs, menus, or text messaging services. (I'm not a website designer).
#b2b #business #current #increase #methods #offline #online #sales #small
  • Profile picture of the author yogibeezy
    [DELETED]
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  • Profile picture of the author Regional Warrior
    Poor Yogi let the spam begin...
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  • Profile picture of the author aanyadsouza
    And still not shared any information..?? Is it a spamming or what ??
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  • Profile picture of the author katrim
    I think you're in the best position to start a Facebook Page as a local company and start reaching the business in your area. You can try both free and paid methods (you can target only your local area and with cross targeting you can only go for business owners).

    I don't personally recommend that as a small offline business go for something like offering them a website...it's a bit un-congruent and confusing in my opinion. Unless you partner with a local designer and focus on keeping business local? It's a really good point to help your customers get customers but there is A LOT of work if you promise something like that so make sure you're covered.

    I see things like offering short time delivery, long hours delivery or monthly packages more congruent with your business.

    Along with that, what about an app or an online store where your customers can order what they need?

    Anyway, hope this gives some ideas...

    Good luck!

    Alexandra
    Signature
    Get This Facebook Loophole!
    I reached one in every 215 US citizens with a simple Facebook post spending only $42. Click here to see how I did it

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    • Profile picture of the author vzvghg
      Thank you.
      As we are B2B Facebook doesn't look like a good fit. Yes, offering website services doesn't fit. I can't believe how many of our customers don't have them though so I see little gaps
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    • Profile picture of the author vzvghg
      Thank you. Yes offering website services doesn't seem to fit. I see they have trouble getting that all going though..website, printed store posters, and coming up with promotion ideas.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Originally Posted by vzvghg View Post

    1.What methods could I use to partner with them and help them increase the sales of our products.
    Probably:

    - Local PPC
    - Google Places
    - More advertisement locally in newspaper and television about the kind of products they have (even on radio)
    - An elaborate direct mail campaign targeting their customers

    Originally Posted by vzvghg View Post

    2. What online services can I add on to our business to give value to our current customers and also increase our sales to each customer.
    - Email marketing
    - Facebook
    - Text messaging 1-on-1 will assigned sales rep for your client(s)
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    It's crazy that a business in the 21st century does not have a website. Really educate them that they need one and they are losing out big time without one. Then you could outsource it for them and create those Sites

    - Robert Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by vzvghg View Post

    Thank you.
    As we are B2B Facebook doesn't look like a good fit. Yes, offering website services doesn't fit. I can't believe how many of our customers don't have them though so I see little gaps
    You may be right about Facebook not being ideal for reaching your direct customer (the cafes, etc.)

    But you also asked about ways those customers can increase sales of your products to their customers. Facebook could be very good for that if you are a recognizable brand.

    Think about it. Coca Cola doesn't sell direct to consumers, but they spend a ton of money every year getting people to think about Coke products. PepsiCo runs contests every year for a few major events, like the SuperBowl. Contestants call in to a designated phone number, where they hear a co-branded message about the contest before entering.

    This is a way you could partner with your customers online. The focus would have to be local, with you recognizing your various customers on your FB page, especially since you say many of them still don't have websites.

    Run your own contest for a popular local event, and tell people they can get contest info at certain locations (your customers).

    Or run a promotion for a special day. Here, a lot of restaurants ran specials for Administrative Professionals Day (or whatever PC term they're using for Secretaries Day). You could partner with your customers to offer some kind of special that includes your products, with you helping to publicize them.

    Lots of ways to help your buyers increase sales of your products, which they would then have to buy more of.
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