The 21st century and the global recession have definitely put the cat among the pigeons where small business is concerned but there are numerous easy no-cost and cheap solutions for small businesses to maintain and even increase market share. As small shops find they cannot compete against giant conglomerates they necessarily fail, unless they can offer more to their customers. This is performed by smart marketing and offering price and a better experience to the client.

So, what's the answer to this troubling problem will our only choice be to shop like drones in these giant warehouses?

If you're the owner of a bricks and mortar specialist store like a camera shop or a tool store chances are you are fighting to make profits by cutting margins and expenses significantly. This country has to get back to offering worth in the form of excellent post-sale and pre-sale shopper service, offer expertise and employ people who know what they're doing, not someone that has neither initiative, character nor experience.

Look at what the major chains don't offer and you will see that consumer service is a thing of the past, their stores all look the same and if they have not got what you need, you are sunk. Local businesses are what make a community and folk who've selected to start their own businesses have a taste for what they do and they love to help when was the last time that happened in your local Wallymart?

Google is doing everything to encourage small local businesses to get a website. If you've a highly specialised business your internet site can right away become number one when anyone searches for Your City and your specialist service. Just this simple lower cost promoting solution can bring in lots of new customers. For a small charge you may be listed in local directories, your local Chamber of Commerce and on Angie's list, which may add up to more visibility and less cost than any costly mag or weekly newspaper ad, and do not forget mobile web access.

Beginning and maintaining a domain is not complicated or pricey, these days a fascinating Wordpress site can be built in under two hours all it costs is monthly hosting and a domain name fee. On a local strip I latterly asked eleven small business owners if they'd a website and only one said yes. If you want to start your own business the market is completely open to help these folks out and make yourself a great living, I just wish That I had the time.

All a small local business needs is a Google map of where they are , a page explaining what they do, a section that gives opening hours and contact data, some great footage and maybe a history of the business and that's it! Add an opt in box and a monthly newsletter can go out, discounts can be sent and sales articulated, and with the addition of some affiliate advertizing the site can basically make the business owner some money even after covering the minor costs concerned.

Online businesses have a much harder time getting themselves to the pinnacle of the search site listings. They have tougher competition and have to deal with back linking, article writing and S.E.O and lots of other promoting tactics they must employ to achieve success. A small local business blog built on WordPress can also serve as a means for purchasers to ask about services and products too , cutting back on incoming telephone calls that always come when attempting to handle other customers. It's about attraction promoting and getting business back to the way they should be unique, helpful and knowledgeable businesses with fantastic customer service that supply an pleasurable shopping experience for all who walk through the door.