Rome was not built in a day.
Whether you’re a startup company or an established business, it takes time to develop your customer base. After all, creating a strong relationship with your customers on every level can take months or even years to achieve. However, by taking the right steps in building up your brand awareness and putting time into your business marketing efforts, Rome will be built in no time at all.
The first step in getting more customers in the digital age is to build an online presence. However, this isn’t enough. If you want to attract new consumers, you need to proactively target your marketing efforts across various digital media in order to grow your customer base.
3 ways to grow a customer base
In most cases, customer bases do not start and multiply overnight, instead, business owners need to be proactive to grow their customer acquisition and stay competitive.
1. Social media
According to BigCommerce, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Snapchat are the most effective social networks for e-commerce advertising in 2018.
These social media platforms provide you with the ability to reach a large consumer base at little to no cost. Take advantage of this by seeking out people who might be interested in your products or services by searching for keyword combinations related to your industry. For instance, if you offer financial services, search for terms such as “financial services” and “personal finance” in addition to general terms like “finance” or “how to make a budget.” Follow those users who look like they fit into your target demographic and begin engaging with them in a way that shows off your company's personality and expertise.
Tools to consider: Social media marketing software can help you manage profiles and grow your business’s social reach. You can choose a tool for analytics, influencer marketing, social media monitoring, or any of the other social media categories on G2.
2. Email newsletters
Through newsletters and email outreach, you can increase your consumer base and gain customers quickly. Contact information is valuable for both personal and professional business goals, so by investing in an email marketing solution and creating enticing messages, you can build a strong subscriber base that is ready to purchase at the launch of your service.
Tools to consider: Email marketing software helps you with contact management and newsletter development.
3. Face-to-Face Marketing
Face-to-face marketing is a direct, personal method of reaching potential clients. In this method, you must engage your customers in conversation, perhaps even asking them how they're doing and what their interests are. This will help build rapport over time, and get you remembered by your purchasers when it comes time for them to make another purchase.
Growing a customer base will take time
Growing a customer base is like an investment, it may take time to show the value. It’s not something that happens overnight, but the good news is that with a little effort and the right strategies, you can create a foundation that will help your business or organization gain momentum.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a customer base?
A customer base is the group of customers who repeatedly purchase the goods or services of a business.