Local Businesses from Maine: Keeping that Personal Touch Online
Ever taken a long summer weekend in Maine? Ever driven through the Maine foliage? If yes, why did you leave? 🙂
Maine is often referred to as a vacationland, but this beautiful state has way more to offer than giving you idyllic long weekends on the coast. Maine is, and always will be “Open for Business”. According to the SBA, small businesses employ about three-fifths of Maine’s private workforce and have a 78.2% new business turnover. So, you could say that Maine economically relies on the strong business culture of small to mid-sized privately owned companies.
Maine businesses are known for their personal touch and small town feel and, precisely because of that, many have blossomed past New England and grown to be more than the iconic Bean boot. A local dog shop, It’s a Dogs World, in York, Maine was one of the many local businesses that successfully brought their business online.
It’s a Dogs World provides all sorts of Dog Care, from training, to boarding, to grooming. Since 1998, It’s a Dogs World had successfully been promoted by Word-Of-Mouth, but they recognized that the time has come to jump on the Internet bandwagon to keep up.
After deciding to bring their business online, they worked with three different web designers to find something that worked for them and “create a website that reflected their [our] company.” When choosing a domain for their website they chose .ME to show their local support, which allowed them to keep the personal feel of their business online. Since many dog owners treat their pet like their child and need to trust you with their care, you could say that was imperative.
Renee Gordon, manager of It’s a Dogs World, told us that bringing their business online “ABSOLUTELY” made a difference on the business front and “it became even more apparent that they [we] needed an online presence.” Deciding to bring your business online is like ripping off a bandaid, and as Renee says, “Just do it!”
Not only did It’s a Dogs World bring their business online by building a website but they joined Facebook. Being current on social media channels have true potential to flourish your local business. Although you may fear the unknown, most of your consumers are on the Internet, so make sure your local business is not left behind or overlooked when your consumers are Googling their options from the ski lift.
Many small businesses look to expand outside of the state, but often do not even consider the option to “expand” online in fear of losing their biggest advantage – having a personal relationship with each customer. As we have seen, it doesn’t have to be that way if you carefully plan your online expansion!
It’s a Dogs World took the dive by joining the world-wide-web and successfully continued to provide customers with the personal touch that is imperative for a trusting relationships with their loyal customers and their furry four-legged friends. Also, by going online and having an online presence, they have been able to open the doors to many new customers.
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