Winning new clients is critical for business survival but especially for start-ups trying to enter the marketplace and stand out against established players.
Today’s competitive – often cut-throat – business landscape can pose challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining customers. So, it’s essential for start-ups to employ a strategic approach to establish a strong foundation and forge meaningful connections with potential clients.
In this article, we offer our top 10 tips to help you win new clients and build a robust customer base. Whether you’re launching a new venture or looking to expand your client roster, these strategies can enhance your chances of securing client wins and increasing your business’s visibility in the market.
How to win clients and influence people
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Clearly define your target audience:
Understand who your ideal clients are, their needs, and how your product or service can solve their problems. This will help you tailor your marketing efforts and messaging and reach the right people.
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Build a strong brand identity:
Develop a compelling brand that stands out from the competition. Create a consistent visual identity, strong messaging, and a unique value proposition that resonates with your target audience. Be consistent with your brand, colours and fonts across everything you do; from your website to polo shirts and signage to socials.
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Create brand awareness:
Increase your visibility through various channels. Effective methods include content marketing (blogs, videos, podcasts), social media marketing, guest blogging, influencer collaborations, and participating in industry events and conferences.
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Offer introductory promotions:
Provide special offers or discounts to attract new clients. Introductory prices can incentivise potential customers to try your product or service and help you establish an initial base.
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Leverage word-of-mouth recommendations:
Encourage satisfied customers to spread the word about your services. Provide exceptional customer service, exceed expectations, and ask for testimonials or online reviews. Consider using a referral programme that rewards customers for referring new clients.
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Utilise social networks:
Leverage social media platforms to connect with your target audience. Create business pages where you can post engaging and shareable content, engage in conversations, and use targeted advertising to reach potential customers. But beware not to overstep the mark, many community Facebook groups have set limits on how many times a week local companies can post to avoid members being bombarded with self-promoting guff. Recommendations from happy independent customers usually work better than constantly blowing your own trumpet.
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Spreading the word:
Utilise marketing tools to launch and build your brand. Social media accounts, banners, posters, leaflets, branded vehicles & uniforms, business cards, press advertising, an event, balloons… there are literally 1000s of channels to explore. Try a range of different promotions dependent on your budget. And use customer relationship management (CRM) software, analytics tools, and marketing automation to effectively manage and track your campaigns and which are delivering the best results.
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Network locally:
Attend local networking events, industry conferences, and trade shows to meet potential clients and partners. Build relationships with other professionals in your industry and seek opportunities for collaboration or referrals.
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Offer exceptional customer experience:
Focus on providing a superior customer experience from the first interaction onwards. Personalise your communication, be responsive to enquiries out of hours, and go the extra mile to address customer needs. Happy customers are more likely to become repeat clients and refer others.
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Monitor and adapt:
Continuously monitor the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and adjust as needed. Analyse data, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and use customer feedback to refine your strategies and improve your client acquisition process.
Remember, building a client base takes time, persistence, and continuous effort. By implementing these tips and consistently delivering value, you can increase your chances of winning new clients for your new company. Good luck!
