If you do a quick google search on how to get customers, you’ll notice a few words that are included in most titles:
✓ Easy
✓ Simple
✓ Quick
For anyone who has actually started a business you know that getting customers is not easy. It takes time, work and a whole lot of trial and error. If you’re looking for a silver bullet solution to get customers, you will not find it here – but there are a few things you can do to make the most of your time.
Optimize your site for conversions
Creating your site is a fun and exhausting experience. You tweak this, fix that and just keep adjusting until you’re satisfied. But how do you know that your site will convert into sales? Is it clear what you sell? Do people think your site looks credible? The only way to know that is to get it out there. Talk with people, submit the site on forums for honest feedback. Add google analytics to your site so you can see exactly how many people are visiting your website and how far they get before they leave.
Talk to People
So your site is launched – now it’s time to actually start talking to people. Reach out to friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, whomever. Attend events to meet new people and show off your new website. This is important because you start a dialog about your site, your business idea, everything. Instead of watching people come to your website and leave without explanation, you get to go a little bit deeper and figure out what they’re thinking. What are their concerns? How do they feel about the price? Does your business make sense to them? All of these are great questions to ask strangers.
Advertise
The internet has grown into a giant black hole of information with more websites than we know what to do with. Well placed ads on Google, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social site can help get your site in front of people when you’re ready. There are hundreds of articles on exactly how to do this right – find them – use their knowledge.
Content
Creating valuable content that your ideal customer is interested in can help drive people to your website. Are you running a subscription box for people who love to fish? Add a blog with expert fishing tips and trends for your customers to learn from. This type of content isn’t sales-y or full of marketing – you want it to be informational and actually beneficial for your customer. This can also be a way for you to interact with your customer outside of the typical sales transaction. Let them post comments and take the time to actually respond to them. Remember – your customers are people.
Getting customers is one of the most time consuming things about your business. It’s hard work but incredibly satisfying. Oh, and once you get your customer, make sure you keep them.
