Every small business owner wants to attract new customers, but how can you do it? Here are 10 proven ways to help you bring “new blood” to your business.
Identify your target audience
. Knowing who your ideal customer is will help you focus your efforts on the right people. Invest in paid advertising on social networks, as this will help you reach a larger audience.Small Business Administration. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers free resources and advice to help small business owners succeed. Visit their website or contact their local office for more information.
Local media
.Contact radio stations, newspapers and television stations about their events and business news. Present them with a compelling story about you or your company and they may feature you in their publications.
Write a guest blog
. Offer your industry experience and write a guest blog for a website related to your field.This will help you reach potential customers who are interested in the topics you write about.
Local networks
. Establish local networks through organizations such as Chambers of Commerce and Rotary Clubs. These groups usually organize monthly meetings during which local professionals meet to exchange ideas and establish contacts.They also provide access to lists of companies looking for third-party suppliers.
Companies use this tool to connect with potential employees.
Craigslist
. Although it's not specifically designed to help people find work, Craigslist offers a large audience for posting ads related to various types of freelance work.Social media
.Be aware of the evolution of your social media audiences and offer value on your channels in the form of industry experience and promotions to encourage customers to follow you and keep up to date with your business.
Old customers
. Everything old can be new again, including old customers who haven't done business with you for a long time. Review your customer contacts on a regular basis, and after six months or a year of no interaction or purchase, contact inactive customers with a special offer via email, direct mail, or phone.Market research. Once you've created an organized inventory of current and former customers, you can start market research to better understand your audience. It also helps identify new opportunities, so you can develop a plan to reach customers on platforms that you may not yet be using.
Referrals
.Most customers, especially satisfied ones, are willing to tell you how they got to your website or to your front door. Referrals are one of the best ways to get new customers, but if you wait for your current customers to recommend you to their friends and family, you could be waiting a long time.
