For small business owners, attracting new customers can be tough. You might not know where to find them or have the recognition you need to get people through the door. In other cases, you might not even know where to start.
Thankfully, there are plenty of simple (and creative) ways to grow your business and begin filling your books with clients. Here, we’re sharing five easy ways to attract new clients — and keep them for a long time, too.
1. Build a digital presence
The best way to reach new audiences is to find them where they are. These days, of course, that’s mostly online. Thankfully, building your digital presence fairly simple — just be sure you stay consistent. Get started by:
- Building a clean, easy-to-use website
- Creating social media profiles (and regularly post on them)
- Ensuring your Google My Business profile is accurate and up-to-date
- Online advertising through paid ads
Having a strong digital presence is also great for interacting and engaging with followers, posting important business updates, and supporting other small business owners.
2. Create new client promotions
Reaching new audiences is one thing, but getting them through the door is another. Heighten the incentive by offering new client promotions. These can be in the form of a discount on services, a buy-one-get-one offer, or any bonus or extra incentive for new clients.
If you’re still not convinced, consider this: Nearly 93% of consumers use a coupon or discount code throughout the year. In other words, they’re definitely looking for deals.
Pro tip: Once you get new clients through the door, put a lot (if not most) of your effort into client retention, as repeat customers spend 67% more than new ones.
3. Ask for referrals
Family and friends are often go-to sources when you’re in search of a new product or service. In fact, 83% of consumers say they trust recommendations from them. Use that to your advantage by asking for referrals! But don’t limit yourself by simply asking customers to refer your business — try using these strategies, too:
- Create a referral program for existing customers (i.e., offer a discount for each referral they make)
- Encourage them to leave a review
- Invite them to like your social media pages (and give you a shout-out if they enjoyed their experience!)
- Simply ask them to share their experience word-of-mouth with family and friends
4. Build local connections
Being a small business owner is no easy feat, which is why it’s important to support fellow entrepreneurs who likely face the same hurdles. Reach out to fellow small or local businesses in your community. Ask how you can support them in their venture and explore opportunities for local partnerships. Maybe you sell their products in your store or vice-versa. You could also collaborate for joint services, giveaways, and events. Even if it doesn’t lead down those paths and you simply build a connection, you can feel good knowing you have met someone (or a team) who can help spread the word and recommend your business to their clients.
5. Make things simple and easy
Part of the new customer experience happens before they even walk through the door — it happens online. When it comes to booking services, 70% of consumers will choose to book online if they could. That’s where FlexBooker comes in.
With our powerful scheduling software, new (and existing), clients can sign up for your services online. Our work doesn’t stop there, though. FlexBooker helps you drive even more business by:
- Sending automatic text and email reminders
- Creating automated waitlists for clients
- Allowing clients to reschedule or cancel in real-time easily
- Accepting online payments and sell appointment packages
On top of that, you’ll save tons of time and money with this tool, allowing you to focus more attention on building your client list.
Attract new clients with FlexBooker
New clients can be tough to attract, but with the right strategies and tools, you’ll be booked up in no time. Start on the right foot by utilizing FlexBooker. Explore all our great features, then see how it works first-hand by trying it free for 14 days. All it takes is a few quick minutes to set it up on your website and start accepting appointments!
