Marketing Magic for Resellers: 10 Winning Strategies

Small brick-and-mortar truck accessory, offroad, and performance shops face a lot of competition. The internet has opened up opportunities for larger businesses to reach a wider audience, making it harder for small retailers to stand out. However, with the right marketing strategies in place, small shops can level the playing field and compete effectively. Here are 10 marketing tips to help small retail businesses grow and succeed.

1. Email Marketing

Email marketing is a cost-effective way for small retail businesses to reach a large audience. By collecting email addresses from customers and other contacts, you can send targeted, personalized messages to promote your products and services. Use email marketing to announce sales and special promotions, provide helpful tips and information, and build relationships with your customers. Make sure your emails are visually appealing and easy to read and include calls to action to encourage recipients to take action.

Our Email Center tool (available for FREE to all Pro-Level customers) allows you to build out visually appealing emails, easily upload your customer lists, and reach your customers much more frequently. We can even help train you on how to use the software more effectively!

2. Social Media Marketing

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, provide a great opportunity for small retail businesses to reach a wider audience and engage with customers. In our last blog post, we mentioned a few reasons WHY social media marketing is important going into 2023. To answer some of those reasons, we created a tool called ReadyPosts.

ReadyPosts is a tool that our customers have access to completely FREE! It is a library filled with pre-made content including images, videos, descriptions, and hashtags that customers can download and use on their own social media channels. It is a great way to be more active on social media.

3. Have a Good Website – Duh

Well, this one is a no-brainer. Your website is often the first impression that potential customers have of your business, so it’s important to make sure it looks professional and is easy to navigate. Invest in a responsive website that works well on both desktop and mobile devices, and make sure your content is up-to-date and relevant. Include product descriptions, photos, and pricing information, and make sure your contact information is prominently displayed. You can also use your website to collect email addresses and promote your products and services.

Luckily, Aftermarket Websites® does all this (and more) for you. Schedule a demo here to learn more.

4. Networking

Networking is a great way to build relationships and increase awareness of your business. Attend local events and meetups, join trade associations and networking groups, and participate in community activities. Be sure to bring business cards and be ready to talk about your products and services. Building relationships with other business owners and customers can help you get referrals and increase your exposure. Our customers can also join our Facebook community. It’s a place where shop owners can gather to share ideas, tips, and other valuable information.

5. Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs can be a great way to reward your best customers and encourage repeat business. Offer rewards for repeat purchases, such as discounts, free items, or special promotions. You can also use loyalty programs to gather information about your customers’ preferences and purchasing habits, which can help you make informed business decisions.

Remember the “and more” from tip number 3? Well, this is part of that. Aftermarket Websites® gives site owners the ability to create special pricing based on their different customers. So, you can set up a loyalty program with little-to-no effort.

6. Online Advertising

Online advertising can be a cost-effective way to reach a large audience and drive traffic to your website. You can use platforms such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads to target specific demographics and interests. Make sure your ads are visually appealing and include clear calls to action, and track your results to see what is working and what is not.

This is where a lot of people go wrong. They think just having a website is enough to drive enough business to become an e-commerce giant. If you’re not spending a substantial amount of money every month to run online advertising, you’ll rarely make an online sale (on whatever platform you’re using – it doesn’t matter). Imagine having a store with no sign by the road. The store may look awesome inside and offer the best service possible, but if you don’t have a sign by the road, no one is going to stop.

7. Content Marketing

Content marketing involves creating and sharing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a specific target audience. You can use content marketing to educate your customers about your products and services, answer their questions, and build trust and credibility. Vlogging, video marketing, and infographics are all great ways to reach your target audience through content marketing.

8. Referral Marketing

Referral marketing involves encouraging customers to refer their friends and family to your business. Offer incentives such as discounts, free items, or special promotions to encourage customers to refer others to your business. You can also use referral marketing to gather testimonials and reviews, which can help build credibility and trust with potential customers.

Again, going back to tip #3, you can easily set up coupon codes in Aftermarket Websites® in just a few seconds and apply them to specific parts, categories, or brands.

9. In-Store Promotions

In-store promotions are a great way to drive traffic to your store and increase sales. Offer special deals, discounts, or other incentives to encourage customers to visit your store and make a purchase. You can also use in-store promotions to showcase new products, clear out old inventory, or simply generate excitement. Make sure your promotions are well-publicized, both in-store and through other marketing channels.

Aftermarket Websites® comes with built-in rebates from any of our supporting brands that happen to be running a rebate. Those rebates are kept up-to-date and are added automatically and then removed automatically when the rebate period expires. You have access to use these rebate tools in your store, too! It helps set you apart from your competition down the street and helps you close the sale.

10. Community Involvement

Getting involved in your local community can help you build relationships and increase awareness of your business. Sponsor local events, donate to charitable organizations, and participate in community activities. You can also use community involvement as an opportunity to showcase your products and services and build relationships with potential customers. This tip can help you build a positive reputation and increase loyalty among your customers within your community – which is where all small businesses should be focused first.

These 10 marketing tips can help small retail businesses stand out and compete effectively in a crowded market. By combining these 10 tips, you can reach a wider audience and grow your business. If you’d like us to help, reach out to us and we’d be happy to give you a personalized one-on-one demo of everything we offer.