How to Market Your Brick and Mortar Store: Real-World Tips

How to Market Your Brick and Mortar Store: Real-World Tips That Actually Work

So my friend, you want to know how to market your brick and mortar store? Well, let’s help you out! Running a physical business in today’s world isn’t easy, but with the right marketing approach, you can fill your shop with customers and keep your cash register ringing.

We recently sat down with Sydney from Lightning Dent, who runs a premium paintless dent repair center in Winnipeg. Her insights on local business marketing are pure gold, and we’re excited to share what we learned.

Build Real Relationships (This Is Your Secret Weapon)

Here’s what Sydney taught us: relationships are everything in the brick and mortar world. She doesn’t just fix dents – she builds connections with local dealerships and body shops. These aren’t just customers; they’re her business partners who send her steady work month after month.

Think about it. When a dealership needs paintless dent repair, who do they call? The person they trust – Sydney. She’s built these relationships by being reliable, delivering quality work, and always following through on her promises.

For your business, ask yourself: who are the other businesses that serve your customers? A bakery might partner with wedding planners. A pet groomer could work with veterinarians. Find your natural partners and start building those relationships.

Your Website Is Your 24/7 Salesperson

Sydney gets it. She knows that having a good website isn’t optional anymore – it’s essential. But here’s where she’s really smart: she built custom pages for every single service she offers. Want hail damage repair? She’s got a page for that. Need paintless dent repair? There’s a dedicated page explaining exactly what she does.

This approach works because when someone searches for “hail damage repair Winnipeg,” they land on a page that speaks directly to their problem. It’s like having a salesperson who knows exactly what each customer needs before they even walk through the door.

For your store, create specific pages for each of your main services or products. Don’t just have a generic “services” page. Make it personal and specific.

Quick Wins with Google Ads and Bing Ads

Sometimes you need customers right now, not six months from now. That’s where Google Ads and Bing Ads come in handy. These are your quick lead generation tools that can start bringing people through your door within days.

The beauty of these ads is that you’re catching people exactly when they’re looking for what you offer. Someone searches “dent repair near me” and boom – your ad shows up. They click, they call, they become a customer.

Start small with these ads. Pick your most profitable service and create simple ads targeting people in your local area. You don’t need to be fancy – just clear about what you offer and why people should choose you.

SEO: Your Long-Term Growth Strategy

While ads give you quick results, SEO is your marathon strategy. This is about making sure your website shows up naturally when people search for businesses like yours.

Sydney understands this perfectly. By creating those custom service pages we mentioned earlier, she’s not just helping customers – she’s also helping search engines understand exactly what her business does. When someone in Winnipeg searches for paintless dent repair, her website has a fighting chance to show up.

SEO takes time, usually 3-6 months to see real results, but it’s worth it. Unlike ads where you pay for each click, SEO traffic is essentially free once you start ranking well.

The Power of Local Marketing

Here’s something many business owners forget: you’re not competing with businesses across the country. You’re competing with the shop down the street. This is actually great news because it means your marketing can be super focused.

Get involved in your community. Sponsor a local sports team. Participate in community events. The goal is to become the go-to business in your neighborhood for what you offer.

Start Simple, Stay Consistent

Marketing your brick and mortar store doesn’t have to be complicated. Pick one or two strategies from this list and do them really well. Maybe start by improving your website and building one key business relationship. Once those are working, add Google Ads to the mix.

The key is consistency. Sydney didn’t build her network of dealership partners overnight. She did it by consistently delivering great work and staying in touch with her contacts.

Remember, every big business started as a small brick and mortar store. With the right marketing approach, yours can grow too. Focus on relationships, make your website work for you, use ads for quick wins, and invest in SEO for long-term growth.

Your customers are out there looking for exactly what you offer. These strategies will help them find you.