People are complaining about tightening their business belts, needing to get more of a bang for their advertising/publicity buck. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. Personally, as an entrepreneur, I firmly believe that business owners should be reviewing their operating systems regularly to seek and destroy the leaky buckets and keep their systems as streamlined as possible. Remember, it’s not how much you make but how much you keep!
So, here are three quick and easy, down and dirty ways to get new customers fast at no cost. These methods will work with most businesses and in most industries. If it doesn’t seem to work for your industry, extract the principle from this post and use a similar technique that will work in your industry.
- Who do you know? Have you called up your success partners recently and checked on them to see if there is something that you can help them with. No? Do it now. Relationships are key to owning and operating a business. Relationships first.
- Joint ventures. Do you know a business that services the same type of customer that you do and whose services may compliment yours? Call them up and ask them about doing collaboration or a joint venture. Basically, it’s just a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” kind of thing and you can make them as easy or as complicated as they need to be to help each other. Sometimes a handshake is good enough; sometimes you might want to solidify the relationship with a contract.
- Follow up. Have you called your current clients and asked if you can do anything to be of service to them? How are their families? Kids doing great in school? Have they heard about your current promotion for current customers?
Here’s a bonus method for those of you who hate to speak on the phone.
- Celebrity endorsements. Who do you know that is “famous” in your industry or is important to your target market? What will it take to get a testimonial or endorsement from them? Do it. It’s worth it.
Okay, active duty, veterans and military spouses here are four quick and easy, down and dirty ways to get new customers fast and at no cost. Please remember that Team Scorpion creates “bullet-proof battle strategies for your veteran owned small business success.” I would be interested in hearing back from you as to how effective these methods were and if this post was of service to you. Please feel free to post your comments here or on my Facebook page.
Deanna Wharwood’s passion is to help veterans, service-disabled veterans and their dependents create the systems they need to start and grow businesses from their first dollar to six-figures. Unlike other coaches, consultants, mentors and trainers, she is a veteran who successfully transitioned from military life to entrepreneurship. Learn more about Deanna – The Veterans’ Coach and how she can help you!
