Starting a new business poses many challenges. Make life easier for yourself and manage your prospects and deals using a simple CRM and sales tracking app like Base.
If you’re just starting your company in 2012, you may wonder how you possibly can get new customers and start to build relationships with them to grow your business. Unfortunately, there’s no secret to overnight sales. You’ll have to start at square one. However, these tips will help you move a little faster toward building trust with consumers.
Become a Resource
The sooner you start sharing advice and insight to potential customers, the quicker they’ll find you. Create a company blog and write about topics that your customers are concerned with. Share tips through social media. Provide valuable content in as many channels as you can manage, and people will begin to find you.
The beauty of this is that as they find you and like what you’re putting out there, they’ll share it. And the effect snowballs.
Important note: While you may be desperate for customers, remember that at this stage, it’s more about creating customer confidence. As they get to know your brand, the sales will come in.
Start Networking
The more people you meet, the better your brand will be known. Start locally at the Chamber of Commerce or business networking events, then branch out into industry trade shows and conferences nationwide.
When meeting potential clients or contacts, keep in mind what I addressed in the last point: value. You’re not there to push a sale; instead you’re there to see how you can help others. Maybe you can refer business to them, or make a recommendation about a vendor. It’s a game of give and take, so be ready to give first.
Important note: Bring plenty of business cards, and make sure to practice your 30 second elevator speech before each event, so that when someone asks what you do, you can tell them succinctly without stumbling over your words.
Ask for Referrals
Every time you make a sale, send an email to your customers asking them to review you. You can use a platform like what Amazon uses that posts product reviews directly to the site, or if you’re a restaurant or service provider, you can direct customers to Yelp to tell others about their positive experience at your location.
Give it Time
Just like with any relationship, this one will take time and hard work. Don’t give up if you don’t instantly have 5,000 Twitter followers and 10,000 visits to your site each day. Be willing to put in effort each day to build confidence with potential customers, and before you know it, you’ll have them.
