Whether you have just launched a new business or are experiencing stagnant growth of your client base, there are things you improve to get more clients. If you are a startup, then you will need to work harder than others. This is because you need to score more clients, in addition to establishing your brand, values, and repute. People are normally hesitant to try new service providers and products because they never want to invest their money in the wrong place. Which by the way, is exactly why you need to ensure they believe you are right for them. This applies to both new and existing businesses; the only difference is how you go about it.
If you are one of those businesses that needs more clients, the first thing you need to do is understand your ideal customer. When you have done that, go ahead and follow the tips below to get more clients for your business.
1. Don’t Be Too Needy or Pushy.
The first thing to be aware of is that you should never come off as too pushy or needy. Nothing else makes prospective clients run further from you. Your approach, marketing tactics, strategies, language, and impression should not give off the wrong message. Such as, ‘we need more clients, just please, please, buy from us’, or worse, ‘please be our customer.”
No, no. Absolutely not.
This is not what you want. You want to stay as far away from this perception as possible. Instead, go for a subtler way, something which doesn’t scream how good you are. But, instead, tells people how you can make their lives easier and simple, and how you can solve their problems.
2. Speak at Events & Parties and Host Industrial Gatherings.
This is crucial if you are a startup. You want to introduce yourself to the industry, talk to people and the media. Show yourself. Don’t hide if you want to make it to the top. When people see you in the spotlight, they start knowing and recognizing you. It makes you visible and trustworthy.
3. Take your Advertising & Marketing Game up a Notch.
With everything else aside, getting more customers does translate into better marketing and advertising. But understand that this does not always mean spending more. Understand that it all depends on the nature of your business and the industry that you work in. Make sure that you always maintain a consistent and respectable presence on social media. Keep your business up to date, post regularly, and interact with your customers on these platforms. This shows that you take your business seriously and are genuinely concerned about the opinions and views of your customers.
4. Leverage & Expand your Network.
Getting more customers is all about networking. You need to leverage your current network and expand it to get more customers. Keep in mind that you have to relay your ideal customer to your network and peers so they direct the right customers to you.
5. Know the Worth of Referrals.
The value of referrals for getting more customers is undeniable. You can talk to any expert and they will always list referrals as one of the best ways to get new customers. The thing that makes referrals so successful is the fact that they establish trust and reliability in your brand. The fact that someone people know and trust is recommending or referring them a particular product or service is enough for them to give it a try. This eliminates initial reluctance and hesitance that people have for trying new or unfamiliar products/services.
6. Offer Free Trials of your Products & Services.
This is nothing new. But that doesn’t mean it is any less effective. Businesses are offering free trials for services, software, and products all the time. Food companies are hosting free tasting events at supermarkets to let customers decide for themselves whether they really want the new product. This is another way to establish trust about your product or business and make the customer want it.
7. Exchange Free Services for Case Studies & Testimonials.
At times, businesses offer free products and services for unbiased reviews, testimonials, and case studies. You see it with makeup brands all the time. It is no secret that bloggers, YouTubers, and others are earning big by just providing reviews for particular products or services. This is one of the best ways to market your business and get more customers.
8. Establish Host-Beneficiary Relationships & Strategic Alliances.
Host-beneficiary business arrangements refer to a teaming up of two businesses with the same target customers. One promotes and markets the other to their customers. Examples include a high-end car dealership and a high-end salon. Normally the beneficiary offers a commission on sales or covers the cost of email and other promotional offers. This relationship can help promote your business by adding discount vouchers for your products/services at the end of their newsletters or other emails, or any other pre-decided arrangements between the two of you. Strategic alliance takes this relationship further by partnering up with the business for the long-term rather than short-term as in host-beneficiary relationships. Examples include Google & IBM, Spotify & Uber, and Apple Pay and MasterCard to name a few. If they can do it, so can you!
If you are looking to score more clients and increasing your clientele, follow the above tips and you will see the results for yourself. Cheers!
Chris Giorgio is the President of Fully Accountable. Fully Accountable is an outsourced accounting firm specializing in eCommerce and digital businesses. Chris has served as a CPA, CFO and has over 14 years of experience in the accounting and finance industry. Chris has dedicated his career towards helping entrepreneurs and high-level business owners achieve greater profitability through specialized outsource accounting functions.
