Customers research online before making a purchase. So getting found online when customers and prospects are searching can increase your sales. But attracting customers can be challenging when you have just started your business.
You have a limited operating budget, and you want to get the most out of every rupee you spend on spreading the word about your business. In such a tight situation, figuring out what you should do and what you shouldn’t can be really tough.
In this article, we will explore proven methods that you can use to get found online dominantly.
How to lure customers to your new business
Being a small business doesn’t mean you can't have a powerful online presence because you don’t have a big marketing budget.
The following ways don’t cost huge money but are super effective:
1- Build a website
Building a website is the first step towards establishing an online presence.
A website with all the relevant details and updated information instills trust.
It shows you're serious about helping your customers learn about your products/services.
Your website is your online front for people to find your products and services. With GoDaddy Online Starter Bundle, you can get a one-page website up and running within minutes.
A good small business website answers the 5W’s:
- Who are you?
- What do you offer?
- Where can customers purchase from you?
- Why is your business important?
- When can your customers reach you?
For a website with multiple pages, consider GoDaddy’s do-it-yourself website builder. This easy-to-use site builder requires no tech skills at all. You can even build your site on your smartphone!
2- Create social media presence
Social media has become a necessity for businesses these days because Indians, on average, spend around 2.5 hours daily there.
With the help of social media, you can take your business to your target market easily.
However, just creating social profiles on social media platforms won’t make the cut. You have to post helpful content daily and interact with your potential customers to build an audience for your business.
Social media is fast, and your customers may share any negative experiences also. So you should watch for comments about your business. If there is an unhappy customer voicing their opinion, you should quickly address their grievance. This will show everyone watching that you care about doing the right thing.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr are popular social media platforms. These are free to use and easy to set up.
Read this post to learn how to sell products directly from your Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and SnapChat accounts.
Editor’s note: Creative, eye-catching visuals are key to attracting customers on social media. GoDaddy Studio can help you design high-quality, professional-looking images for social posts, infographics and more. Free!
3- Claim or add Google My Business profile
A Google My Business profile also offers an easy way to attract customers. Your business address may already be appearing in Google search results and on Google Maps.
Claim it so prospects and customers can find your business quickly.
Be sure to add essential information to your GMB profile, such as:
- Business hours
- Phone number, email
- Availability of parking
- Product photos
- Services such as delivery or curbside pickup
The GMB profile also provides the reviewing feature. And the more positive reviews you have, the higher your business can rank.
A Google My Business profile is free to set up. You can add product and service details to your listing, too.
4- Write guest posts
Guest posting on reputable, relevant blog sites having high traffic can put your business in front of your target audience.
What’s more, guest blogging adds to your image as a trusted expert.
The more customers find you on reputed websites, the more credibility you build. Regular guest posting also strengthens your authority in the industry. It brings you more opportunities to publish content on other websites.
Although you won’t be paid to write guest posts, many blogs will allow guest writers to include a few links back to their website in the posts they write.
Besides writing guest posts, find opportunities to get featured on high-authority business websites. Each feature improves your credibility and can bring in new leads.
5- Be active in Q&A communities and forums
Relevant Q&A communities and forums are effective in attracting potential customers. Many people visit these sites to seek advice and solutions to their problems.
Watch for questions related to your business — then answer them.
However, you should note that your success here largely depends on if you add value to these websites. Solve the problems of your prospective customers, and they will find your business.
Quora, Reddit, and StartupNation are some of the many popular discussion forums you can start participating in.
6- Encourage customers to leave reviews
Customer reviews can make or break your business. They influence others' decisions whether to buy your products and services or not. So, reviews can be influential in growing your business.
Happy customers would love to share the experience. But pay attention to the not-so-happy reviews, too. Respond to them and address the concerns as soon as possible. It shows you care for the customer experience, which builds trust and creates loyal fans.
Google My Business, Trustpilot, and Facebook page are sites where your customers can leave reviews. All these are free to set up.
Related: The best ways to get more customer reviews
7- Create valuable videos
Videos get more clicks than other forms of content. They get a wider reach, giving you more exposure and engagement. So videos can also play a critical role in your customer acquisition strategy.
People connect with videos better and share them freely.
Videos give your business a face. Thus, videos can build visibility as well as credibility. Some popular sites to publish videos are YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion.
Here are a few ideas to create valuable video content:
- Explain concepts related to your business
- Create and share webinars
- Provide solutions to common problems
- Show how to use your products
- Highlight insights from case studies
Related: How to make a video without spending a bomb
8- Get interviewed
Being interviewed by reputed blogs, podcasts, and webinars is probably one of the most efficient ways to attract customers online.
Popular blogs, podcasts, and webinars can have highly engaged audiences. And they also get plenty of distribution on various online platforms.
So appearing on these can:
- Attract potential customers to your website
- Bring more sales
- Establish your business as an authority in the industry
You can also attract new business relationships and interview opportunities through them.
Social media live sessions, Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions, and Twitter Spaces are other ways to get interviewed.
9- Find opportunities for co-promotion
Co-promotion with other businesses allows you to reach new customers inexpensively. Two or more businesses can:
- Link to each other’s websites
- Host webinars together
- Arrange for coupons and giveaways
Cross-promotion on social media is another way to grow together.
This works best when you team up with businesses that complement (but don’t compete with) yours.
Such businesses have a common target market that might also be interested in your business.
For example, gift shops can collaborate with handicraft businesses; vets can pair up with pet groomers, and so on.
There are many ways to attract customers
Attracting customers is essential for your business. A robust online presence helps your business reach a wider audience, builds trust, and aids your marketing efforts.
The above-mentioned ways can help you attract customers to even the smallest startup without spending a fortune.
If you don’t have the resources and time for all of these strategies, you should at least build your small business website and become active on leading social media channels to get started initially. As your business grows, you can focus on other activities.
Want more ideas? Read How to use guerilla marketing to get your business noticed.
