by Don Kyle
Customers are the life blood of any business. Whether you operate your business from a storefront, office, or online, without customers, you have no business. So how can you go about generating customers? There are various ways, and I have discussed many of these in past columns.
The first thing to keep in mind is that different techniques work for different businesses. Those in the professional services industry may choose to utilize business networking as a primary source, while those in retail storefronts may decide to emphasize advertising in various media. Whatever methods you choose, your strategy must be the right fit for you.
For example, if you operate out of a highly visible retail or office location, you may choose to promote your business through media advertising to your market, combined with community involvement activities, such as sports and group sponsorships, participation in local events, etc. This kind of approach can provide you with exposure to the general market place while getting targeted messages out to specific areas of the community in which you are involved.
For those who operate companies offering personal or business services, such as insurance, home repairs or tutoring, it probably makes more sense to develop referral sources to generate customers. This can be achieved very effectively through participation in local business groups and other local community organizations. Getting involved with a group such as the Acworth Business Association can open up many new avenues for generating customers through referrals.
Regardless of the type of business you operate, various online and mobile techniques are becoming more prevalent today. Email marketing , text message marketing, and online coupons are some of the most common ways this is being done today.
If you are not sure which methods may work best for you, you should review last month’s article on business marketing plans. Choosing the right marketing strategy can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars you may lose, should you go down the wrong path.
Finally, do you homework. Research which customer generation techniques are working for others in your line of business; talk with other trusted, successful business owners; seek advice from marketing experts; then choose your strategy.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about generating more customers and clients for your business.
Don Kyle is the CEO and Founder of Small Bizz MBA, a company which assists businesses with their marketing, branding and advertising needs. (404) 580-6331, dkyle@smallbizzmba.com
