The above information gives evidence that the Internet can also be viewed as a supplement to traditional storefront purchasing, rather than as a competitor. This ability to shop, research, and view potential purchases on the Internet empowers customers and accelerates their purchase decisions.

A typical email campaign can generate a response of between 5%-15%. Most of which takes place within three days. Emailing existing customers is permission marketing at its best, generating sales and enhancing the profile of your business.

It is tempting to look to cut the marketing/advertising budget during a downturn in the expectation that revenues will fall. It is in fact preferable to view your marketing as a revenue generator and that cutting would be illogical. Instead look to reposition your marketing efforts and get better value from your budget by negotiating deals with your suppliers.

Give your online listings a visual advantage by incorporating a colour graphic of your logo or a photograph along side your contact details.

The ability of the door drop to create Doormat Impact and place your promotion in the hands of potential customers in their own homes is the distinctive feature that sets it apart from other forms of media.

Customer retention is essential, as is trying to always enlarge the size of each transaction from your existing customers. The enhanced turnover from repeat business will justify the time and expense of running a customer loyalty program.

Building awareness of the goods or services that your business offers is generally viewed as a process not an event. However, targeted promotional material delivered via a door drop can give your business an immediate boost.

How can a local shop, or any business, that depends on footfall (customers coming through the door) turn these web-surfers into customers? The answer is that local search marketing must be an essential component of your overall marketing strategy. If you do not already have a website at least get listed on one or more local directories. A basic text listing is a start, however it is of real benefit to be able to upload your own pictures and text, so that surfers can see what you are all about.

Marketers have rapidly identified that mobile marketing is a media that allows direct, personalised, interactive and targeted dialogue between businesses and consumers via text messaging. As with other direct marketing mediums, marketing via SMS can increase sales and have a positive effect upon customer relationships. A SMS text marketing initiative to existing customers is a cheap and effective option if the principles of permission marketing are followed i.e. customers need to have explicitly indicated an interest in receiving such messages.