You start a business with a grand plan. You might have opened your new place with a bit of fanfare. Often, a brand-new business will attract customers simply because it is new. Over time, that stream of new customers dwindles to a trickle, and your business growth begins to plateau. When this happens, it is time to think about some of the many ways that you can bring in new customers.

Expand Your Network

No single business can do everything. Most business owners have a specialized focus. By expanding your network of contacts, you increase the possibility that someone in another market will recommend your services. If you run a pet store, you will want to get to know all of the veterinarians in the area. If you do lawn care, you will want to meet people who do other home services. Some of this work might be done through cold calling on related businesses. Another important resource is a local organization that gathers business leaders like your local Chamber of Commerce. The broader your network of associates, the more people who know your business and can share it with their clients.

Free Advertising Websites

If you run a business in today’s world, you need a well-designed website. Yet, a website is only helpful if potential clients can find it. Free advertising sites helps direct more traffic to your site and helps your business gain more revenue. Podium says some of the top free advertising sites include: Craigslist, Locanto, Facebook, Oodle, Hoobly, and Geebo. These sites let users search by category and location, which means the people who see your site are actively looking for products or services related to your business.

Referral Marketing

Your loyal customers are the people who have had a positive experience with your business. They can also be one of your best unofficial marketing tools. If someone has a great relationship with you, you can encourage that person to talk about your business with other people. You can also print a brochure, flier, or card that you give to customers when they check out. At a minimum, this handout should have your basic contact information, especially your web address. Another fun way to let customers do some marketing is by holding special events like a private sale or educational event where invitees are asked to bring a friend.

Social Media Marketing

Part of marketing on social media is the digital version of referral marketing. If you have a social media presence, your loyal clients can follow you. Information that they like will appear on their feeds, available to pass on to other friends. However, there are many ways to market your business through sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Social media sites allow you to do highly targeted advertising. When you pay for ad space, you can make certain that the information will appear on the screens of people in your desired population. You can limit the group by geographic region, age, gender, and other demographic markers. When you have a social media presence, it is important to remember that many of the things you post will remain online for a long time. Even if people criticize your business, do not respond to insults with insults. The short-term satisfaction of a knee jerk tweet can have long-term implications for your business.

Guerilla Marketing

Guerilla marketing is a tactic that allows businesses to flex their creative muscles. This style of marketing involves the element of surprise. Sometimes, this means doing marketing in unexpected places. A common example of this type of marketing is a wildly painted car that draws attention in traffic. Product placement in a popular television show is another example. Other guerilla marketing techniques include creating spectacles like a flash mob or a large art installation. In recent years, interactive events like treasure hunts that lead people to business have grown in popularity.

Community Involvement

While there are many creative ways to market your business, none of them is as important as having a good reputation. West Point School of Music explains that, particularly for local businesses, being involved in the community is a great way to reach out to potential customers. If you sponsor a local sports program or an event at a school, parents will remember that your business cares about their children. When your employees volunteer at a community cleanup event, people will know that you are invested in the community. Businesses are much more likely to receive the support of local customers when they make a positive impact. Volunteerism allows customers to see their values at work. Growing your business requires an intentional focus on reaching out to new customers. This outreach can take many forms, limited only by your imagination.

Of course, none of this matters if you don’t have a great site and strategy in place. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, then reach out today and let us take your business to the next level!