Different Ways To Prospect For New Customers

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A business of any size needs to attract new customers to survive.

But in today’s business world ….

Customer attention spans are shorter!

The need for immediate gratification is greater!

And, the noise to reach new customers and prospects is louder than ever before!

There are many ways to prospect, but here we’ll take a quick look at 10 ways of prospecting. The goal is to get more prospects for your business and turn them into new customers that last a lifetime.

Questions You Need to Ask Yourself Before Prospecting

Prospecting is serious business. Before any business can start prospecting effectively, there are several key questions to answer:

•  Who is your target audience and ideal prospect?

It’s all in the data. Look at research and trends to ensure that your actual target audience matches your ideal prospects. At the same time, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. Targeting prospects that don’t necessarily fit the mold is a great way to generate new business.

Big picture, you need to think about the clients that you like working with the most. The ones you can help in significant ways.

Then go all-in on finding people who fit that criteria. You will have way more success and be much happier this way.

• What is the best method to reach your ideal prospects?

Thanks to major advances in technology and marketing strategy, there is a myriad of options to choose from, but finding the right balance is important.

I am a firm believer that THE best and most cost-effective way to reach prospects who you truly want to work with is through email outreach and social media automation to build relationships with your best prospects.

• How can you solve an issue or provide a benefit to prospects?

When prospecting, it’s important to remember that it’s not about you.

Prospects want to know what’s in it for them and see the value that your business can provide. It’s important to connect with prospects right from the start, establish trust and exert your authority in the market early. 

Show prospects and target customers that you have a solution to their problem and can fulfill a need.

Email Marketing

Email marketing continues to be a low-cost way to reach prospects and new customers when compared to other strategies. Not only can you put your message in front of millions of prospects at one time, but you can do it quickly – overnight if need be and you can easily track results. 

Email outreach is not going anywhere, anytime soon and can be used in tandem with traditional and emerging methods.

It is tried and true and should be a foundation in any business prospecting strategy.

Learn how to get new leads with email outreach and social media on my upcoming LEAD Blueprint Workshop. Register here. 

Cold Calling (or Warm Calling)

Cold calling has been around for what seems like forever and is one of the oldest marketing techniques, but it still works. Otherwise, you wouldn't get cold calls. 

If you don’t promote your business no one will know you exist. You have to get out there and be bold. If you want prospects to notice your business, you have to give them a reason to turn into new customers.  

You have to inspire confidence that YOU are the one who can solve their problems. Or at least HELP solve their problems.

This is why I suggest focusing your call efforts on those who have interacted with your emails, content, or social media posts. And start by emailing or messaging them first. Get their attention. Get them wanting to learn more. Then offer a call. 

Social Media Marketing

Social media is a best friend to any business, especially one looking for prospects.

Use social media and social media automation to your advantage. Social media has revolutionized the business world and how quickly we reach prospects and attract new customers. Your business should embrace every social media channel out there to reach prospects and convert them into new customers.

Sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube are all free and powerful tools to reach prospects and convert them into new customers but staying active on all of the social media sites takes time and effort. 

If you cannot find the time to consistently post thought leadership content to stay top of mind with your network, then it’s time to call for some help.

Organic and SEO

Search Engine Optimization is king. With so much clutter out there, you want your website and blog posts to rank above the competition. 

Adding relevant content and getting your name out there is key, but it takes time and effort. It’s important to keep content fresh and keep them coming back for more. Whether it’s expert advice, an updated newsletter or intuitive blog posts, exert your authority, establish trust and make prospects feel welcome. 

Not every business has a team devoted to SEO optimization. 

Getting your website to rank organically can be tricky, especially when most business owners are bogged down with day-to-day operations.

I work with a company called Powered By Search for our SEO efforts. 

Leverage Existing Customers

Another way to build prospects is to look at your current client base. “It can cost five times more to attract a new customer, than it does to retain an existing one.” 

Your existing customers are your customers for a reason so identify ways to extend your reach either through upselling or adding additional products or services.

Word of mouth marketing and advertising are magical and free. Use your existing customers to build your client base. Prospects want to be treated right. A 5-star customer service experience will give your business the extra edge it needs to turn prospects into new customers.

Using tools like Connect 365 to get more referrals can expedite the process. 

Show Off Your Authority

Show prospects and new customers how you can do things better and exert your expertise. Customers are looking for companies that they can trust. 

Establish that trust early and give prospects and new customers a reason to keep coming back for more.  

Offering information like blog posts, newsletters, and email marketing outreach campaigns will help to convince prospects that you are an authority in your market.

Learn how to get new leads with email outreach and social media on my upcoming LEAD Blueprint Workshop. Register here. 

Stand Out From the Competition

The key is to understand your competition and to do everything better. Study the competition. Follow their social media posts. 

Understand their specials and promotions and use this valuable information in your own business strategy. Capturing new customers from the competition represents a key prospect area that you may be missing.

Get Personal

Send personal messages that sound like a friend wrote them to your like prospects. Ask them about upcoming projects, ask them how their day is going, see if there is anything you can do to help them. 

The Marketing Mix  

Using a variety of marketing tactics and different channels, like social media, direct mail, tv, radio, print ads, and email campaigns will help you reach prospects and expand your client base. 

Different demographics gravitate towards various mediums so appealing to a broad range will help you reach more prospects. Oftentimes, it’s a combination of different marketing tactics that will finally reach your target and convert your prospects into new customers.

Build a Network  

Whether you are a small business or large corporation, if you don’t let people know you exist then they will never know you’re out there. You should tell everyone you know and everyone you meet what you do but reaching people and spreading the word can be daunting. Using automated tools helps to speed up the process, increase prospects and multiply success quickly and easily.  

Why Connect 365?  

Attracting new clients is not easy. That’s when it’s important to know when to call in the experts and let someone else do the heavy lifting. At Connect 365, we help you build relationships with prospects, foster existing relationships, and attract new customers. From email automation to lead management to social media automation, we can help you reach your prospects and turn them into lifelong customers. Request an invite today and let’s connect.

Your Turn

Learn How to Get More Leads With Social Media & Email in Our Upcoming Lead Blueprint Workshop

Want a better way to get leads and clients? Sign up for my upcoming workshop that goes step by step through our lead generation process that has been so successful in our clients’ businesses -- the L.E.A.D. Blueprint. 

In the workshop, I’ll be teaching:

• Exactly what an Authority Leadership Platform is and how you can leverage our Authority Amplifier process to position yourself above the competition, putting your business on an entirely different playing field.
• How to target high-end prospects using online platforms (social media + email) in a unique way that builds instant trust by doing the polar opposite of what most ‘salespeople’ try
• How to develop real relationships online using a highly-personal Multi-Touchpoint Messaging Campaign to naturally guide the conversation towards an appointment
• The right way to automate processes that build trust, improve credibility, and increase responsiveness in your campaigns.

Join an upcoming workshop session by signing up here!

Implementing the Trust Equation is a game-changer and can propel your small business in front of more prospects, generate more leads and grow your business. 

From email automation to lead management to social media automation, Connect 365 can help you turn those cold leads into warm prospects and create long-lasting, lifetime customers. 

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