As we move into the new year, it's time to start thinking about the changes you will introduce to your business in 2023. After all, if you fail to seek out growth opportunities, your business will quickly become stagnant - falling behind your more innovative competitors and losing customers as a consequence.
While there are many different things you may want to work towards this year, the most beneficial task to complete is finding new ways to bring in more customers. More customers = more money and more security - both of which are essential in the current climate.
Photo by Artem Gavrysh on Unsplash
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to bring in more customers to your business!
Improve your storefront.
First impressions count - which often means that the way in which your store/business looks from the outside will impact the amount of footfall your business receives. After all, if the spaces look poorly managed or disorganised, you aren’t exactly creating the most welcoming atmosphere for potential customers.
Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can improve your storefront to remedy this. For example, you could:
Install lighting outside of the store, creating a bright, welcoming atmosphere.
Carry out necessary maintenance tasks that will keep your store looking its best, such as by ensuring your windows look their best by working with a Glass Scratch Remover company. This will remove any imperfections from the window(s), allowing customers to truly see what you have to offer.
Design effective, eye-catching window displays that capture your customers' attention.
Ensure that your company’s branding is featured outside of the store.
Shake up your marketing campaign.
Your ability to bring in new customers also hinges upon your ability to stay ahead of marketing trends. After all, this will increase the amount of exposure your business receives, especially if you use new digital marketing tactics to your advantage.
Again, there are numerous ways in which you can shake up your marketing campaign to widen your commercial appeal and grow your customer base.
Ensure you have a presence on a variety of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. While the latter is much ‘newer’ than the others, “Tik Tok has 1.534 billion users out of which 1 billion are monthly active users”, guaranteeing heightened exposure!
Remember that more traditional forms of marketing, such as flyers and billboards still prove to be effective, meaning they shouldn’t be glossed over when reworking your marketing campaign.
Figure out ways in which you can improve the visibility of your digital advertisements or social media posts, such as by using SEO tactics to your advantage.
View your online presence as not only an advertising platform, but instead a better way to engage with customers. For example, you can begin to build a better relationship with them by responding to comments and direct messages.
Develop new employee skills.
Hiring new employees is a great way to grow your business. This is because it allows you to accommodate extra customer demands, without facing burnout. Furthemore, the right employee can also be instrumental in changing the customer experience for the better, whether they’re great at delivering a sales pitch or simply making customers feel valued.
There are many ways to develop your employees' skills. For example, you could:
Provide them with on-site and external training opportunities that are geared towards enhancing the customer experience. For example, you may want them to work on or broaden their communication skills.
Pay attention to the attributes that are most valued by your customers - do they prefer a more personalised approach to communications or a more formal one? Understanding their expectations gives you the best chance of meeting them!
Encourage your team to hold themselves accountable when mistakes are made, as this level of transparency is appreciated when customers leave a complaint.
Final thoughts.
In short, there are many ways in which you can work to bring in more customers to your business - many of which simply centre around improving your overall reputation.
For example, by improving the external appearance of your store and ensuring the appropriate signage is in place, you’re creating an exciting, warm environment before they’ve even stepped in through the door. This means that they’ll enter in a more positive mood, which may make them more inclined to purchase something or visit in the future.
These endeavours, coupled with your enhanced marketing plan and skilled staff, will make it easier for you to grow (and maintain) your customer base.