When you’re first starting out, it can be overwhelming to consider all that there is to do, and then on top of that thinking about marketing! There’s a few ways you can focus your efforts to get your customer base to grow without spending money to get there.
Set up a website
You’ve probably already touched on this in thinking about how customers will find you. If you’re running a local business, stick to the basics of a website – you can use services like Wix or Squarespace to share your address, hours, and business info. This doesn’t have to be fancy, just the information potential customers need to find you.
Identify repeat customers
When you start a business, you’re going to have a sense of who your best customers might be, but three to six months in, you’ll have real spending behavior. Use this information, along with details about your customers, to identify what kinds of people are most likely to return.
Give your friends and family ways to help spread the word!
They’re going to be bragging about you anyway, so find ways for them to share your product or business when it comes up in conversation. Maybe you make stickers, or send everyone an email with a promotion that only available to friends and family. There’s lots of ways to activate the power of word of mouth, start brainstorming!
Participate locally
Whether you run a brick and mortar storefront, or you’re offering your services on the go, it’s important to get exposure in the community. That could mean running a special promotion through the local schools (family photos around the holiday season) or registering with the local chamber of commerce.
