Be Your Own Boss Friday: 8 Ways To Acquire New Customers In 2020

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No matter your business, the hardest part is always getting new customers. You not only have to find the right people for your product or service, but also stand out from the competition to get their attention, build a relationship. and make the sale.

In our businesses, Blake and I sell a variety of products and services, ranging from online courses to books to speaking engagements. We’ve experimented with countless ways to get customers and struggled along the way to finding the most effective ways to get new customers.

You can hear more of our stories, struggled, and strategies in this episode of the Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) Podcast. Click below to play or go here to listen on your favorite platform. 

Here are the eight best ways to acquire new customers in 2020:

1. Connect with third parties. Third parties do much of the work for you in connecting you to customers. In our work as speakers, Blake and I can either reach out to organizations directly to pitch our services, or we can work through a third-party speaker’s bureau that connects speakers to audiences. Customers who contact speakers’ bureaus need a speaker, and it puts us where customers are already looking for business. Fish where the fish are (as they say).
2. Participate in industry events. Every industry has conferences and events, some of which are incredibly niche. Attend these events to network and connect with potential clients. Even if you aren’t a professional speaker, you can apply to speak or sit on a panel to share your expertise with your target audience. Of course with Covid-19 this isn't possible for in-person events but there are still plenty of virtual ones taking place.
3. Advertise on related channels. This method is simple but effective: find where your customers read and advertise there. If they read certain magazines, blogs or social media channels, put your advertisements in those areas. The key with traditional and social media advertising is to look for a targeted audience and find the related channels your customers already use.
4. Use content marketing. Creating useful content is how Blake and I have built the vast majority of our businesses. Write a blog or create videos about things that people are searching for related to your space. Provide a service through content and teach people something they don’t know. Content marketing isn’t just about talking about yourself—it means filling a need for potential customers. Be thoughtful and provide interesting content to grow your brand and attract customers.
5. Create products to capture leads. Free products and content provide value to potential customers while also providing you with their contact information. We have created a wide variety of free content, including assessments, PDF's, videos, and courses that people get access to by sharing their email address. We then use that information to stay in touch using our newsletters, which helps us build relationships.
6. Leverage your existing network. Realize the power of connections and relationships. Network online and in person and use those connections to sell your products and grow your brand. Even if networking feels uncomfortable, push yourself to go to events and join groups and associations to build connections. LinkedIn has been a wonderful source of that for me.
7. Become a thought leader. People want to do business with someone they see as an expert. Build your personal brand by becoming a thought leader on a certain subject. Write a book, create a portfolio of your best work and build credibility. The more you have to say and the more visible your work is, the more potential customers will see your name and know about your business.
8. Get endorsements. Have support to back up your content. It’s one thing to say your products or services are great, but it’s more effective when it comes from another credible person. I asks for testimonials after every speaking engagement, which has led to a number of prominent companies and leaders supporting my business and adding to my credibility. The same goes for book endorsements.

Acquiring new customers is a continual process. These eight techniques are just the beginning of ways to find and attract new customers, but Blake and I have found them to be some of the most successful methods. Build your brand, be authentic and be visible, and the customers will come.

Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Find out by taking this quiz which looks at “The Morgan’s 4 M’s of Entrepreneurship” which include Money, Mindset, Motivation, and Market.

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Learn more in this episode of the Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) Podcast. Click below to play or go here to listen on your favorite platform.

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If you enjoyed the article and want more content like this here’s what you can do:

1. Subscribe to The BYOB Podcast Newsletter to get notified when a new episode comes out (one a week).
2. Listen to episode 11 of the podcast where we talk about these things in much more detail including sharing our personal stories.