That said, there is no shortage of clever, inexpensive ways to
drum up new business. Here are my top eight ways to get new customers.
1. Try a new marketing technique: Like any small business, you likely have some marketing tricks that work. And, also like most small businesses, I bet you use them again and again.
No wonder they get stale.
If you try something new, you will reach new people, and that increases your chances that someone new will check you out.
Print a flyer. Create a coupon. Have a sale. Start a direct-marketing campaign. There are many powerful marketing ideas that will generate more business .
2. Launch or offer a new product: Again, the idea is the same – if you keep doing the same thing, offering the same old products (and marketing them the same old way) it is the same old people who will notice them.
The trick is to get different people to check out your wares. Offering a different product, or product line, and letting people know about it, does that.
3. Get more clicks: While you can’t man the business 24/7,
your URL can. Whether yours is a fully-empowered e-commerce site or
simply an e-brochure for your business, the secret to converting that
Web site into money is all in the numbers. The more people who visit,
the more purchases may occur.
The good news is that getting more people to your Web site is actually a fairly easy thing to do. Check out Microsoft adCenter for starters.
4. Launch a PR campaign: Advertising is great and can lead to new customers for sure. The problem is that it is inherently biased; it is you tooting your own horn.
Far better: Have someone else hype your business for you. That is where public relations comes in.
By getting a TV or a radio station, or a newspaper or magazine, to do a story on your business creates immediate third-party, trustworthy, validation of your business. That you can use that story again and again is icing on the cake.
5. Ask for referrals: My dad had a huge sign in his carpet warehouse that said, “Our word of mouth advertising starts with you!” He then gave all referrers a $100 discount on future purchases.
Creating an incentive referral program is simple and it can yield great results. The key is to give people a reason to refer business to you (aside from being a fine establishment) and to thank them for doing so. People like to be appreciated.
6. Smile and dial: Sometimes new business is simply a matter of prospecting. Whether it is making cold calls or sending out proposals, every so often you just gotta do it. Do some search engine research, get a list of potential leads, and get to it.
The important things I have learned when prospecting are two-fold:
8. Get (social) networking: More and more, people are going online to check out and chat about business choices. Indeed, according to a poll I just read of “active Internet users”:
The upshot of this all is that new tricks create new customers.
1. Try a new marketing technique: Like any small business, you likely have some marketing tricks that work. And, also like most small businesses, I bet you use them again and again.
No wonder they get stale.
If you try something new, you will reach new people, and that increases your chances that someone new will check you out.
Print a flyer. Create a coupon. Have a sale. Start a direct-marketing campaign. There are many powerful marketing ideas that will generate more business .
2. Launch or offer a new product: Again, the idea is the same – if you keep doing the same thing, offering the same old products (and marketing them the same old way) it is the same old people who will notice them.
The trick is to get different people to check out your wares. Offering a different product, or product line, and letting people know about it, does that.
The good news is that getting more people to your Web site is actually a fairly easy thing to do. Check out Microsoft adCenter for starters.
4. Launch a PR campaign: Advertising is great and can lead to new customers for sure. The problem is that it is inherently biased; it is you tooting your own horn.
Far better: Have someone else hype your business for you. That is where public relations comes in.
By getting a TV or a radio station, or a newspaper or magazine, to do a story on your business creates immediate third-party, trustworthy, validation of your business. That you can use that story again and again is icing on the cake.
5. Ask for referrals: My dad had a huge sign in his carpet warehouse that said, “Our word of mouth advertising starts with you!” He then gave all referrers a $100 discount on future purchases.
Creating an incentive referral program is simple and it can yield great results. The key is to give people a reason to refer business to you (aside from being a fine establishment) and to thank them for doing so. People like to be appreciated.
6. Smile and dial: Sometimes new business is simply a matter of prospecting. Whether it is making cold calls or sending out proposals, every so often you just gotta do it. Do some search engine research, get a list of potential leads, and get to it.
The important things I have learned when prospecting are two-fold:
- 1. Don’t take no personally.
- 2. Remember, it’s a numbers game. Keep on going!
8. Get (social) networking: More and more, people are going online to check out and chat about business choices. Indeed, according to a poll I just read of “active Internet users”:
- 72% of respondents checked out a company’s reputation on chat boards before buying.
- 74% based their buying decisions, at least partially, on what they read.
- 81% thought that blogs, online rating systems and discussion boards gave them valuable feedback.
The upshot of this all is that new tricks create new customers.
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