6 Smart Ways How To Obtain Customers For Your Small Biz

How to obtain customers for your small biz may be daunting to you. But if you have a few prospects ready, to begin with, you can ease them into your business as clients.

This is how many businesses begin. By doing one thing for someone, and then for someone else, and then another person until it snowballs.

Generate New Customers

How do you begin to generate new customers? You could do so by doing a side hustle before launching the new biz. Freelance with your new service or sell products part-time while still at your day job.

Once you do this for a year or so you will know if you are ready to learn how to obtain customers for a lifetime and dive into your business full-time.

1. Spread the Word About Your Service or Products

First, tell everyone you know about your products or services. You never know who they know. Even running errands at the grocery store or dry cleaners, mention to those you talk to about your new biz.

Have a business card that you can hand out to others in your travels. And don’t forget to have them with you at all times.

I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t had mine on me. Not good. Learn to keep them in your car or in your purse.

Another way to get new clients is to put your business in local business directory listings. These types of listings can help you be found online by new customers.

2. Go To Networking Events To Obtain Customers

Second, join different networking groups that you can attend and meet with other business people. Oftentimes, they will refer to someone who may need your product or service.

Sometimes, the business will come months later after meeting with a person at an event. Stay in touch with the people you meet at these events, even offline today. It’s a smart way how to obtain customers. 

You could exchange emails or phone numbers. Furthermore, you could invite them to connect with you on LinkedIn.

Be sure to stay in touch with them after making that initial contact. This can be an excellent way to grow your business locally.

3. Gain Clients Through A Local Chamber of Commerce

Thirdly, your local Chamber of Commerce is a great place to meet new people and others that may need you! A chamber is a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of companies.

Of course, they often have special events and charity events that you can contribute to.

Next, you could be a sponsor and or advertiser in their promotional events. Comparatively, these type of sponsorships or advertisements is not too expensive for a small business to participate in.

4. How to Obtain Customers Through Building A Presence On Social Media

Fourth, be active social on social media. Fill out your profiles completely on the social networks you are on. Let your friends know about your business through your social media networks.

This can quickly spread the word about what you are offering.

Use LinkedIn with your networking events. Once you meet people there that you make a connection with, add them to your LinkedIn connections.

Lastly, showcase yourself in the video to obtain new customers. There is nothing like a video today that can send a message.

People can see who you are and see the products or services you provide firsthand.

Just be sure not to always talk about your business on social media. Stay personal often on social media as that’s what its primary function is. (Except in the case of LinkedIn.)

5. Advertise To Obtain New Customers

Good old fashion advertising and sales enablement never goes out of style! You could purchase Google ads and more sales initiatives to drive customers to your website.

Or you could run an ad in the local newspaper if you are providing a local service. Facebook advertising is also a non-expensive way to get your message out if you understand how to use them effectively.

You may also consider Next Door to reach new local clients. They offer ad plans for as little as $30 a month but many may be sold out.

Their advertising plans go by zip codes. You may also create a deal on Next Door for as little as $1.00.  

“Trying to do business without advertising is like winking at a pretty girl through a pair of green goggles. You may know what you are doing, but no one else does.” Cyrus McCormick

Another form of advertising is native ads. You can do these through a website called Taboola. It’s a less expensive form of digital advertising and not so much in everyone’s face. 

6. Generate Referrals and Recommendations

Furthermore, once you have learned how to obtain customers for your biz, ask them for referrals and recommendations. One way to do this is to include a review button on your email signature.

Another way is to just ask for it. I like to ask for it after a client compliments my work.

These recommendations can be put on your Google My Business page or your Facebook page or your LinkedIn profile. You may also take it a step further and add them to your website.

Next, you could also leave blog comments on other small business blogs. That way you will be known to them in time.

If you keep on commenting and showing up, they will know your name for starters. Generating referrals is a great way how to obtain customers for your biz. 

Your Turn On How To Obtain Customers For Your Small Biz

How to obtain customers is one of the ways to ensure your business will survive a year from today. I’d love to know how you are obtaining new customers today in this challenging environment.

Next, I will give you insights on how to maintain and keep your customers.