Small investments that increase the sales of a local business

Discover small investments that can generate big results for your local business. From flexible payment methods to loyalty programmes and Local SEO, see how to increase sales without having to spend a lot.

The overwhelming majority of Portuguese companies (99.9%, according to INE data) are SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), which, due to their size, means that their integration into and connection with their community are fundamental to their development.

Although some of these local businesses are mainly exporters, the bulk of the companies sell locally, which implies a careful management and attention to the needs of the target audienceAny disruption will inevitably result in the closure of operations.

However, as is often the case, between an investment in the improving the customer experience and its realisation, there is a lack of funding or too high costs in technological integration.

However, this doesn't have to be a fatality, as we'll see in the course of this article, in which we'll propose to you three small investments that promise to help you increase your sales and keep your business open and in good financial health.

Main challenges of a local business

Starting and maintaining a local business is a big challenge in itself, but the main obstacle, if you can call it that, is managing to "create a community", that is, create bonds of trust with the community in which it operates, so that there is a real continuous flow of sales.

For this link to be established, however, it is necessary that:

• the affordable prices to the wallets of those who live and work in the area;
• the quality products and services;
• o customer service be attentive and zealous the needs of those who visit it.

One of the best ways to start bonding with the community is without a doubt, buy from local suppliers whenever possible. In addition to establishing greater proximity to the economic fabric of the area, you can save on fuel and energy and even lower prices, especially in retail businesses linked to catering, supermarkets and clothing.

Another challenge is monitor the technological innovation of competitors with greater financial power, something that, as we will see later, can easily be overcome.

Finally, the question of marketing.

If the business isn't well known and doesn't endeavour to convey a message that captivates customers, the space will remain empty. In this sense, take advantage of social networks, local SEO techniques and the email marketing could help to make it possible for us to do this without a lot of money. captivate more customers and increase sales.

Read also: 10 digital marketing tips for small businesses

Increase sales with small investments for local businesses

Having defined the challenges, it's time to find out about three low-cost investments that can boost your local business' sales and help you build a successful future.

Payments in line with local consumption habits

Although the old "cash on delivery" is in disuse, there is a payment method that is reviving this way of creating bonds of trust between a business and its local clientele: payments in instalments.

It's true: the so-called "buy now, pay later" is a worldwide trend in the area of payments, and it's made its way to the UK. Portuguese retail payment methods through the Instalment plan with UNICRE.

Another piece of good news: the The Parcela Já feature with UNICRE offers you a simple contracting process free of default costs.. The business receives the full amount of the sale immediatelyUNICRE, paying only a factoring commission, without assuming any risk of default.

In practice, this simple to use solution directly on the payment terminal - which you can find at TPA Android Smartwill allow you to offer customers the chance to buy whatever they need and pay between 2 and 6 monthly instalments without interestboth in physical shops and online, with cards Visa or Mastercard.

Thanks to a immediate and integrated risk analysis at the time of payment, you will immediately receive the full amount of the saleThis is a point in your favour compared to the old "pay as you go".

In this way, you'll be able to win over new customers and retain existing ones, thereby increasing the average value of your sales without having to make a huge investment.

Loyalty programmes win over customers and increase sales

Customer focus must be permanent, which implies create loyalty programmeswithout having to spend too much.

In addition to helping you retain customers, this type of programmes also work to boost your brand's recognition among the communityand a differentiating factor in relation to its direct competitors.

Despite its virtues, for a loyalty programme to fulfil the role for which it was created, it will require you to pay special attention to certain aspects:

• Valuable reward: in order for your programme to effectively strengthen the link between your business and the community, it is important that the reward is perceived as valuable and relevant by customers;
• Personalisation: you should personalise your loyalty packages according to the habits and needs of each of your customers;
• Easy to use: the easier it is to access the benefits of the loyalty programme, the more successful the campaign will be;
• Communication: For the programme to fulfil its function, it is essential that its advantages and rules are communicated clearly and transparently to the community.

Local SEO: a way to reach consumers in your area directly

Even if your local business isn't on the Internet, it can be extremely important to the success of your operations, without requiring a huge investment.

How? Through Local SEO techniques.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisationor Search Engine Optimisation, in Portuguese) is a set of digital marketing techniques and solutions that allow a business to be found by more people when they search online.

When applied at a local level, this set of techniques works to ensure that, for example, a restaurant, an electrical shop or a bakery appears in the first results of a Google search.

This will not only increase your sales, but you will also benefit from good online reviews (provided you offer a good service) and therefore greater recognition for your business.