Customers are the lifeblood of any business, but how do we attract new customers and keep them without breaking the bank? Winning new customers and keeping them can be difficult, I’d argue that it’s even harder than starting a new business.

Here are 5 proven tips to help you win new customers and keep them;

#1. Build a relationship

Let’s face it, no one likes to be sold on any product or service even when there is a willingness to buy. Building a personal relationship with new and prospective customers is a key strategy for winning such customer. Don’t just be too eager to sell your service to a new or prospective customer. Always listen and put yourself in the customer’s shoes before attempting to sell to them.

Remember your customers are human so always treat them with respect and be honest even in difficult situations as this will help you build a good reputation with the customer. Powerful relationships don’t just happen from one-time meetings at networking events sometimes it takes time and consistent follow-ups.

Also Read: 5 Ways to improve customer engagement.

#2. Build a perfect pitch

Another way to impress and win new customers is by building a short and perfect pitch around what you do. You’ve to be able to communicate all the important details about your business or service in 30 seconds or less.

We’ve all been there. You ask someone about their business at a networking event and they respond with an explanation that goes on forever. They never seem to stop talking and all you want to do is get away! It is imperative that you are able to communicate the core aspects of what you do to a stranger or prospective client in 30 seconds or less in a way that makes sense.

Here’s a quick formula to help: I help ____________ achieve _____________ so they can ______________.

#3. Be Professional

At the very center of building a successful business is behaving professionally. Professionalism is not just dressing nice or having an advanced degree. It involves all the critical touchpoints a new customer will have to come in contact with when doing business with you. This will seriously help you up your game and set yourself apart from other competing businesses.

Professionalism is one of the skills that separate successful entrepreneurs from the rest. Hard work is only part of the equation. It’s the way you work that matters, the way you interact with customers, employees and business partners.

#4. Incentivize New Customers

Every business is different, so when it comes to incentivizing customers, there is no exception. An incentive that works well for one business may not work for another. It’s all about planning a referral program and incentive to fit the business and motivate a customer to want to do business with you again and again.

You don’t need a huge marketing budget to win new customers. By incentivizing new customers you open the door for new customer referral. A promotion is the most common incentive for customers and can come in many different forms including discounts on prices, freebies, bundle packages and many more.

Also Read: Common small business challenges and how to overcome them.

#5. Exceed Customers’ Expectations

Merely satisfying customer expectations is more like playing the safe game. It won’t get you anywhere. Your customers will still be vulnerable to competitors and, say, the moment they find a product on the market that is cheaper than yours, there is a tendency to jump ship.

However, if you want to win such customers and keep them for a long period, then your brand needs to constantly exceed customer expectations and deliver memorable, ever-lasting experiences. In other words, give your best and make sure this best is something they can’t find anywhere else.

Conclusion

The most important step is to winning new customers is understanding who you want to win. If you already have a growing customer base, you can review the demographics of your customers to understand who you should be targeting.

If you’re just building up your customer database, research the type of people who will be interested in your product or services. All of your other activities will be based on this information. What are your tips for winning and retaining customers? Please share in the comment section below.

Follow us on Twitter or visit our Facebook page for more resources to grow your business online.