by Joshua Botello
One of the most consistently asked questions we get is: "How can I get more customers for my business?" Well, worry no more. We don't just have one way, we have 9 different ways to get more customers no matter your industry. Let's take a look at how you can build your customer base.
If you need some new customers now, it might time to get out there and rub some elbows. This means networking and getting referrals. But where? Start with your local city Chamber of Commerce, they routinely have events and mixers multiple times per month, to get to know the local businesses. You can always attend these events as a guest to try them out or dive in and become a full-fledged member. You can also use LinkedIn or Facebook to join groups and network online and learn from other like-minded business owners.
The other way is to tap some old or current customers and ask them for referrals. Start with the best customers first, as they will have the most positive things to say about you. You can either do this in-person, by an email or give them a call. You shouldn’t be afraid to get out there and advocate for your own business.
You also need to ask for those reviews. Like the referrals, sending an email to ask your best customer to post a review for your business is the best practice. Once newer customers read those reviews, they will be more likely to do business with you with less effort. You can check out the University of La Verne SBDC video tutorial about how to set-up your own or my blog on how to increase its visibility. With benefits like that, how can you say no?
This can be done in-store or online. How? Well if you have an existing customer base for loyalty-based rewards, using an email list will be ideal so they can get updates on when they reach the rewards. You can also use email lists compiled from Facebook ads when you run coupon giveaways. Now you can give those customers an incentive to come again if they use the coupon with advertisements on social media or email campaigns.
How this works is you can go online to Eddm.usps.com and look up the area by zip code and even some basic demographic information to target the right people to send your mailer to. You can send a flyer, a coupon, or any other incentives to get those customers through the door or even have them give you a call and book your services.
The second way to upgrade is to get a website if you don’t have one. Everyone needs to be online in this day and age because that’s where the customers are. You can easily put a simple website together with drag and drop platforms like Wix or Squarespace. If you have a website already, it may need a facelift to make the design and controls more streamlined. This can be done by you (if you really want to) or by a web designer you hire out to get the job done.
Finally, your business may just need a fresh logo that better identifies what you’re about instead of the current one. You can use freelance sites like Fiverr or 99designs to get it done. Just remember to get quotes or have them do a sample of something small to get a feel for each contractor and evaluate your options from there.
How can you build these partnerships? Networking is the best way. You can find those in your local area to refer to if they exist. If those potential partners aren’t in the area, then you will need to take it to Linkedin and do some research and you may those connections that way. The best way to find them is to search by the company you want to work with and then find a person to contact and create a relationship. This can be as easy as offering a cup of coffee and having a conversation.
The second way is to reach out to these publications yourself and write your own article. While this is the toughest of the ways. This may prove to be the most valuable. You will have to network to find the right person and then pitch the article. There are some rare occasions where they will reach out to you, but being proactive with a few choice publications is the most reliable.
The last way is getting published is guest blogging. This follows the same mentality as being published in a physical magazine but with a lot let headaches. You don’t have to be a writer but it is a good idea to get one to write or edit your piece if you aren’t very good at it. If you want to get into guest blogging, start your own blog, build your own audience and that will also get you noticed in your space.
How do like like these 9 ways to get new customers? Are there any other ways you get new customers that are not listed here? Let me know how you get customers for your business, down in the comments.
One of the most consistently asked questions we get is: "How can I get more customers for my business?" Well, worry no more. We don't just have one way, we have 9 different ways to get more customers no matter your industry. Let's take a look at how you can build your customer base.
1. Rub Some Elbows
If you need some new customers now, it might time to get out there and rub some elbows. This means networking and getting referrals. But where? Start with your local city Chamber of Commerce, they routinely have events and mixers multiple times per month, to get to know the local businesses. You can always attend these events as a guest to try them out or dive in and become a full-fledged member. You can also use LinkedIn or Facebook to join groups and network online and learn from other like-minded business owners. 
The other way is to tap some old or current customers and ask them for referrals. Start with the best customers first, as they will have the most positive things to say about you. You can either do this in-person, by an email or give them a call. You shouldn’t be afraid to get out there and advocate for your own business.
2. Get Those Thumbs Up
Online reviews have become the digital word of mouth. If you think online reviews don't mean anything, here's an important statistic: 91% of 18-34-year-olds trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. (BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey) There is the whole host of review platforms for customers to evaluate a business: Yelp, Angieslist, Google reviews, just to name a few. The easiest one to start up is your Google My Business listing that hosts google reviews. Its free, easy, and good reviews can actually impact how well your business is found on Google when prospects search for products or services.You also need to ask for those reviews. Like the referrals, sending an email to ask your best customer to post a review for your business is the best practice. Once newer customers read those reviews, they will be more likely to do business with you with less effort. You can check out the University of La Verne SBDC video tutorial about how to set-up your own or my blog on how to increase its visibility. With benefits like that, how can you say no?
3. Discounts, Loyalty Programs, and Incentives, Oh my!
Giving away stuff for free or for what seems at a huge discount is a great way to get new customers. This can be as easy as offering a 20% off the first purchase, offering coupons every few months, or having a loyalty point system that goes towards a future discount or free item.This can be done in-store or online. How? Well if you have an existing customer base for loyalty-based rewards, using an email list will be ideal so they can get updates on when they reach the rewards. You can also use email lists compiled from Facebook ads when you run coupon giveaways. Now you can give those customers an incentive to come again if they use the coupon with advertisements on social media or email campaigns.
4. Pound The Pavement
Traditionally, this meant going around and dropping off flyers on doors and businesses to cast a wide net. But we need to work smarter, not harder. The U.S. Postal Service has a tool called Every Door Direct Mailing or EDDM for short. This is a mass-mailing tool for local businesses to get in touch with their local customers or any customers in a given area.How this works is you can go online to Eddm.usps.com and look up the area by zip code and even some basic demographic information to target the right people to send your mailer to. You can send a flyer, a coupon, or any other incentives to get those customers through the door or even have them give you a call and book your services.
5. Give Your Business an Upgrade
If you think your business may need a facelift, there are some ways to get this accomplished. You can sign up to get on the social media networks your customers are. Don’t just join any social network or all of them at once. This will take some thought to know where your customers are. Start out with one and expand to others if your business needs change.The second way to upgrade is to get a website if you don’t have one. Everyone needs to be online in this day and age because that’s where the customers are. You can easily put a simple website together with drag and drop platforms like Wix or Squarespace. If you have a website already, it may need a facelift to make the design and controls more streamlined. This can be done by you (if you really want to) or by a web designer you hire out to get the job done.
Finally, your business may just need a fresh logo that better identifies what you’re about instead of the current one. You can use freelance sites like Fiverr or 99designs to get it done. Just remember to get quotes or have them do a sample of something small to get a feel for each contractor and evaluate your options from there.
6. Tag Team
If you don’t think your business has been doing all that well with all the effort you have been doing, it may time to team up with other businesses. Here’s how to do it: Find a business that has a complementary product or similar audience to your own and reach out to them for a partnership. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, it just can a system of referrals for like products that people will want to buy or have together.How can you build these partnerships? Networking is the best way. You can find those in your local area to refer to if they exist. If those potential partners aren’t in the area, then you will need to take it to Linkedin and do some research and you may those connections that way. The best way to find them is to search by the company you want to work with and then find a person to contact and create a relationship. This can be as easy as offering a cup of coffee and having a conversation.
7. Get Published
There are a few ways of being published in a trade journal or industry publication. Why would want to do this? People in the know look at publications, especially serious clients who do their research or trust these publications. The first way to get published is from HARO.com. Help A Reporter Out is an interesting tool, it is basically a board for connecting reporters with sources on various topics. These can range from industry news to current events.The second way is to reach out to these publications yourself and write your own article. While this is the toughest of the ways. This may prove to be the most valuable. You will have to network to find the right person and then pitch the article. There are some rare occasions where they will reach out to you, but being proactive with a few choice publications is the most reliable.
The last way is getting published is guest blogging. This follows the same mentality as being published in a physical magazine but with a lot let headaches. You don’t have to be a writer but it is a good idea to get one to write or edit your piece if you aren’t very good at it. If you want to get into guest blogging, start your own blog, build your own audience and that will also get you noticed in your space.
8. Speak
Along with getting published to building your authority with your customers, the other way is to give a speech. How to get these speaking engagements is also similar to getting published: connect with the right people and have something of value to offer. It doesn't have to be as elaborate as TED talk, it can start out with your local chamber. You just need to determine what topic to present to the audience. Make sure it is something relatable and valuable to the business owners who attend. Just do not break the cardinal rule: don't promote yourself in the speech. There will be plenty of time to explain what you do with attendees after your presentation, but just avoid it in the speech.9. Create Some Content!
Finally, the last way is to draw customers in. How? Using Inbound Marketing and create great content. Also, know as content marketing is using all the above ways to get your information out there and put it up front for customers to learn about you at their own pace. You are basically priming the pump so when they do interact with you and not just your content, you can make the sale. This method may take the most effort and the longer than others on this list but once you get it going, it will more than prove itself to be a valuable tool.How do like like these 9 ways to get new customers? Are there any other ways you get new customers that are not listed here? Let me know how you get customers for your business, down in the comments.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
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