If you ask any business leader what the most important thing for them is, you are likely to hear two words: customer acquisition. There is no doubt, without customers, there is no business. This is why some of the most established companies in the world invest so much time and effort in capturing customers.
However, pouring millions of dollars into this type of effort might not be the most feasible for a small business. Therefore, the following list includes some of the best strategies to implement to help your business reach more customers.
Free Advertising Sites
Free? How can anything be free? The reality is that there are plenty of free advertising sites on the web that are just waiting to be utilized. The good thing, they’re all only a few clicks away. Using free advertising sites can benefit your business by highlighting categories that are directly related to your business or help you reach larger, more engaged audiences. This can also help increase your company’s revenue.
Some of the more popular free advertising sites include Gumtree and Craigslist. The only disadvantage is a missed opportunity if free advertising isn’t taken seriously by a company’s marketing team.
Increase Your Network
When you’re in business, one of the most harmful pieces of advice you can listen to is to keep to yourself. Make an effort to network with various organizations and companies in your area. Doing so can open you up to a whole group of customers that you might have never been able to reach or even know about.
An excellent example of this is when two companies that complement each other work together, such as a gym and a healthy smoothie company.
Social Media
Social media can be utilized in a number of ways to gain more customers. One of the best ways to take advantage of social media is when you are attempting to find a target audience to sell your products or services to.
Your audience is spread out across social media, and you can use the tools on hand to bring them together within your page. The best way to accomplish this is to run test-ads that target similar groups. Slowly but surely, you will discover the right type of people who are willing to not only interact with your company but purchase as well.
Ask for Referrals
Often the best source for new customers is existing customers. Some business leaders don’t like to ask for referrals, as they might think it pushes the envelope too much. However, most customers have stated that they really don’t mind as long as it’s asked respectfully.
A good way to ask is to simply send out an email requesting this information to satisfied customers.
Another way is to simply ask while the transaction is being completed. More often than not, they will provide you with a couple of people who might be looking for your exact services. If you can afford to, try providing incentives to customers who provide you with this information. Extra perks or a discount on their next order are great incentives to offer.
Volunteer
Most consumers want to shop local, but they often don’t know any local companies nor have enough confidence in them to step into their shops. This is why being seen within the community is so important to gaining new customers.
Providing your time to volunteer for community events such as a parade or festival can be the ticket to showcasing your company culture. In addition to the exposure you will be receiving at these events, there is a large probability that your local newspaper or news station will be present, thus providing you with additional exposure.
Offering Free Trials
With large companies such as Netflix, Hulu, and other online services, people are simply getting used to receiving free trial offer for their products. Free trials are a great strategy to implement since it attracts customers who might have never tried your services. Even if they don’t end up being long-term customers, you often end up receiving feedback and reviews to post on your website.
Note that simply showcasing your products is not enough. Always make sure to go above and beyond in demonstrating that your product or service is well worth the price they will pay after the free trial ends.
Finding new customers for your company is no easy task, no matter the size of it. This is why customer acquisition should be taken seriously and be focused on throughout the year. Through the use of the strategies provided above, you can begin to see an increase in customers walking through your door or visiting your online website.