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5 Tips to get more customers for your small business

December 23, 2019
Written by Nextdoor Editorial Team
December 23, 2019 | Written by Nextdoor Editorial Team

This article was updated on December 20, 2021

The golden keys to keeping any business growing and thriving each year are new customers. But when you’re a small business owner,  chances are you’re already juggling a lot and the task of bringing more new faces through your doors can seem like a major feat.

So if you’re wondering how to get more customers for your business, keep reading. Growing your customer base comes down to a few simple steps:


#1 Create a marketing plan

Many local business owners hear “marketing plan” and immediately think of a glossy document that might get sent to a top-tier executive somewhere far away. While you could still create something like that – and look really cool doing it – it’s not necessary.

A marketing plan is what you make it. Your marketing strategy can be as simple as writing down a few goals for improving your website traffic or sales numbers. Or it can be as complicated as a multistep plan for boosting social media followers over the next 30 days.

What matters is you create a goal, write it down, and follow-through. This will help you track your growth while keeping you on the path to success. The key is to be specific, even if your first step is simple: “Claims a Nextdoor Business Page,” for example, instead of “get on social media.” Instead of "Craft email marketing plan," make it, "Draft email newsletter." Lastly, instead of "Conceptualize video marketing campaign," you should "Produce a viral video."

#2 Reach out to your local community

A small business that is active in its community will thrive and grow there. Many times, the customers closest in proximity to your business are the most loyal patrons. Your best bet to connect with your market is getting out and being seen in your city or neighborhood. These could include:

  • Hosting a booth or table at a street fair, festival, or another local event
  • Volunteering your venue during off-hours to a community event or local charity event
  • Sponsoring a stage at a local concert series
  • Sponsoring educational or school resources
  • Partnering with other local businesses to promote community events and gatherings

Remember: Being present in your community means more than simply putting your logo on a banner for a weekend. Make sure you and your team are there, smiling and engaging with the people around you. When new customers come in, they’ll remember your face from a past interaction.

Reaching out to your local community not only exposes your business but also allows you to get to know prospective customers. When you get a better idea of your business's buyer persona, you know which services and messaging resonate better, which would hopefully convert more existing customers and even repeat customers.

#3 Meet customers where they already are—online

Your potential customers are on social media, so it’s time you join them. About 7 in 10 people in the United States use social media. It’s one of the most popular ways to connect with people, engage with news, and share information.

Social Media

If you aren’t used to being on social media, start simple with one platform (or type of social media) and expand from there. The key is to understand your customer base and where they are likely spending more time. Once you’ve established your social media presence, explore the marketing features of each platform.

The good thing about having social media is each platform can easily be integrated into your digital marketing plan. Simply adding social media buttons to your website content is already a good start. Not only does it boost your social media profile, but the posts and reposts also boost traffic to your site. Another benefit of social media is it can be a tool for customer support. You can address customer feedback through social media.

Nextdoor

Nextdoor is an easy place to connect with potential local customers, your neighbors. You know they’re registered, actual people who live nearby. Participate in local neighborhood discussions, get discovered by locals with your free Business Page, and target customers in exactly the neighborhoods you want to reach with Local Deals.

Local Search engine Optimization

Attract your target customers to your website by polishing your search engine optimization, aka SEO. When potential clients Google your business, you want them to see accurate contact information, read current reviews, and have satisfying interactions with each aspect of your online presence.

What matters is you’re present and active. That means responding to comments, asking questions, liking posts, answering questions from fellow customers, and telling the online world that your business is here and excited to meet them.

#4 Generate buzz through word-of-mouth

A recommendation from a friend can be a priceless way to gain a new customer. But how do you get a referral in the first place?

Some businesses find that incentivizing to refer new clients is a great marketing tool. Loyal customers can receive discounts, prizes, or gift cards for sending new faces through the door. Maybe you offer buy-one-get-one 50% off manicure services to customers who bring a friend (i.e., new business) with them. If you’ve set up your social media channels, you can advertise such promotions there.

Simply asking a customer to leave you a recommendation after a positive transaction can also be effective for businesses that rely on word-of-mouth. More often than not, happy customers will be willing to leave you a positive recommendation.


#5 Award customer loyalty

You can take basic incentives to the next level by creating loyalty programs for return customers. Consider these ideas:

  • A business card that, when filled with stamps (or punches), transforms into a discount or a free item
  • Offer a discount or free product (like a cup of coffee) on customers' birthdays
  • Offer an incentive for customers who check-in, recommend, or share your business on social media
  • Host a raffle or scavenger hunt in your store
  • Provide a discount to customers who attend a class, reading, or another event at your business
  • A bingo board is completed by trying several services, or buying certain products in a row, for example.
  • Think about board games you have at home. How could you apply that experience to daily life with your customers?

But watch out — some businesses already have a monopoly on certain games, and you’ll want to be sure you stand out in the crowd.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to getting new customers in the door at your small business, think outside the box. What will pique people’s interest and interest them in your brand? Use social media and the internet to find ideas from similar companies in your industry. There are so many ways to engage with your customers – you just need to find them. Team up with Nextdoor today to attract new customers to your business.

Claim your Business Page


Claim your free Business Page to get started on Nextdoor. For resources on how to use Nextdoor to stay connected with your local customers, pertinent news affecting business, and more, follow us at @nextdoorbusiness on Facebook

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