BizAims

Both new businesses and established companies often struggle to find more clients. Even if you have the best product or service in the world, your organization will not be a success unless you have customers who purchase it. There are many ways to find and attract clients using basic marketing tools and strategies.

       1. Advertise your business efficiently. One of the main ways to do this is by having a clearly defined target market or prospective client base. Rather than just paying for a local newspaper ad or advertising your services in the Yellow Pages, think about who you want to hear your message. For example, if your target client is a teenager, you'll most likely need to market your service on the Internet, via social media tools. If your target market is retired seniors, consider placing an ad in a national magazine that appeals to this demographic. If you are looking for walk-in retail business, invest money in attention-grabbing signage and make sure your place of business is accessible to walking or driving traffic.

2.  Partner with other businesses. The key to making a partnership work is teaming up with other companies that have the same target market. For example, if you have a beauty salon that caters to women, you could partner with a local nail salon or clothing boutique. Once you've found a strong partner, you can share ad space together as well as offer clients a discount when they visit the other business.

3.  Ask current clients for referrals. One of the most effective marketing messages can come from an already satisfied customer. Offer your current clients referral fees or discounts on future purchases if they get the word out to other businesses or customers. You also can ask for testimonials from current clients to use in company brochures or on your website.

4.  Use promotions creatively. Use the seasons or holidays to come up with clever ideas to appeal to prospective clients. For example, if you have a bakery, you can offer discounted items during the holidays. If you have a janitorial company, start a "Spring Cleaning" promotion to attract new customers in March or April. The key is to use well-recognized events or days to tie into your business purpose.

5.  Join industry or community associations. While you won't want to immediately try to "sell" people at the monthly meeting, you can get your company name out by participating and volunteering to be on group committees and boards. Many of the members of these types of associations are the owners or leaders of other businesses, so you'll get to network with decision makers who could be potential customers. This strategy can be particularly effective if your business focuses on business-to-business sales.