Business Marketing Advice

Marketing a Relocation Services Business

Small and medium size relocation services businesses can compete and even outperform larger competitors. All it takes is the right marketing plan.

Marketing is a tricky business discipline, especially for inexperienced entrepreneurs who possess more enthusiasm than expertise.

A lack of marketing experience can sometimes be overcome through persistence and innovation, two key features of relocation services business marketing success.

Loss Leaders

Like many businesses, relocation services businesses understand that more customers will walk through the door if a few products are priced at less than full retail value. Moreover, a loss leader marketing strategy can compensate for dead periods when customers tend to making purchases. A classic mistake of loss leader marketing is to create pricing without researching the competition. In a worse case scenario, you could be counting on pricing that is higher than your competitors. When used in relocation services businesses, the real benefits of loss leaders emerge through the careful marketing of other products, usually offered at a much higher margin. Whenever possible, piggyback a loss leader approach with the purchase of bulk merchandise that can be bought at a discount.

When It's Time to Rebrand

Looking for a way to re-catalyze your marketing program? If you need a quick fix, rebranding might not be the right tool for the job. Rebranding is an intentional marketing technique designed to deliver long term results. For a relocation services business, owners are often inspired to rebrand after analysis has demonstrated that the current brand is losing its impact in the marketplace. If rebranding is unavoidable, it's important to update the brand while maintaining the elements that make it recognizable to consumers.

Managing Negative Publicity

Not sure how to handle negative PR? You're not alone. It's a probably faced by many relocation services businesses. The worst way to handle negative buzz is to put off developing a response until reporters are pounding on your door, demanding a comment from a company spokesperson. PR savvy relocation services businesses work with consultants to develop a crisis response plan that can be executed on a moment's notice. Mailing list providers can also provide quick access to accurate mailing lists, an important consideration if your crisis response plan contains a direct mail component.

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary