Category: SEO

With all the talk about digital marketing, you would think that it was the be-all and end-all of business advertising. That, however, is far from the truth. While conversations about SEO, search engine rankings, and PPC might be trendy right now, it doesn’t tell the full story. Physical signage is still incredibly critical to the success of your business.

Local businesses stand to gain most from signage. The more that they can capture the attention of passing trade, the more successful they will be in the long term. 

Creating quality signage, however, is a challenge. You need something that looks authentic but, at the same time, captures the attention of your target audience. It’s a tricky balance.

What’s more, local regulations often put limitations on the types of signs that you can even use for your business, increasing the difficulty immensely. 

With that said, physical signage offers a lot of benefits that are often overlooked. Take a look at the following: 

It’s Cost-Effective

Google and other search engines have a very clever PPC model. They promise never to charge you a penny so long as your target audience doesn’t click your ad. In other words, you only pay when the search engine or social media network generates a lead for you. 

It sounds like a great idea in principle, but when you think about it in practice, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. No other form of advertising makes you pay every time a customer shows an interest in your brand. Isn’t that an expensive way of doing things? 

Signage is different. You don’t pay extra for each new impression. Eyeballs on your sign are mostly free after you create it, allowing you to generate significant returns on investment in a short amount of time. 

You Can Put It In A Prominent Location

Some of the most successful companies recognize the value of strategically placing signage to direct customers to their business. Restaurants, for instance, will often provide directions to their establishments in the form of signage on public roads. For example, “300 yards on the left.”

With double-sided sticky tape from sites like https://eurotechdisplays.com.au/product/double-sided-tape/mightytack-double-sided-tape/, you can do something similar. Placing your signs strategically in your local environment can massively boost the quantity of passing trade that you receive.

Multiple signs are an excellent tool for “warming people up.” You want to plant the idea in your customers’ heads that they should shop with you before they actually arrive at your physical establishment. It gives them a chance to think about whether they should stop by or continue moving on. They don’t have to make an immediate decision when they get to your front door. 

It Differentiates You From Your Competitors

Finally, excellent signage is a great tool that you can use to differentiate yourself from your competitors. The better your signage, the more chance you have of attracting customers, according to https://ceoworld.biz/2019/03/30/the-importance-of-communicating-your-brand-through-your-signage/. 

How will you use signage in your business? 

Did you know that there are now more than 2,700 castles listed on Airbnb? 

Castles are a popular destination for millions of people, all looking for that magical, fairytale getaway and escape from the usual humdrum of life. And it’s a powerful business opportunity. In a world dominated by social media, there’s a market out there now for people who want to get away from it all and enjoy a little indulgence. 

The setting is the main draw of castles. Guests want to feel as if a stay with you is a magical, enchanting experience. But guests also get to enjoy a host of other benefits, including the culture, beautiful food, and usually, stunning grounds and views over the surrounding landscapes. It’s no wonder they’re becoming an increasingly popular destination. 

Do you want to create a castle-based hospitality business? Make sure you fully digest the following information: 

Choose A Castle With Potential

You might think that all the castles on the market have already been snapped up, and those that remain are too expensive for mere mortals like you to afford, but that’s not the case. Many castle-like properties are surprisingly inexpensive to buy upfront. 

The reason for this has to do with the ongoing running costs. Many owners underestimate just how much money they have to set aside to own and operate a castle. Ongoing maintenance, heating, and other bills all soon add up, making them unaffordable for all but the wealthiest. 

You can, however, create a viable business by renting out rooms, a bit like an Airbnb. The quality of the castle will determine how much you can charge. The majority of castles can turn a profit by converting into a hospitality business. 

Create A Regal Atmosphere

Most guests stay in castles because they want to experience a medieval fairytale life, a million miles from modern city life. Your castle, therefore, should be an escape that caters to this audience, even it if means parting somewhat from the historical narrative. 

Where possible, embellish the hearth, creating something long, low, and of majestic proportions. Use a decorative castle carpet to dress the floor and choose plenty of old-fashioned ornaments to deck the halls. Antlers are always a good choice. 

Put Heating In Every Room

While castles are impressive buildings, they’re not known for being warm. You will, therefore, need to put heating in every room to make sure that your guests stay warm during their stay. Do what you can to plug gaps in the stonework and add insulation to the building wherever possible. You may need to install separate radiators and underfloor heating in ensuite bathrooms. 

Pamper Your Guests

Castles weren’t just fortification and dungeons in the medieval era: they were estates in which kings, queens, and the aristocracy indulged in lavish lifestyles. Pampering your guests, therefore, is essential, although how you do it will be a little different from times gone by. 

Many castle-based businesses offer a spa and relaxing swimming pool facilities. You could also invest in professional sports halls and gym equipment.  

You’ve never going to make running a business a walk in the park, but it’s possible that it doesn’t have to be quite as difficult as it currently is. In this age of the entrepreneur, we’ve learned quite a lot about the ways in which we can make operating a company a little more straightforward. Some of this comes down to simple infrastructure; in other places, it’s about how we’re organised and our operations. Below, we’ll take a look at four things that’ll ease the stress of running a business that little bit more.

The Right Tech Set Up

You will already be using technology as a founding part of your business. But the question is: is it all that it could be? If you’ve just thrown together all the pieces that you figured you’ll need, then the answer is probably no. While you can make do with any old arrangement in the early days of your business, once you want to hit the ground running, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve got an expert setup. If you don’t know what this looks like, work with an IT company — they’ll be able to handle it for you.

A Set of Wheels

The longer you’re running your business, the more responsibilities you’ll have, the more diverse your tasks will become. For example, you might get your business started in your home, but it’s unlikely to stay there. Things will develop, and you’ll soon find that you have meetings with other business, you have to attend trade shows, and so on. As such, it’s recommended that you buy a vehicle for your business, one that’s large enough to transport all the items you’ll need to keep your business operating smoothly. New Vauxhall vans are especially good for this, since they’re so spacious. Once you’ve got your set of wheels, you’ll find that it’s much easier to stay on top of all your mobile business responsibilities. 

Storage Space

You might begin your venture with little more than an idea, but eventually, you’ll end up with a lot of different files, items, and other bulky goods that can blog up your office. As such, one of the best investments you can make is storage, which can either be onsite or offsite. Aside from allowing you to stay better organised, you’ll find that it’s much easier to focus on the task at hand once you’re not surrounded by goods.

A Member of Staff

Struggling to stay on top of everything that your business requires? Then perhaps it’s time to add a member of staff. Many business owners are reluctant to take this step, but they soon realise that it’s the right decision once they’ve brought the employee on board. They can free up so much time, and help to take your business to the next level. Alternatively, you can look at outsourcing some tasks, such as your admin duties, which effectively does the same thing as an employee but which is more flexible and affordable.