Whether you’re a new entrepreneur on the scene trying to win your first customer, or a seasoned salesperson ready to acquire your 10,000th, customer acquisition should never stop being a business goal.
Still, for many
owners, sales can be unpredictable. Gaining new customers can, most of the
time, feel like a game of chance. The good news is that it’s not; if you want
to grow your business consistently and profitably, you need to think of
customer acquisition not as an outcome but as a process- from the cost of
getting them to your door, and how much money each one will spend once inside.
Here are some strategies to try:
Paid Advertising
One of the most
common ways to acquire new customers is through online advertising. The reason
many e-commerce brands turn to Facebook, Google and other platforms to run
their ads is that these platforms provide the most extensive analytical tools
to help you get the most out of your budget.
When it comes to
online advertising, Facebook Ads and Google Ads are the biggest providers for
paid traffic. Still, almost every other platform has an option for purchasing
advertising; it’s just a matter of understanding who your customer is, and
where they spend their time online.
Influencer
Sponsorships
One of the quickest
ways to get your product or brand in front of a relevant audience is by paying
someone with an online following to promote it for you. Influencer marketing,
through Instagrammers, YouTubers, and bloggers, has become a hugely popular
form of online advertising. The reason is simple: people trust people.
The challenge for
you as a business owner is to identify those with an active, engaged following
who would also be interested in your product, as well as someone with the
creative know-how to produce content that complements your brand.
Start a Referral Program
In the same logic as
influencer marketing, a personal recommendation from someone you know goes a
long way to helping you decide whether or not to purchase a product. When a
friend tells someone to check out a new product or brand, they tend to listen.
If you plan to use
referrals as a new customer acquisition strategy, it is up to you, the business
owner, to make it easier for those loyal customers to recruit their friends.
This can be achieved
by setting up a referral program through which your existing customers are
rewarded each time they get someone new to purchase from your business. Apps
like Referral Candy, Loyalty Lion, and Smile.io are great tools if you decide
to try this route.
While customer
loyalty and repeat purchases should form the backbone of your sales strategy,
attracting new customers through customer acquisition can help you grow beyond
your current base. Knowing which channels will work as a customer acquisition
tool for your business involves continuously testing new channels and
approaches, allowing you to find out what works best and prevent you from
putting all your eggs in one acquisition basket.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
