Small business promotion ideas that bring people through the door
The promotions that work for a small business are short, specific and aimed at a time you want more customers. A broad discount that runs all month mostly gives money back to people who were coming anyway.
1. A deal with an end time
"20% off any service booked before 4 today" gives people a reason to act now. An open-ended discount does not.
2. One item, not the whole order
A free pastry with a coffee, or a free add-on with a haircut, protects your margin better than a percentage off everything, and it is easier to remember.
3. Partner with the business next door
A gym, a coffee shop and a florist on the same street serve the same people at different times. Swap counter signs or bundle an offer for each other's customers.
4. Ask for referrals at the counter
Customers who just had a good experience are the best people to ask. A card or a QR code at the register costs almost nothing. On Beam, each customer who installs the app from your QR code earns you credits toward your next promotion.
5. A small event on a slow day
A tasting, a demo, a class or a meet-the-maker evening gives people a reason to visit on a day they normally would not.
6. Reach people who are nearby now
If the shop is empty at 2 PM, you need customers who can walk over in the next hour. Beam sends a time-limited deal to people with the Beam app within a radius you set, from your phone. It covers seven categories: Food, Coffee, Bars, Shopping, Fun, Wellness and Services. A beam starts at $5 for up to a day before referral discounts, and you see the price before you launch.
7. Count who came
For each promotion, note how many people saw it, how many came in and what they spent. Keep the ones that brought people in.
More: local business advertising options.
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Questions
What are good promotion ideas for a small business?
Short offers with a clear end time, a single free item instead of a percentage off everything, partnerships with neighboring businesses, referral asks at the counter, small events on slow days, and time-limited deals sent to people nearby when the shop is quiet.
How do I promote my small business on a slow day?
Run a short, specific offer only during the slow window and get it in front of people who are close enough to come now. Beam sends a time-limited deal to people nearby with the Beam app, from $5 before referral discounts.
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