Packing up shop can be tough.
From the emotional angle to the what-will-I-do-about-X-and-Y angles, it can be overwhelming and perhaps the toughest part of owning your own business. But one thing will require a lot of planning and sensitivity, and it's how to reach your customers in those final moments.
What will you say to complete those relationships and end your business?
We take a look at how to approach marketing your business as things come to an end.
Don't Say Anything (Until You Know What to Say)
Are you sure that you will stay out of business, or is there a chance that you'll reconsider or redirect customers to a new, upcoming business venture?
What about the specifics of the marketing plan in the closing days, weeks, and months of the ending date?
Even the smallest change in plans or direction can affect what your business will (or should) say.
As a result, it is vital to consider some of the dynamics of your business closing up shop, and any plans you have to transition clients to another business or to even leave open the door in the future.
Once you do that, you can start planning.
What kind of timeline will you have to let customers know? You'll need to consider what to say via email, on social media, and on your website.
Getting Rid of Stuff
Whether you're in the middle of debt settlement and need to sell merchandise quickly, or you can easily keep up with demand until the magic date arrives - marketing your business to capitalize on your services and/or your final products is paramount.
Due to your circumstances, marketing your products/services is made a bit easier.
Think of all the ways you can place that value proposition in front of customers - of going out of business - with social media, email, and more. From customer appreciation to "everything must go" wordings, there are plenty of angles you can take to catch eyes and provoke purchases.
In certain industries, a limited amount of products are well-suited to online tactics.
Consider taking out pay-per-click (PPC) ads on search engines and social media sites to get maximum value for your remaining ad budget. You can also highlight what items are about to sell out and what other products will no longer be available to catalyze sales.
Tackle all of these angles as you consider how you will go out of business.
From placing the message eloquently and in a timely manner to making sure you sell as much as possible in the final moments of your business, you'll need to thoroughly plan for all of these points to have the best possible result.