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| To boost your business, join a local visitor center in your community. This is Soldotna. |
10 Easy Steps To Your Own Economic Plan
Write Your OWN Economic Plan– So Your Business Can Grow This Summer
Now’s the time to take advantage of the new year and plan ahead. You can make simple changes that will help you attract customers. Here are some ideas for getting people into your door.
1. Make Your Place Stand Out
Add flowers, repaint the building, display some attractive banners. If you’re renting something colorful -- such as boats or bikes -- store them in a place where people can see them from the road so they can tell what you’re offering.
Many people like to go “where the locals go.” For example, they like to stop at restaurants frequented by truckers. They figure the truckers know what’s best. Don’t ignore your friends -- the local people of your community. They are the people who say, “Everybody eats at Joe’s.” or, “My Dad always goes fishing with Joe’s Fishing Charters, and he has a great time.” A good way to get local recommendations is to give local people discounts and donate free trips or a free night to organizations or sports groups raising money so local people get to know first hand what you have to offer.
3. Make Hanging Around Outside (Or Just Inside) Your Business A Cool Thing To Do
Add a bench or two. Put up a windbreak so husbands can relax and hang out while their wives are inside. If the “hang out bench” is indoors, add some Alaska-style reading literature to make visitors comfortable. Eating food outdoors in a protected place always draws customers. Benches or picnic tables for customers eating ice cream cones or quick meals are very appealing to those passing by. Cars attract other cars. Have your parking area clearly visible. Gather up all your clients into a group where people can see them.
4. Paint Your Sign and Mark Your Entrance
Studies show that it’s often the little things that make a traveler decide whether to pull in or drive on by. One of the things that makes someone stop is a fresh, professionally-painted sign and a well-marked easy-to-turn into entrance. If your entrance is slightly narrow, it is especially important to mark it well. If you have one of those outdoor “message board signs” make sure it has all the letters on it every day and that words are spelled correctly. Remember, you’re an ALASKAN business. So consider a nice wood look, wilderness theme or an Alaskan mountain or trees on your sign.
5. Promote Other Local Businesses Around Town
We’re a band of brothers. If you run a restaurant, tell people about nearby lodges. If you run a lodge, refer nearby restaurants. Resist the impulse to act as if you’re the only business in the neighborhood. Visitors are more likely to stop and extend their stay near a cluster of services.
Have your staff greet every single person who enters the door, and thank them when they leave, even if they haven’t bought anything. Tell employees “It’s company policy.”
7. Capitalize On Being “Alaskan” And “In The Know”
A dry erase marker board is great for this. We’ve seen a marker board in Valdez with “Today’s Weather”. There’s one at the Chamber visitor center in Glennallen on which visitors write the names, locations and times of “Animals I Saw On The Road.” There’s a gas station in Healy where travelers write down “Road Conditions” on the marker board. Consider adding a board on which visitors can write “Animals We Saw On The River” or “Things We Saw From The Boat” after they return from their trip with you. The “Things To Do Nearby” marker board is always popular. If you run a hotel or B&B, keep a book of photos in the lobby or at the breakfast table so people can see pictures of the area or of your family’s life in Alaska.
Visitor Centers are here to help you make contact with visitors. And to promote your area. So join up! You’ll get ideas of what visitors are looking for when you volunteer, or have your staff volunteer. The idea is not just to promote your business, but learn about your region as a whole.
9. Signs To Put Up And Signs To Take Down
Some signs need to go up. Like a “No Vacancy” sign that you hang on your B&B if you are full (or if you’re just taking the night off. ) Also, put up a “Guest Parking Only” sign so your guests know where to park and your kids know where not to. If you are running a B&B, you know it is not always easy to put up with people’s annoying habits. So if you want people to take off their shoes or not smoke in a room put up a cute sign – or a leave a nice looking list of rules on the dresser.
Some signs need to come down. Take down that “For Sale” sign and take down any “Bathrooms For Paying Customers Only” signs. You can leave them up, but both will cost you business.
There’s opportunity in what are known as “tough times.” Take some risks. Step forward and make yourself known. If the playing field around you is getting leveled, then take advantage of it. Experts often say that times of change lead to the greatest opportunity.
Okay, it sounds self-serving to put this one in. But you can use the Bearfoot Travel Guides publications whether you advertise in them or not. Keep them on your table. They show people interesting things to do in your community and you may just have a guest say, “Hey, I didn’t realize there was so much to do here – can we stay another night?”
Small changes can make this your best year ever
Once they’re in Alaska, let’s get them in the door!