“The purpose of a business is to create a customer.” – Peter
F. Drucker
It’s the utmost desire of every business man to see
customers trooping into his place of business because one of the most valued
assets of a company is its customer base. Most entrepreneurs have successfully
built a functional business system around their product or idea but they don’t
seem to be making headway with respect to finding customers for their business.
And without adequate customers, there will be no sales and without sales; there
will be no profits. Without profits, your business is as good as dead.
Since you have understood the importance of a customer to a
business, let’s now brainstorm on how to find new customers and increase your
customer’s base. In this article, I am going to reveal to you 99+ smart ways to
find or attract 300 new customers in 30 days or less with little budget.
Please note that you are not expected to implement all the
techniques; just pick a few and stick with it. Your goal here is to find 10 new
customers each day for the next 30 days. At the end of 30 days, your business
should have nothing less than 300 new customers in its asset base. Secondly,
creativity should be applied when implementing any of these marketing tactics.
Thirdly, it’s advisable you make sure that your entire business is prepared and
able to handle the inflow of new customers.
What’s the essence of attracting new customers to your
business, only for the customers to arrive and be disappointed by your lack of
co-ordination and poor services? Never let that happen because customers talk a
lot and bad news spread like wild fire. Now if you are good to go, then below
are 30 smart ways to attract or find 300 new customers in 30 days or less with
little budget.
“Sales is about identifying a thirsty prospect and selling
them a glass of water. Branding is about selling your 2nd glass and the 3rd
glass and the 4th until when they’re thirsty they want to buy your water.
Branding is finding out what you stand for and then communicating and
delivering what you stand for.” – Ben Mack
1. Create a branded professional business card and give it
away at every given opportunity
Your business card should be professional in its design and
should maintain your company’s brand image and color. Important details about
your business should also be included in the business cards and you must give
it away at any given opportunity. Never leave your home or office without your
business cards.
2. Brand your company’s car
If your company has a car, then brand it. If your company is
still a small business, then consider branding your personal car. After all,
it’s still your business. Brand your car with your company’s corporate color
and leave a catchy message on it. For instance, if you run a pet food shop;
then consider modeling a bone on the roof of the car.
3. Offer a money back guarantee to new and existing
customers. A money back guarantee will attract new customers; the existing
customers will tell their family and friends about it and this will lead to
repeated sales.
4. Offer a discount to new and existing customers and make
sure you give your discount offer maximum exposure.
5. Give away free samples to new customers. The free sample
marketing strategy actually works; it was on this same strategy that Debbi
Fields grew her cookie company.
6. Motivate your employees to promote your business and help
you find new customers. Make them understand that your business success is
dependent on their internal and external contributions to your business; and
make sure you provide an incentive for them.
7. Look for a competition going on in your local area and
offer them prizes. Please note that your donated prize should be the product
your company sells and also make sure that the competition will receive
publicity.
8. Write a press release and send it out to the media.
9. Advertise your products and services on mobile billboards
that are attached to moving vehicles.
10. Create an informational booklet and give it away for
free. Your informational booklet should be related to your business products or
services. For instance; if you are running an electronics repair shop, you can
create a booklet teaching people how to take care of their electronic gadgets.
If you run a pet food shop; create an informational booklet
teaching pet owners how to care for their pets. Most importantly, you must give
this booklet away for free but be sure to promote your business inside the
booklet; preferably on the front page, back page and center page.
11. Advertise your business in print media.
12. Take your business to trade shows and business expos. These
events attract tons of customers and exposure.
13. Form strategic alliances with other small businesses in
your area and cross promote each other. For instance, if you sell men wears;
you can strike strategic alliances with other businesses that deal on men
shoes, men cosmetics and fragrances. You can even ally with barber’s shop in
your vicinity; all you need is creativity and a win-win plan.
14. Advertise your business in electronic media.
15. Make an excellent branded sticker and give it to your existing
customers. Make sure its content is something that your customers will be proud
to fly. For instance, you can create a branded sticker inscribed with the words
“I am a highly valued reader of MyTopBusinessideas.com blog.”
16. Initiate a loyalty program for your existing customers.
This will encourage your customers to talk proudly or brag about your business.
17. Promote your business with direct marketing campaigns.
18. Approach your local radio station and offer to provide
their audience with valuable information.
19. Design a hard hitting branded brochure and give it away
to prospects.
20. Make your packaging branded and reusable. A biscuit
company I know made their big sized biscuit package a dice board game. Once the
customers are through with eating the biscuits, the package can be used as a
dice game board. You can also make your package a map or educational material
but make sure it’s branded and valuable.
21. Get a business website or blog and put your business on
the web.
22. Become a syndicated columnist for a popular newspaper
and offer the readers valuable information relating to your industry.
23. Start your own branded newsletter. You can choose to
publish daily, weekly or monthly.
24. Ask your existing customers for referrals and don’t be
shy about it. If you’ve serve them well; then be bold to ask them to
reciprocate or encourage you by referring their family and friends to your
business.
25. Offer to be a guest on a television show that relates to
your industry.
26. Attend business events, conferences, annual general
meetings, stakeholders meeting, lunches and social gatherings. Be sure to
network very well during such events and never forget to give out your business
cards.
27. Send your customers a thank you “branded public display
gift item.” I am talking about gift items such as calendars, memos, customer’s
loyalty badge, wall papers, awards and souvenirs.
28. Place branded notice boards in high traffic locations
such as shopping centers, stadium, cinemas and conference centers.
29. Help your customers advertise or promote your business
voluntarily by providing them with valuable branded promotional materials such
as face caps, wrist bands and T-shirts.
30. Organize a “thank you” party for your loyal customers
and ask them to invite friends who are non customers. Make sure you give the
non customers a warming experience and be sure to hand them branded promotional
valuables such as T-shirts and face caps.
31. Start a marketing ideas box
32. Talk to your customers and get feedback from them
33. Choose a business name that is branded and memorable
34. Package your product well and make it stand out
35. Make your staff wear uniform or dress in corporate
attire
36. Offer exceptional services
37. Offer a toll free number
38. Keep a notice board in the hallway of your office
39. Teach your staff how to sell and take care of customers
