Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!
Here are answers to the most common questions. If you don’t see what you need here, please email us!
About LSM
What is Local Store Marketing (LSM)?
Local Store Marketing (LSM) is about driving your business by making your location locally relevant. It’s about connecting your location to your customers, your neighborhood, and your community. Local Marketing is cost-effective and fun. It’s not about spending big dollars on advertising campaigns. It’s the way many big, successful brands (like Starbucks Coffee Company) got to where they are today.
Why is Local Store Marketing (LSM) Important?
Local Store Marketing (LSM) is important because it makes your business locally relevant to your customers and your community as a whole. It will set you apart from your competition. Your customers will think, “Wow. They really belong here,” and they wouldn’t think of going anywhere else for what you provide.
Well-executed Local Marketing drives all areas of your business sales, customer loyalty, and employee engagement/retention.
Is SEO or signing up for Google Ads the same as Local Store Marketing (LSM)?
No. While SEO (search engine optimization) and Google Ads may aid your local customers in finding you online, our focus has more to do with person-to-person interaction.
Who uses Local Store Marketing (LSM)?
Any business owner or operator interested in driving sales to their location. Locations could include:
- Restaurants
- Retail Stores
- Franchises
- Franchise Owners
- Coffee Shops
- Clothing Stores
- Wine Bars
- Frozen Yogurt Shops
- Florists
- Sandwich Shops
- Pet Stores
- Burger Places
- Grocery Stores
- Bakeries & Cupcakeries
…and many more!
Do I have to have a storefront to use LSMGuide.com?
No. However, most of our LSM marketing activities are geared towards store owners with a physical location. A place in the community – where they are interacting with customers face to face. However, there are some marketing activities that could apply to e-commerce or web-based business.
Account, Registration & Billing Questions
How do I contact LSMGuide.com?
We would love to hear from you! Please visit our Contact & Help Page to send us a note. We’ll respond as soon as possible.
I’m a registered member and I need to change my password. How do I do this?
You can click here: Account Details and this will take you to a page that allows you to – at the bottom – change your password. You can navigate to this page by clicking the Members main menu and the My Account menu. And on the My Account page click Edit in the Account Details area.
How do I cancel my membership?
Once you are logged in visit your My Account/Account Details page. Atop you will see your Subscriptions. Click the VIEW button. You will see your Subscription Details including – at the bottom – under Actions a button titled CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION.
My company will pay for my LSM Courses but needs to receive an invoice. Can you do this?
Yes, we would be happy to send you an invoice! Please visit our Contact & Help Page and send us a note including the details that are required. We’ll email you directly with an invoice. You won’t pay us directly, payment is actually safely and securely with a credit card or PayPal.
Can I have more than one user name linked to my LSMGuide.com membership?
No. There is one username per membership enrollment. If you’re interested in having multiple team members have access to LSMGuide.com you’ll need to sign-up for each person for their own membership. If you have a group, we would be happy to discuss a group discount for your team. Send us a note!
I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
On the Login Page there is a “Lost Password” link there that will ask you to enter your email address. A new password will be sent to that email.
This didn’t work for me. How do I get a refund?
Well, first… We want the site to work for you. Please send us a note via our Contact & Help Page. Let us know what challenge you’re having. We’ll help you out the best we can! Due to the nature of the type of knowledge product we offer we don’t offer refunds for each month’s membership. If you don’t like the site, please cancel your account. We do have more information regarding membership in our Terms & Conditions section.
Is there a free Membership option?
Not at this time. However, we do offer a guarantee, so if you don’t find what we are providing useful we can arrange a refund.
Also, you can get all sorts of free advice by subscribing to our LSM eNewsletter and receive tips, tricks, and techniques to your inbox. Although, the great chunks of knowledge can be found in the Courses.
We also have great articles on the LSMGuide blog.
If I have more than one employee/store, can we all use the same Courses?
We would prefer you didn’t. It has taken a phenomenal amount of work to build this site. The value you get for the cost is worth the investment. If you have a group of 5 or more, contact us and we’ll arrange special pricing for you.
About LSMGuide.com
Who’s behind LSMGuide.com?
LSMGuide.com has been created by expert marketers Shannon Jones and Paul Williams. Hi! Together, we have more than 40 years of experience creating marketing and sales strategies for Starbucks Coffee Company, The Disney Company, Panera Bread Company, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and others. We have put all of our experience, all we have learned through trial-and-error and success into a tool that allows you to rapidly, but thoroughly, figure out what action to take to address the situation or challenges you’re having at your business.
And, we’re so excited to pour our brains into such a project!
Needing Additional Support?
What if I need help with a tactic or activity not listed on the site?
Let us know! We want to provide you with what you need. Chances are if you need it, our other members do too! Please visit our Contact & Help Page and let us know what you’re looking for.
If I need additional help with a marketing activity, who do I ask?
We’re here to help. Please visit our Contact & Help Page and send us a note. We’ll be happy to serve as a support resource for you.
What if a certain marketing activity doesn’t work for me?
Reach out to us – we’re here to help. Please visit our Contact & Help Page to send us a note with the details about what you did, how you did it, and what the outcome was. We’ll respond as soon as possible with our thoughts.
Is social media the same as Local Store Marketing (LSM)?
No, however social media may be a part of your Local Store Marketing plan. While social media can help make your location locally relevant, it is not the same as Local Store Marketing. Local Store Marketing uses social media as a tool to spread the word to your customers and potential customers, but social media is not the strategy behind Local Store Marketing.
