Category: Insurance

Most small business owners rely on traditional marketing methods to grow their business. Think print ads, community events and word of mouth. But, if you feel that your business isn’t scaling as quickly as you desire, it may be time to invest energy into online marketing. The great thing about online marketing is that you can implement most of these strategies with little to no upfront cost. Below is our guide to online marketing: small business edition. Let’s explore several different internet marketing strategies that you can use to help scale your small business.

Create an Email List

The first step is to create an email list to reach your customer base. Do you have an email list comprised of warm leads? Are you using it to reach out to prospects to drive your sales? Once you’ve created an email list, here are some strategies to leverage it to better position your business to customers.

• Create a pop-up box on your website – have you ever gone to a retail website to start shopping and been greeted by a pop-up box promoting you to enter your email address in exchange for something? “Sign up to receive free alerts”, “be the first to know” or “join our newsletter” are commonly used phrases. Customers love to be part of something bigger. Entice them to give you their email address by providing the allure of exclusivity. Alternatively, you can offer a free PDF, downloadable guide, or video that ties in with your business.
• Use ads to direct prospects – Similar to a pop-up box, a more elaborate version consists of using targeted ads to direct prospects to a landing page. Remember, pop up boxes hold limited amounts of information. Imagine being able to direct your potential clients to page that will hold as much material as you would like. The ability to grab the customers attention with pop ups is the start while the landing page is meant to offer more information.
• Collect email addresses in person – Heading to a local small business networking event? This is the perfect opportunity to try and collect some email addresses. You can use low tech options like a clipboard and paper or track emails on an iPad. Including QR codes on your business card are also a popular option.

Create Email Funnels 

After you have your list of contacts, start reaching out to them with a series of email flows. You can write the emails yourself and use software, like Marketing 360 to automate the send-outs. Or you can hire a professional copywriter or agency to do it for you. Start small and see what works for you!
 
You also may be wondering what the magic number is for the amount of emails you should send. That will vary depending on your business, your preferences, your customers, and your budget. If you are an online or brick and mortar store that sells physical goods, you may want to write several emails a week detailing discounts, promotions and giveaways. Maybe you are a fitness studio and are more interested in sending biweekly or monthly newsletters to keep your clients engaged. Remember, marketing starts as trust building and educating.

Consider Paid Advertising

Though commonly expensive, paid advertising can be the single most effective way to attract new customers to your business. The average cost for small to medium size business is approximately $2500 to $12,00 a month. It’s important to note that paid advertising isn’t the same as using a social media page to promote your business. While you can certainly post content on your business’s Facebook or Instagram to help promote your business, paids ads can extend your business’ reach!

Conclusion

The above guide to online marketing: small business edition, is just a sample of the many ways you can generate revenue through internet marketing. Many business owners find the rabbit hole of internet marketing is actually quite deep, and the rewards can be profound.

At Gild Insurance we always like to say that having insurance is the best way to prepare your business for future scalability, and in many ways, internet marketing is very similar.  After all, that’s one of the great things about the internet era: the next best thing is never more than a click away!  

To learn more about the tools and resources available to the Gild Community, check out Gildhall!

Running a pet store can be as rewarding as winning a puppy cuddle contest. As exhilarating as transferring a four-foot viper to a new habitat! Owning a pet store comes with a set of wildly unique risks.  But what business insurance does your pet retail store need? You should consider these 6 essential insurance policies:  

1. General Liability Pet Store Insurance: Your Everyday Mishap Shield

Imagine this: a playful puppy gets overexcited and has an accident on the floor. Then an unwitting customer doesn’t see the puddle and slips and falls. What-if a startled hamster escapes his cage? And a terrified climbs the shelving to get away and falls? How many customers were injured by these wild possibilities that are unique to Pet stores?!

These might seem like unlikely scenarios, but in the world of pet retail, they can happen. General liability insurance is your first line of defense! General liability covers medical expenses and legal fees of your injured customers.

2. Property Pet Store Insurance: Protecting Your Fur-ocious Fortress 

Pet stores are full of wild stories of unpredictable animals doing the unpredictable. Damage to your property is just one chaotic day away. Property insurance acts as your knight in shining armor. Therefore, it protects your building, inventory, and equipment from unexpected events. This includes fires or storms.

3. Product Liability Insurance: Your Safety Net for Paw-fully Worrisome Products 

While you carefully select healthy and high-quality products, sometimes things happen beyond your control. Product liability insurance protects against harm to customers caused by the products your pet store sells. Don’t take the risk of a customer’s pet getting sick after consuming a product from your store!

4. Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Taking Care of Your Pack

Employees face risks at work too. Like lifting heavy bags of food or stocking shelves. Worker’s compensation insurance provides medical care and lost wages for injuries on the job. Think of it as a “get well soon” fund that keeps your team happy and healthy.!

5. Crime Insurance: Guarding Against Unwanted Visitors 

Unfortunately, a pet store has a ton of easily concealed items for sale. They are a perfect target for thieves. Generally, with margins already tight any inventory lost can be painful. Crime insurance covers losses in your store for theft or fraud.  

6. Business Interruption Insurance: Weathering the Storm When You Have to Close 

A covered property claims, and payment issued is not the end. What do you do if your business has to shut down while repairing the damage? You can’t earn money because customers cannot come in! Business interruption insurance helps you cover lost income. It keeps your business afloat by paying your bills and payroll. Additionally, with this protection, you’ll reopen your doors and welcome back your furry friends with one less item on your plate.

Let’s get a business insurance policy tailored to your specific needs! Talk to Gild insurance agent. We understand the pet retail industry. Your business deserves a customized plan that protects your business from head to tail. Overall, don’t let insurance be a bone of contention! Get covered and focus on what you do best: making pets and their humans happy! 

To learn more pet business insurance check out: 

Cyber Insurance For Pet Retail

The Gild Guide: Most Common Small Business Insurance Questions

If you need help with your pet retail business, your friends at Gild Insurance are only a click away!

We combine the latest technology with experience to provide business insurance options that fit your business! We help pet business owners like you find the insurance coverages they need!