Making NOISE at your self-storage facility to attract customers

originally appeared http://www.selfstoragenow.com/JulAug07/MakeSomeNoise.html

NOISE

Make some N.O.I.S.E at your business

To really make "noise" and attract attention from your community, adopt these practices:

N is for Neighbors

Introduce yourself to your business neighbors. You may be missing our on sales or partnerships opportunities by not introducing yourself to the owner of the local bakery, shipping and packing store, or coffee shop. Who better to refer customers to you than the business next door? Perhaps they will have a storage need in the near future. You definitely want to break into their circle of influence, and develop a strategical alliance. The more visible you become the easier it is for them to refer business to you. Know your immediate surroundings. Walk into the neighboring office with a giving attitude and see if you can be of assistance.

O is for OUTSIDE

Remember that marketing is an action verb. The age old strategy of hitting the streets and going door to door works! Of course, your will hear "NO" more often than you hear "YES", but that is the name of the game. The numbers eventually work out, and you never know where the next relationship will take you.

I is for INSIDE

Don't forget the focus on the customers inside of your business. Who is a better referral source for you, then people already using your product. They trust you. They spend time, energy and money with you. They want to help you and bring you business.

Your customer base is a true referral gold mine, which can continued to be tapped, and massaged. This too requires getting out of the office, walking the property and getting involved with your customers.

S is for Sales.

Do some reading on sales, and personal relationship skills. Find out your weakest and strongest points, and improve. You should be consciously varying your sales approach for different groups, singles mothers, sports teams, commercial customers.

ASK FOR THE SALE.

Do you want to pay cash or credit for that? Would you like a large box? A milkshake?

Create a sense of urgency, make a personal connections, get a valid copy of an email or driver's license. Follow up!

E is for Educate

Continue to educate yourself about your industry, environment, community and competition. Information is powerful. Educate your customers or potential customers on why they should choose you.

Follow the NOISE principal and use it daily.