Grow Your Local Business Podcast: Episode Summary
Title: When Locals Say They Didn't Know You Were Here
Host: Leslie Presnall
Release Date: October 8, 2024
In this insightful episode of the Grow Your Local Business podcast, host Leslie Presnall addresses a common frustration among local business owners: hearing from locals that they were unaware of the business's existence despite ongoing marketing efforts. Leslie leverages her expertise in local marketing and life coaching to transform this frustration into a powerful mindset shift, offering actionable strategies to unlock untapped potential within the local market.
1. Understanding the Common Frustration
Timestamp: [00:21]
Leslie begins by outlining the prevalent issue faced by many local entrepreneurs. Business owners invest time and resources into marketing—be it through social media, physical signage, events, or networking—but still encounter situations where locals express surprise at their presence or services.
“Whenever people say this to you, I see this as an opportunity and I actually see a lot of possibility here.” — Leslie Presnall [00:45]
She emphasizes that this recurring feedback often stems from business owners internalizing a sense of inadequacy, believing they have exhausted all marketing avenues.
2. Reframing the Problem as an Opportunity
Timestamp: [03:30]
Leslie challenges the notion of having "done everything" to market a business. She posits that no business owner can possibly cover every marketing channel or reach every individual in their city simultaneously.
“There’s no possible way you or I have done absolutely everything to grow our business.” — Leslie Presnall [04:15]
By shifting this mindset, Leslie encourages entrepreneurs to view feedback about low visibility not as a failure, but as a gateway to discovering new strategies and untapped markets.
3. Case Study: The Boutique Blowout Sale
Timestamp: [07:50]
To illustrate her point, Leslie shares her personal experience with the Boutique Blowout Sale, a large-scale shopping event she hosted annually in Baton Rouge. Over eight years, this event featured 40 boutiques from multiple states and consistently sold out VIP tickets, attracting significant crowds and media attention.
“This event brought in millions of dollars back into our local economy. It was heavily marketed. We were on the news, in local magazines.” — Leslie Presnall [08:30]
Despite its success, Leslie recounts instances where even close acquaintances were unaware of the event, underscoring her initial premise that extensive marketing does not equate to complete local awareness.
4. Embracing Untapped Potential
Timestamp: [12:10]
Leslie narrates a recent experience where she discovered that even longstanding, well-publicized events were unfamiliar to some locals. This revelation reinforced her belief that there is always room for growth and that businesses often miss out on opportunities by assuming they've reached saturation.
“It's fantastic. There's so much opportunity, there's so much growth and potential.” — Leslie Presnall [14:05]
She advocates for a proactive approach, urging business owners to continuously explore new marketing tactics and remain open to expanding their reach.
5. Strategic Questions for Business Growth
Timestamp: [16:40]
To assist entrepreneurs in identifying new avenues for growth, Leslie proposes a series of introspective questions:
- What can we do more of?
- What can we do better?
- How can we reach even more people?
- What haven't we done yet?
- What are we telling ourselves that we're doing but aren't really?
- What may be a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 that we can elevate to an 8 or a 9 or a 10?
- What if we tried something once but never did it again?
- What are we not doing consistently?
“These types of questions will serve you so much better than the thought we're doing everything or we've tried everything.” — Leslie Presnall [18:25]
By addressing these questions, business owners can uncover gaps in their current strategies and implement changes that foster greater local visibility and engagement.
6. Cultivating Creativity and Consistency
Timestamp: [21:15]
Leslie underscores the importance of creativity and consistency in marketing efforts. She encourages local entrepreneurs to experiment with new ideas, maintain regular engagement with their audience, and persistently seek innovative ways to connect with the community.
“Don’t give up, just keep going.” — Leslie Presnall [23:50]
Her optimistic outlook serves as a motivational call to action, inspiring business owners to persevere and continuously refine their marketing approaches.
Conclusion
Leslie Presnall's episode provides valuable insights for local business owners struggling with visibility issues. By reframing challenges as opportunities and encouraging a mindset of continuous improvement, she offers a roadmap for sustained growth and deeper community engagement. Entrepreneurs are left with practical strategies and a renewed sense of possibility to expand their local presence and attract a steady stream of clients.
Note: To delve deeper into these strategies and receive personalized support, Leslie invites listeners to join the LocalPreneur Academy, a program designed to help small business owners become the local go-to in their industry.