Finding customers is the most difficult challenge for startups and established businesses.
It’s not enough to have a great product/service that many people will use. Customers won’t find you, Your store, your website, and the Facebook page just because you started a business. You have the responsibility to find clients and customers.
Businesses must continue to focus on customer acquisition. Customers and clients will stop buying from even the most successful businesses. To keep your business on a steady footing, those customers must be replaced.
17 ways to find customers for your business
Small businesses often find it difficult to find ways to increase their revenue. Many business owners have no experience in selling or marketing. These strategies may be helpful for a startup, or an established business looking to expand its customer base.
1. Create a plan to acquire customers
To create a successful acquisition strategy, you must identify the ideal customer. Consider which department would most likely buy your products and services if you are selling to businesses. Also, what level of responsibility would that individual have to decide the purchase requirements? If you don’t know, make a few calls!
Find out how long it takes to buy your product. Do you think buying your product is a decision that can easily be made by one person? Are you selling something that requires a lengthy buying cycle?
Think about the way that the average buyer finds products and services similar to yours. In what circles do they travel? Are they on social media? Who are they most likely to listen to? What are their preferred places to look for your product or service? What can you do to receive referrals from these sources and get recommendations? Look for patterns in all of this information. To get more customers, you can plan how to place yourself and your information so that people in your target audience will be able to find it when they are ready to buy.
Also read: Top 10 Poplar Hacks Connect With Customers
2. Follow and look for business opportunities on social media
Do not try to sell them via their social media channels. Instead, build relationships with potential customers. You can also comment or retweet their posts. If appropriate, mention them in your social media posts. For example: “@JoeSmith gave an excellent presentation on retail security at today’s Chamber meeting.” Your goal is to be known and regarded as a friend. Selling to people you feel connected with is much easier.
3. Work with your local newspapers
Even in the digital age daily or weekly newspapers still provide valuable contact information that can lead to new customers. Look out for names of people who were promoted, won awards, opened new companies, or who could be potential customers in any way.
You can send personalized emails to these people congratulating them for their success and telling them how fascinating the article was. Your business name, slogan, and any relevant product information should be included in your signature. (Example: Jane Smith from ABC Associates, Financial and Retirement Planning Assistance for Business Owners.
4. website and social media pages
Give them the incentive to contact you. Lead capture tools can include an offer for a free newsletter or a guide to something relevant to your industry. Follow up on leads regularly.
5. Go door-to-door if you sell to homeowners.
Many people will not answer the door or tell you that they aren’t interested. If you already do work in the neighborhood, canvassing homes near you may bring you new clients without having to spend any advertising.
6. To attract customers, use coupons and other special offers
Everyone loves a good deal. New customers can get a discount on their first purchase. You may sell products and services that are required to be bought repeatedly. Consider making the first discount contingent upon the customer signing a one-year service contract.
Look for events that bring together your potential market. Flyers about the event can be found at your local networking groups. You can also call the organizers to inquire about sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorships for local events are often quite affordable. If the cost of sponsorship is prohibitive, they might be able to sponsor “friends” for the event that will allow you to display flyers at the event, for a small fee.
16. Register for Google business profile
You should also make sure you list yourself in all directories that you are eligible for. Many chambers of commerce have member directories where you can list your contact information as well as your website URL.
8. Participate in seminars and meetings
Try new networking groups if you have been doing this for a while and haven’t made sales contacts. You can look in the newspaper to find out what events are being held by other organizations that may appeal to your target market. Attend some of these meetings.
9. Follow up on meetings
To find out if there are potential prospects, contact the people you have met. If they tell you that they don’t require your services right now, inquire when they would like to be contacted again or if they know of business associates who might be interested in what you have to offer.
10. Give a little to get a lot
Trust is key to acquiring new customers. One way to build trust is to give out free samples of your product to recipients and ask them to tell their friends. If you are a consultant, offer some advice for free. You could send a newsletter with news and tips, or offer a consultation that provides just enough information to help your client plan their project.
11. Work your personal network
Ask your friends if you know of anyone who could use your services. You might know someone who would benefit from your services. Refer friends and business associates to jobs that lead to employment if your pricing structure allows it.
12. You can put your business name, phone number, and website address on everything you can.
Your name should be visible on your vans and trucks if you are in a service industry that uses them. This will make it easy for people to find you when they see you in your neighborhood. Your name should appear on all products and labels (depending on whether it is practical). Magnets with your name, phone number, and address can be attached to appliances that you repair or handed out to prospects and customers. Your contact information and name will be more useful to you in acquiring customers.
13. Learn from your most successful competitors
Where can they advertise? Where do they network? What strategies do they use to network? You might not be able to do the same for your competitors, but you may find that what works for them works just for them.
14. Use multiple small ads instead of one big one
Consider advertising in print if your business is dominated by people who advertise in the newspaper to get customers. However, don’t expect to make a huge splash with one big ad. You can plan smaller ads that run for a longer time in the same publications as your competitors.
15. Try pay-per-click and other online advertising
Target your ads to reach prospects who are similar to you. Also, make sure your ads only appear in your service area. This will help keep your costs low. (Example: women between the age of 40 and 55 who live in Boulder, Colorado.) You should set daily and monthly budgets and make sure you check your account every day for the first few days.
Also read: Top 10 PPC Management Software and Tools
16. Ask for feedback
Did they find a better product? Did they decide that they didn’t really need the product? Did they postpone making a purchase decision? Was it difficult for them to order from your website? Make sure to use the information and collect feedback you have learned to make necessary changes to your website and watch your sales grow.
17. Realize there is no one path to success
Many sales happen when potential customers hear about your products and services can be used in many different ways from different sources. They hear more about you the more they do. The more likely they will be to look at what you have to sell when they are ready to buy.
