Business is all about the customers. It’s said, especially in retail, that the customer is always right and for good reason.
Even when the customer is wrong, their kind of still right. As a business owner, you are there to provide customers with a service. If you fail to meet their expectations, they will simply go somewhere else. Somewhere where they feel they will be treated better.
Trying to retain the customers that you have at the moment is really important, but trying to make new contacts and convert people into future customers is crucial if you want to grow your business.
The only problem is that every business with which you are competing will be trying to do the same. Convincing people that you are the best option for them is what you need to do.
There are a few ways of going about it. Here are a few ideas that may fit in with your business model, and which you can utilise to set yourself apart:
Ideas To Reach More Customers More Effectively
- The internet is one of the best marketing tools ever invented. It is also really popular, and research from the Pew Centre proves it: 88% of Americans now use the internet, 77% have a smartphone, 73% have broadband at home, and 69% use social media. These statistics alone should demonstrate the potential of the internet. However, just setting up your own website and detailing the prices of your products or services is not enough. You need to give consumers a reason to stop at your site rather than one of the other 1.1 billion websites out there. One way of doing this is by starting a blog like Media Gypsy. If you post informative, fun, and interesting content, you may be able to develop a readership. Besides, the nature of modern society is such that personal brands are becoming more and more important. Developing your own might be the difference between being remembered and just being another business in a directory.
- Another way to engage the attention of potential customers is by doing good things. A poll conducted last year found that Millennials (defined as 18 to 34-year-olds) are more likely than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers to prefer a company which gives back to society. Not only could you help out people in your community, you could use the opportunity to advertise your business at the same time. Anyone can hand over an oversized, novelty cheque, but sponsoring a local kid’s sports team or running a marathon for a good cause are both excellent ways to raise your profile and become more well known.
- While you may not find the idea of networking appealing at all, it works. Going to a local or national trade show and talking to as many people as possible will not only get your name out there, you may find that you can establish agreements with businesses around the country that benefit you both. For instance, if they are non-competing, you could agree to advertise them if they agree to advertise you.
These are just a few ideas that you can use in your business to reach more customers. If you have your own ideas, share them in the comments below.
