If your business is preparing to open a new location, you’ve got a fantastic opportunity to build a pre-opening buzz that will not only help your new location get off to a strong start but also boost your business as a whole.
Opening a new location is busy: You’re ironing out all the logistics, staffing a new store, and getting ready for the opening festivities. But don’t miss an opportunity to give your entire company a serious bump in exposure while marketing your new business location. Here are tips to market your new location.
Contents
- Update your website
- Expand your search ads geo-targeting
- Take advantage of local directory listings
- Add your new business location on social media pages
- Use social media ads to build buzz
- Invite local businesses to take part
- Create an email campaign
- Invite special guests for a soft opening
- Advertise with your local news publication
9 ways to promote a new business or new location
Use these tips to make your new business a smashing success!
1. Update your website
As soon as you’ve signed a contract on your new space, make sure your company website is updated to include a “Coming Soon” listing for that new business location. This will let website visitors know that you’re expanding and help you show up for local searches ahead of opening.
And don’t set it and forget it! You’re going to need to make some continual updates as it gets closer to the launch of your new location and after launch. Add the store hours and phone number for the new location, as well as information about your grand opening.
You’ll also want to make sure your website can effectively handle inquiries about the new location through chat or that your team can triage through a regularly-monitored email to answer questions about the opening and any promotions you plan to offer in conjunction with the opening.
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2. Expand your search ads geo-targeting
If you’re not already using search ads for your business, you should be, and now is the perfect time to start. If you’re currently running search ads, be sure to adjust your business’s geo-targeting to include your new location.
This allows both your existing locations and the new one to attract more traffic through local searches and draws more local customers into your reach, so you can stay in touch with them and keep your name and offerings fresh in their minds.
3. Take advantage of local directory listings
Local directories like Google Business Profile, Bing Business, and Yelp have listings for most businesses already in place, and business owners can “claim” those listings for free. If you haven’t already claimed the listings for your business locations on those sites, you should do it now, because customers are looking at them, whether you’re participating or not.
Make sure your contact information, like your phone number, address, and email, is correct, and double-check your business hours. You want people to be able to contact and visit your new location, so make it as easy for them as possible!
And, all of this information on directories can improve your search rankings, because search engines are looking for consistent and accurate information.
4. Add your new business location on social media pages
When it comes to social media, you want to make sure your pages are reflecting your new location one way or another. If you have a social media presence for each of your locations, make sure you’re creating a social media presence for this new location and start posting updates.
You can post progress photos, highlight new employees, and share information about an opening event or specials you’ll have once you open. You can also let fans and followers of your other locations know you’re opening a new location and encourage them to come visit once it’s opened.
If you have one social media presence for all your locations, you should definitely be sharing progress updates and information about your new location ahead of the opening.
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5. Use social media ads to build buzz
Now that your new business location has some kind of presence on social media, it’s time to get the word out beyond your fans and followers!
Are you having a grand opening event? Make sure people on Facebook know to visit! Are you offering special discounts or promotions after you open? Use ads to let your target demographic know. Facebook ads are a powerful way to reach an even broader audience on the most popular social media site in the country.
6. Invite local businesses to take part
Whether you’re new to the community or just the block, opening a new location is a great way to get to know your fellow business owners. Are there any local businesses that complement yours well? Maybe you own a line of auto body shops, and you want to invite your local car spa to have a presence at your opening–either with coupons, a special two-for-one promotion, or just having some people in company polos attending the opening event.
You can form partnerships with business owners in your area or just extend a hand and invite them directly to your new location.
This restaurant partnered with a local organization to promote its new location on its Instagram page.
7. Create an email campaign
Hopefully, the tips above will help grow your email list with people who have a genuine interest in your new location opening. Your website should also include an opt-in with a simple statement like “Keep me up to date.”
Have your marketing team combine these contacts with your existing mailing list and send them an initial announcement of your upcoming opening and periodic updates on the progress of the location, new inventory or services, and any promotions and events you’ll be offering in conjunction with the opening.
You can also run a targeted email campaign to communicate your opening to those outside of your existing mailing list!
8. Invite special guests for a soft opening
A great way to build buzz and get the word out in the community is to hold a soft opening. Here’s an idea of who you can invite:
- Friends and family of your employees. This is the easiest way to fill your space and get the word out.
- People in the surrounding neighborhoods. Run geo-targeted social ads to get in front of your new neighbors or go the old-fashioned route and leave flyers around the neighborhood.
- Email or SMS subscribers. Grow your contact list by promoting your soft opening to those who sign up for alerts from your business.
- Other business owners and leaders. You can connect with your local Chamber of Commerce to invite other local business owners and start building relationships in your new area.
A soft opening can help you work out any potential kinks, identify areas for improvement with your new staff, and introduce yourself to those in your area.
9. Advertise with your local news publication
Print is an extremely effective way to get in front of a local audience. By promoting your new business location in your city’s print or online publication, you’re guaranteeing that you’re reaching a highly engaged and local audience.
To track your print ads, you can use a special promotion or coupon code to ensure you’re able to tie back new customers to your investment.
Your new business location is a sign of a healthy company
Opening a new business location is a strong indicator that your company is healthy and moving in the right direction. Include professional marketing and advertising in your launch budget to boost the awareness of potential local customers, to re-contact leads who may have strayed in the past because you didn’t have a location near them, and to ensure your existing customers know about your new location, all without soaking up the time you need to spend on your grand opening.
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