As a North Brooklyn resident you probably feel like you’re doomsday prepping for the impending L-Train Shutdown—and let’s not forget that local business owners are, too. No one is quite sure how much the clusterf-k of reduced transit options for more than a year will affect small businesses, but the general consensus is that it’s not gonna be pretty. On one hand we will have less tourists and foot traffic in the neighborhood (which many of us are rejoicing about), but on the other hand those people will not be patronizing local businesses.
The city is offering a workshop for small business owners, Signing A Commercial Lease: What You Need To Know on Wednesday, April 25th from 5-6:30pm at the Swinging Sixties Senior Center (211 Ainslie Street). The workshop is free, and lawyers will explain helpful tips on preparing to negotiate a fair commercial lease. More info and registration on Eventbrite. The workshop is part of NYC Small Business Services course series.
If there’s anything I’ve learned consulting business owners in the last 15 years, it’s that they like free and easy ways to increase sales. In the world of digital marketing, there’s no shortage of ways to increase sales (Email marketing, social, AdWords, affiliate marketing, SEO, content), but how many of them are free and easy? Well, that’s what I’m going to show you in this article.
Make sure your website is mobile. Since 2014, more people use their mobile devices than desktops to search and shop. If your website isn’t mobile, Google may not place you on the first page. If you’re not sure if your website is mobile friendly, use this free tool from Google.
Claim your business on Google Maps. Most business owners I talk to don’t even know that they can control their listing on Google Maps. More people use Google Maps than any other mapping service. You can even control which pictures show up, hours of operation, and you can respond to reviews. Here’s a graphic that shows all the benefits.
Claim your business on Apple Maps. Similar to Google, Apple has their own mapping service. Although not as popular, it’s still another way for your business to be discovered.
Claim your business on Yelp. 146 million users, Yelp is a powerful marketing tool. Follow these steps to claim your business on Yelp.
Post to social media. Don’t feel like you have to commit to posting a dozen times a day. Just have an active social media account and posting once a week is enough for most small businesses to increase their online presence.
Appear on the first page of Google. The first organic position on the first page of Google receives 33% of the clicks on average. That’s a lot of traffic if you rank for “coffee shop brooklyn”, for example. There are simple things you can do to your website to make sure that your business shows up on the first page. Not sure what’s holding your site back? Use this SEO audit tool and get a list of all the issues that you need to fix.
Sponsored by Tell Me Your Goal, a marketing agency based in Greenpoint led by Steven Matt. He is the former Vice President of Digital Marketing for JPMorgan Chase & Co. In the evenings, he teaches Digital Marketing at General Assembly and at NYC Business Solutions. He has a BA in Communications Design from Pratt Institute and a Master’s Degree in Management & Technology from NYU. He’s a certified Digital Marketing Instructor for General Assembly and NYC Business Solutions.
The Holy Grail of craft fairs took place last weekend at the Brooklyn Expo Center, proving once again that Brooklyn knows how to get seriously creative. We were mesmerized by rows of homemade house wares, clothing, jewelry, and paper goods. A refreshingly unique assortment of products were on display, from metallic inlay ceramics and vintage jewels, to hysterical signs.
Couldn’t make it to the market? Never fear. We snapped the best booths so you can relive the Renegade experience–and shop some of our favorite brands online.
Duke’s Annex is on point lately. They mindfully curate the latest and greatest artisanal pop-up shops. September’s shop is Judi Rosen, featuring rocking denim, t-shirts, dresses, skirts, jumpers, and more. Go snag some fantastic women’s ready-to-wear just in time for fall! See you home slices at the opening party.
(sponsored) Did you enjoy that amazing mulled wine at the Holiday Market? It was made with mulling spices donated by Greenpoint’s favorite spice, seasoning and rub company. Greenpoint Trading Co.’s has just launched a kickstarter campaign. Their $30,000 goal will be to invest in a build-out of their warehouse, more machines for production, more inventory and more staff. With more inventory and manpower they can take on more customers and expand beyond the East Coast.
This Sunday December 14, 2014 from 1-4pm they will be having a fundraiser at Dirck the Norseman (7 No. 15th St). They will be giving away FREE BEER to anyone who donates to their cause. So donate!
I have a confession to make – I am horrible with correspondence. It was not until Father’s Day that I realized the gift I had gotten for dad was sitting there, wrapped up in a bag in my room, 8 hours away from where my Dad lives. The post office was already closed, and by the time I was home from work, there was only one place I could rely on to be open – P&P Shipping and Stationery Store (746 Manhattan Avenue.)
As you may recall from this post in March, P&P Shipping opened on Manhattan Avenue, filling a recent void in the local stationary scene. The owner, Sujit, opened the business because he saw the need in the community. Like me, he has had some bad experiences at the Post Office and decided he wanted to offer something better to his neighbors. Continue reading →
Orange Souchong, Black Sesame and Raspberry, Honeydew Lemongrass, Salted Caramel. These are just some of the flavors that Greenpoint’s local popsicle company, Mom & Pospsicles, has been sharing in their Instagram feed (and at Sunday’s McGolrick Farmer’s Market) lately. As a self-proclaimed popsicle aficionado, I needed to know more about the person behind this pop-up, so I hunted down the little company’s founder, Eli Kaplan, and asked him to share a little about his relationship to Greenpoint and his experience owning a real mom-and-POP shop. Continue reading →
It’s pretty cool when a local business beats out a chain, so we have to give some props to Cafe Grumpy, which will be taking over the Starbucks location on the east side of Grand Central. Sources told the Huffington Post that Starbucks’ lease was up and apparently the the MTA has a policy of not allowing big chain stores to apply for a new one. “It’s part of our effort to keep the space unique,” an MTA spokesperson said. Continue reading →
It seems like everyday another business is closing in Greenpoint – especially on Manhattan Ave. But great new businesses are also opening, like P&P Shipping & Stationers (746 Manhattan).
In the stationery department we’ve lost Jam Stationery and Greenpoint’s favorite film developing spot – Enla Photo.
Have no fear – you DO NOT need to go to Staples at its cringe worthy, pedestrian unfriendly location anymore.
Filling the void, P& P Shipping & Stationers has opened a big and bright new location that answers your shipping, stationery, office supplies and yes – BELIEVE IT – film developing needs. Continue reading →
For all of you gentlemen and gentlewomen, there’s a hot-to-trot new face in Greenpoint and it’s called Owen & Fred. The clean-cut, utilitarian men’s brand stocks minimal but cheeky shaving kits, understated but classic duffel bags, and a no fuss carry-on. Not to mention, Owen & Fred also sells cheeky wares (coffee mugs, stationary, toiletries) with subtle 1960s influences while maintaining a contemporary attitude.
With many Brooklyn made products, Owen & Fred launched a Kickstarter campaign to solidify their products and commitment with customers. The brand recently relocated to the Pencil Factory and I sat down with the founder, Michael Arnot, to talk about the brand, being a Greenpoint start up, and more.
