For small business owners, bringing in new customers can be a struggle. Advertisement can be fairly expensive. Knowing just what audience to target can be tricky to pin down. Besides, with all the larger businesses out there, competition can be rough. However, there are a few simple tips and tricks you can use to draw in new customers that change very little about how you’re currently doing business. This might not even cost all that much. Try these steps next time you’re wanting to pick up new customers for your new small business.
- Fix Up Your Signage: One of the easiest places to start drawing in new customers is with your sign. Studies show that adding or changing your current sign can directly impact your profits. Replacing a storefront sign with a larger sign typically increases revenue by up to 7.7%, since potential customers are more likely to see your sign and walk in as a result.
- Work With Your Competition: While this might seem counterintuitive, partnering with your competition, rather than working against them, can help to benefit you in the long-run. If you both channel your expenses into a partnership, that’s less money you’re spending on marketing against them. Look into existing businesses in your area and see if they’d be willing to work together on a mutually beneficial relationship. It’s a win-win situation everyone will grow from.
- Brush Up Your Website: In the digital era, having a functional and well-designed website is more important than ever. Having a strong online presence is key to drawing in customers, particularly if you’re targeting a younger, tech-savvy audience. It takes time to develop a social media following and get important SEO keyword rankings, so start developing your online strategy as soon as possible. In addition, make sure your NAP information (name, address, phone number) appears on every page of your site. It should never be difficult for customers to find your contact info, and your NAP info sends positive signals to search engines like Google, too.
- Sweeten The Pot: It’s no secret that customers love free and discounted products and services. Offering free trials and discounts can bring in potential customers, who will then stay after the discounts pass. If giving away products seems like too much of a burden on your bottom line, try a contest or giveaway. That way, you can draw in customers with the possibility of free product with a minimized blow to your expenses.
Whichever method you choose, these cheap and easy fixes to your business could help turn your small business into the next big success story.