Whether you’re just starting your small business or have been running it for some time now, we all have the same question: how do I attract more customers? In this article, I’m sharing ten of my top tips to help you attract more customers so you can ramp up sales and reach your year-end goals.
10 Tips to Attract More Customers
Review this list of ways to attract more customers and put your favorite tips to work for your business today!
1. Build Relationships
Instead of thinking about the sale, think about building relationships with your prospective customers. You can do this by providing valuable content (on your website, blog, and social media channels), engaging with your followers and contacts, and establishing yourself as a trusted resource.
2. Define Your Niche Customer
You have to understand your customer to know what marketing methods will work best. The more niche-focused you are, the easier it will be to find and reach your target market. For help, check out my recent blog post, How to Define Your Niche Target Customer.
3. Define Your Marketing Approach
Once you have developed your customer profile, you can determine how to reach them specifically. Here are some marketing methods to try. Which ones will work best for your niche target customer?
- Developing a great website
- Blogging
- Social media marketing
- Email marketing
- PPC ads
- Direct mail
- Print advertisements
4. Promos and Discounts
No matter what marketing method you use to reach prospects, a discount might be what you need to push them to become a paying customer. Customers today are looking for deals and value. If you want to attract more customers who are first-time buyers, consider running an introductory discount or a percentage off their first purchase. If you want to delight new and existing customers alike, use a more general promotion like buy-one-get-one (free or half off), free shipping, or something else.
5. Focus on Referrals
How about letting your current customers do the marketing for you? If your current customers are happy with the products and services you sell and the experience you provide, they may be willing to recommend you to their friends. Sometimes getting a referral is as simple as asking! You can also incentivize referrals with discounts and special sales.
6. Check Rating and Review Sites
Following up on the last tip, you should also regularly monitor online rating and review sites for mentions of your products, services, or brand. There might be some excellent reviews you can use in your marketing materials. Checking in also allows you to respond to negative reviews, so those who read the reviews know you are paying attention and responding to complaints.
7. Reach Out to Past Customers
Sometimes the way to best attract more customers is to go back to the old ones that have gone ‘stale.’ Do you have a marketing plan to reengage customers who bought from you a long time ago (a year, a few months, etc.)? A well-crafted email or mailed flyer could remind them about your business and tell them what new things await them.
8. Think Local
Many small businesses are local, and if yours is too, it’s important to make your local presence known. In terms of digital presence, make sure you are listed on popular local directories. This includes claiming your Business Profile on Google and making sure you are listed in Google Places, Yahoo Local, and Bing Places. In terms of your physical presence, you can stand out in the community by things like sponsoring a Little League team or participating in local community events.
9. Partnerships
Networking with other business owners can be another great way to attract more customers to your business. If your businesses are complimentary, you may consider swapping mentions on Facebook or running a joint promotion to both of your audiences.
10. Keep Your Existing Customers Happy
While this list is focused on how to attract more customers, it’s important to point out that it’s actually cheaper to keep the customers you have than to find new ones. Instead of solely focusing your efforts on the top of the sales funnel, make sure to spend time brainstorming ways to continue to delight the customers you have so they become loyal customers for life.
How to attract more customers is a huge question for all small business owners, and it is crucial for success. Use this list to get started today. And if you have other strategies to attract more customers that have worked in your business, post a comment below!
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