Basic Essentials to start a Small Local Business in Minneapolis

Here’s a solid list of basic essentials that a small local business should have in place to effectively promote and grow their brand, attract new customers, and retain existing ones:


πŸ”§ Branding & Online Presence

  1. Business Name and Logo – Memorable and professional branding.

  2. Website – Mobile-friendly, with clear contact info and services/products listed.

  3. Google Business Profile – Essential for local search visibility.

  4. Social Media Accounts – At least Facebook and Instagram; LinkedIn or TikTok depending on target market.

  5. Domain Name & Email – Custom domain (e.g., yourbusiness.com) and professional email (e.g., info@yourbusiness.com).


πŸ“£ Marketing Tools & Outreach

  1. Email Newsletter – Build a list and stay connected with clients.

  2. Direct Mail Campaigns – Postcards or flyers to neighborhoods or business lists. SEE: MailBoxPower

  3. Printed Business Cards & Brochures – Still useful for in-person networking and referrals.

  4. Referral Program – Incentivize happy customers to bring others.

  5. Customer Loyalty Program – For repeat business, especially in retail or service sectors.


πŸŽ₯ Media & Content Creation

  1. Video Podcast or Livestream – Build trust and authority; repurpose content for social media.

  2. YouTube Channel – Host how-to’s, product highlights, testimonials.

  3. Blog – Boost SEO and educate/engage potential customers.

  4. Content Calendar – Plan social media, emails, blog posts, and promotions in advance.


πŸ“Š Systems & Tracking

  1. CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Tool – Track leads, interactions, and follow-ups.

  2. Email Marketing Platform – Like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or MailerLite.

  3. Analytics Tools – Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, etc., to measure performance.

  4. Online Scheduling Tool – Let clients book appointments easily.


πŸ’¬ Communication & Support

  1. Chat/Message Option on Website – For quick questions (live or automated).

  2. SMS/Text Marketing – Highly effective for appointment reminders or limited-time offers.

  3. Customer Reviews & Testimonials – Use platforms like Google, Yelp, or Facebook.


πŸ’΅ Revenue & Sales Tools

  1. Point of Sale System – Like Square, Clover, or Shopify POS.

  2. Online Payment Processing – Accept credit cards and online payments.

  3. Affiliate or Partner Program – Expand your reach through collaborations.

  4. eCommerce Option (if applicable) – Sell products or services online.

Synergy Collaborative Membership Highly Valuable and Attracts to New Members

To make the Synergy Collaborative membership highly valuable and attractive to new members, consider adding these benefits:

Marketing & Promotion Perks

  1. Featured Spotlight – Members get a monthly spotlight on Synergy Collaborative’s website, blog, and social media channels.
  2. Live Interview Opportunity – A Synergy Cafe Video Livestream interview to promote their business or services.
  3. Email Blast Inclusion – Members get featured in a monthly email newsletter sent to a network of event planners and business professionals.
  4. Social Media Amplification – Members’ content is shared and boosted on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTubethrough Synergy Collaborative’s network.
  5. SEO-Boosted Blog Post – A search-engine-optimized article about their business is published on the Synergy Collaborative website.

Networking & Collaboration

  1. Exclusive Access to Synergy Socials – Free or discounted admission to Synergy First Thursdays and other networking events in the Twin Cities.
  2. Referral Network – Members can exchange leads and referrals within a trusted group of professionals.
  3. Private Member Directory – Access to a members-only list of business owners, event planners, and service providers.
  4. Mastermind Sessions – Monthly brainstorming and collaboration calls to help members grow their businesses.

Business Growth & Learning

  1. Discounted Event Exhibiting – Members receive discounts or free exhibit space at the Minnesota Event Planners and Suppliers Summit and EXPO.
  2. Affiliate Revenue Stream – Members can earn commissions by referring new Synergy Collaborative members.
  3. Educational Webinars & Workshops – Monthly online or in-person trainings on marketing, branding, and sales strategies.
  4. Partner Discounts – Exclusive deals on services and tools, such as direct mail marketing, video production, and website hosting.

Premium Upgrades for VIP Members

  1. Custom Promo Video – A professionally edited promotional video created for their business.
  2. Dedicated Social Media Campaign – A week-long campaign promoting their services on Synergy’s social platforms.
  3. Event Promotion Assistance – Help with marketing their events, including ticket sales, promotion, and partnerships.

WANTED: Affiliate Manager

An Affiliate Manager is a professional who manages an affiliate marketing program for a business, acting as a liaison between the business and its affiliates:Β 

Responsibilities

Affiliate managers are responsible for the success of the affiliate program, which includes recruiting new affiliates, maintaining relationships with existing ones, and optimizing affiliate performance. They also provide support to affiliates, such as answering questions, addressing concerns, and resolving issues.Β 

Goals

The primary purpose of an affiliate manager is to increase sales and website traffic, and maximize the organization’s return on investment from working with affiliates.Β 

Skills

Affiliate managers need to be confident, have customer service skills, and be able to multitask. They also need to be able to manage different people and their problems.Β 

Activities

Affiliate managers’ activities can vary, but some of their tasks include:

  • Analyzing affiliate marketing dataΒ 
  • Producing creative contentΒ 
  • Establishing rules for affiliates to followΒ 
  • Identifying strategies to improve the affiliate programΒ 
  • Providing incentives for affiliates

INTERESTED?

Call Brad at 612-242-6468

How the Affiliate Links work with Kartra

Kartra is an all-in-one marketing platform that allows users to create, market, and sell their products online. One of the ways that Kartra users can promote their products is through affiliate marketing. Kartra’s affiliate marketing system allows users to recruit affiliates to promote their products and earn a commission for each sale they refer.

Here’s how the affiliate links work with Kartra:

  1. The Kartra user creates an affiliate program and provides their affiliates with a unique affiliate link.
  2. The affiliate promotes the product using their affiliate link, which includes a unique tracking code.
  3. When a customer clicks on the affiliate’s link and makes a purchase, the tracking code is used to identify the affiliate who referred the sale.
  4. Kartra then credits the commission to the affiliate’s account.

Yes, Kartra’s affiliate marketing system uses cookies to track the affiliate’s referrals. When a customer clicks on the affiliate’s link, a cookie is stored in their browser that identifies the affiliate as the referrer. If the customer makes a purchase within the cookie’s expiration time (which is set by the Kartra user), the affiliate will receive credit for the sale.

Overall, Kartra’s affiliate marketing system makes it easy for users to recruit and manage affiliates, track referrals, and pay out commissions. The use of cookies helps ensure that affiliates receive credit for their referrals and can be compensated appropriately for their efforts.

TRY KARTRA – Go Here