How To Increase Your Customer Base

Was increasing your customer base one of you business goals this year? Here are ten tried-and-true ways to increase your customer base.

Provide New Clients With Discounts And Special Offers

Consumers nowadays are still on the lookout for good bargains and good value. Offer introductory discounts or deals such as buy two, get one half-price or free gift wrapping for the first two purchases to entice customers into your shop. These kinds of deals can entice new clients who were thinking about doing business with you but needed a little push to actually change their buying habits. Then keep track of what they buy and which offers they use so you may send them more relevant marketing messages in the future.

Ask For Referrals

Once you’ve earned a customer’s trust, put it to good use by asking for references. One of the best sources of new clients is current customers. You can’t, however, sit back and wait for them to bring their colleagues, friends, and family to your company. Instead, take charge and develop a strategy for aggressively soliciting referrals from your happy consumers.

Incorporate actions that generate referrals within the sales process. Send follow-up emails to clients to ensure that they are satisfied with their purchases, and then send another email asking for referrals. If such a sale price justifies it, consider adding incentives.

Reach Out To Previous Customers 

Return to your list of lapsed clients and market to those who haven’t done business with you in a while. Make it a habit to do this on a regular basis (say, once a quarter), and choose consumers you haven’t seen in six months. Send them an email, direct mail, text message, or phone call with a “We Miss You” message and a deal or promotion if they return.

Use Networking 

Meeting new people and telling them who you are and what you do is the best approach to boost brand awareness. Join your local business association, trade associations, and networking groups. Participate in Meetup gatherings. Even going to PTA meetings might be a fantastic networking opportunity if you own a local business. Instead of focusing on “What’s in it for me?” when networking, ask yourself, “How can I help you?”

Appeal To Online Customers 

The online world of shopping was already growing, and Covid-19 only enhanced this. More and more people are now shopping solely online and admit that they rarely shop in physical stores any longer. This doesn’t seem as though it’s going to slow down either. This means that businesses need to ensure they are appealing to online customers just as much as physical customers. To do this you could need to make sure you have a dynamic and responsive website that is easy to use. You should also consider things offering live virtual tours or demonstrations so your customers can see what they are purchasing in detail.

Update Your Website 

Consumers and B2B buyers alike use online search to find new firms. That implies your website will have to do the legwork for you in order for clients to locate you. Examine your search engine marketing and SEO tactics and techniques, including ensuring that your site is mobile-friendly.

Even the style of your website matters. A site with too many graphics will take longer to load, which will turn off visitors. Hire a website design company and/or an SEO professional if you don’t have the expertise in-house.

Partner With Business That Compliment Yours 

Getting together with businesses who have a similar customer base but aren’t direct competitors and discussing how to promote to each other’s customers to drive new business is a smart method to acquire new customers without spending a lot of money. Working with a company that sells maternity apparel, for example, would be a terrific relationship if you sell baby things.

Talk About Your Expertise 

You can build curiosity and even create buzz by exhibiting your industry experience, which can help you attract new consumers as well as earn more revenue from your current client base. Volunteering to appear on industry panels, hosting a webinar or workshop, presenting at industry events or to groups that your target customers belong to, and holding training courses are just a few ways to make a positive impact on potential new customers and clients. This method is especially effective for B2B business owners.

Use Online Ratings And Review Sites

Consumers, both in the B2B and B2C industries, typically consult online ratings and review sites before doing business with a brand new company. As a result, make sure to keep an eye on those sites and respond to any concerns. Link to positive reviews on your website to make the most of them. Encourage customers to share their thoughts by posting signs in your store, office, restaurant, or another venue. New clients will be more willing to try your business if they witness others praising it.

Get Involved In Community Events

According to polls, the majority of people prefer to support small, independent enterprises. Participate in charitable activities and organizations to raise your profile in your neighborhood. Sponsor a neighborhood fun run, arrange a holiday “gifts for kids” drive, or provide equipment to a local Little League team. All of this boosts your profile, making it easier to attract new customers.

Offer Bring A Friend Deals

This concept is similar to referrals, but it involves client involvement. To get your loyal clients to introduce their colleagues and friends to your business, provide “bring a friend” incentives. To attract more guests, a restaurant could, for example, offer a “buy one entrée, get one free” deal.

Consider these ideas as a starting point. Feel free to add your own suggestions. The important thing is to get started today so that by next year, you’ll already be selling to a larger customer base. Do you know any other ideas that could help grow your customer base? Please share some of them in the comments section below.