Would you like some more customers?
Sure, what the heck. You would only be wasting time surfing the web or putting what you had for breakfast on Facebook so why not have a few more to keep you busy during the day.
Here’s how.
Step 1 – Create a Compelling Offer
What will you give your new customers? Avoid giving freebies away but if you have to, give them titles such as ‘Free Taster’ or ‘Try Before You Buy.’ Preferably give away information of high perceived value to your new customers such as an e-book, audio guide on a CD (with a nice cover) or a video you have filmed. All easily done.
Step 2 – Create a Postcard to Distribute
Use an online service such as Vistaprint. You can upload your own designs or use one of their existing ones. On it put down your compelling offer. Put a time limit on when it must be claimed by and your contact details including your website and e-mail.
Step 3 – Tap into Your Network
Speak to your existing customers and ask them to refer your services to people of equally high quality as them – they can use your postcard to hand out which will say what you can do. Tell them that for every customer who joins from their recommendation they will get a special gift from you. Down to you to work out what it is. Use vouchers for your services, cash back, free sessions or products. I prefer products.
Step 4 – Say Thanks
You must thank anyone who gets you new customers. What gets rewarded gets repeated!
How it Works
Ten of your customers take you up and each refer two others. Out of the twenty new customers only half keep using your services. You have now doubled your customer base to twenty.
Go back to step 1. Twenty customers each refers two others giving you forty new customers only half keep using your services. You have now tripled your original customer base to thirty.
Keep going until you have enough customers.
When you have enough you can begin to test your prices and or bring others in to deliver your service for a share of the money. You could also consider teaching your model to others in your industry or franchising your business or selling up as a going concern.
Paul Browning
This post is great! I like the idea of creating a low-cost product to entice a customer such as a pdf ebook. People love to get a sample.
I have been trying to think of how to get some more customers. I had been considering giving away freebies, but after reading this, I have changed my strategy to try to include some sort of incentive, such as a limited free offer (like Netflix does- give a month for free to get you hooked so you will continue as a paid customer).
I am interested in creating some print literature like you described. Most of my focus has been online literature, and I think that having something I could hand out would increase the customer awareness of my company.
Great idea about the vouchers. People do respond well to them. I also like to give vouchers for products rather than services.
I think that if more people said thank you more often, we would live in a much better world. Acknowledging a customer referral with a thank you goes a long way.
I work hard at getting repeat customers and referrals. Thanks for the tips!
These are fantastic tips! I would have never thought of sending out post cards. I have asked for referrals from existing customers. Potential clients are far nicer and willing to listen when you lead in by telling them their family member of friend referred them to you.
This is such a helpful article. You successfully incorporate all these marketing strategy in such an easy to understand manner. I do agree with everything you said, being in the marketing department myself I do understand how significant it is to give Value Added Properties (giving more value for the product itself). The advertising is a little tricky albeit there is no direct relation between advertising and sales, but still you have to work with what you have. lastly it does pay to leave a lasting impression, we want long term relationship between our customers, and having twice the amount of customers demand more finesse in public relations. More power to you!
I think it is a wonderful concept. Bait them and then keep em’ coming for more. Kindness only intensifies their trust. A customer usually knows sincerity. though some are bound to be grumblers, the end result usually is positive.
Making a systemic way of getting the good graces of your customers is a valuable strategy anyone should make. A single thank you or Kind gesture alone can double your customers by the end of the month. Never fail to be kind to others even if they complain a lot.