There are many reasons a business has to relocate. It could be you require larger premises, have secured a better lease, or the new location will provide better accessibility for clients. Whatever the reason, there is more to factor in than just shifting operations.
As you move, you need to simultaneously update this information online. Forgetting to do so can negatively affect your business in several ways. Here are a few handy tips you should apply when relocating to better preserve your business.
1. Update Suppliers, Clients, And Partners
Anyone who has an impact on your business needs to know you are moving. Even if it is just a few blocks. It can be costly if someone shows up to empty offices without any idea of where you went and how to find you. They can be discouraged and opt to find another business to work with. It is a matter of respect and maintaining good relationships.
Make up a notification you can send out to your email listing and mobile numbers. Be sure to also share the same with your social media following. Besides updating the contact details for your social media pages, also highlight posts that provide sufficient details including when you intend to close the old office and when you will open the new one. Provide the new address in full and even use a map to indicate directions to the new location from the old. A Google Maps pin can also be useful.
Some offices have general reception areas where you can leave a forwarding address to be shared with anyone who asks. If there is no such reception area, consider asking the old landlord to allow you to put up a sign advising of your relocation till the next tenant moves in. Where possible, try to retain your old phone number and have calls forwarded to the new number.
Also, update your utilities and relevant authorities like your tax and license office of this change. It is your responsibility and may lead to problems if important notifications wind up going to the wrong address.
2. Share The News On Marketing Channels
Besides putting up posts on the relocation on social media, also work towards creating content around your move to better inform stakeholders. Indicate the perks that come with the new location and what your clients and partners can look forward to, like better parking and a bigger showroom to check out new products.
Make use of interactive media, like video, to showcase the new premises from both inside and out. This will make it even easier for people to recognize the new location when they see it.
Make your audience a part of the process from the time of construction so they feel more vested in the business. It can also be particularly helpful if you plan to do a grand opening. You can build-up to the event by sharing the steps along the way and hype up the event.
3. Claim Your Listings
From Facebook to Traveladvisor, you need to be as comprehensive as possible when it comes to tracing any platform where your business could be listed. Claim the listing and update the details to reflect your new address and contact information. Even if you did not create the listing, you still have the right to claim it if the business is yours.
Emphasize local directory listings as these tend to have the strongest impact on brick and mortar establishments that depend on local clientele. It can take a long while to identify all the platforms. Doing this at a time when you are trying to shift office can be difficult. Consider engaging an online marketing or SEO firm that can do the work for you.
4. Create New Marketing Materials
Brochures, product catalogs, diaries, business cards, and calendars are a few of the many printed marketing materials that businesses of all sizes use to promote their brand. They also typically have addresses and contact information to be shared.
With relocation, you need to ensure you print new marketing material that reflects this change. Ensure that your sales team and any other employees that have business cards have them updated. If there are locations where you put out brochures, flyers, and posters, ensure you visit to remove the old material and replace with the updated ones.
5. Engage A Digital Marketing Firm
As said, moving can be hectic. Trying to take on the online marketing side of things can prove overwhelming. With experts in digital marketing on hand, you can focus more on the real-world aspects of your business while they take care of your online visibility and reputation. They should be able to update your social media channels, directory listings, and optimize your content to ensure positive press in your transition from the old to the new location.