Get ready to boost your business with these 5 simple ways to increase customers numbers.

1. Sales Marketing vs Leads Marketing

Almost all advertising used by small business owners is based on trying to sell the product or service in one, quick and easy step. Usually there is a description of the product or service, perhaps a picture, there may be a few lines on how long they've been in business, how many awards they've won, etc. At the bottom of the advert, flyer, e-mail or letter is a phone number with the line 'contact us for more information.'

Few people respond to these types of Sales Marketing adverts and they provide a very poor return on investment. If you are marketing your business in this way and you already know it does not work very well, then stop!

Going back to basics, people buy things they want from people they know, like and trust. It is very difficult to get people to know, like and trust you in a Sales Marketing advert.

Instead, why not consider a Leads Marketing approach where your initial aim is not to sell to people but to gather leads in the form of contact details from your prospects. IE. By offering free information, a competition or a free service you can gather a list of prospects that you can then in turn market to,  multiple times, and in a very targeted way. If you can build up healthy prospect list you can then hit them repeatedly with your sales message and enticing offers.

Leads Marketing is a simple idea, very powerful however very few small business owners use it.

2. The Value of ex-Customers

Over the years businesses will naturally see customers come and go. You may not be sure why some customers never came back but chances are that for most, the reason was not a terminal one. Often it is something simple like; they got a better offer at the time, found someone nearer, they were treated indifferently or they just forgot about you.

Writing a simple letter, making a phone call or sending them a ‘come back offer’ can have surprising results. Whether it is telling the ex-customer that you miss serving them or sending them a gift voucher, the return on your time will lead to a reinstatement of a percentage of your past customers.

3. Joint Ventures

Have you ever thought of teaming up with another business who might service the same types of customers as you do? This could be with a business working in a similar geographic area,  in a related field or even your competition!

You could propose a joint mailing with another business to share the costs. You could each endorse your products or services to the others customers. You could look to combine your services or products to create new offerings.

If done right both businesses will gain new customers from each other’s client bases, at reduced cost and risk.

4. The Golden ‘Follow Up’ Rule

Some prospects buy immediately. Some need to be reminded of your product or service offers two or three times, and others may still not be ready to buy until you have followed up with them 8 to 10 times!

Many businesses throw away thousands of pounds every year in sales by simply failing to follow up with their prospects. They assumed that if their prospects didn't buy the first time they called for information, that they weren't interested. This is a mistake.

The lesson is that we are not all ready to buy at the same time. If you give up after the first contact, you are losing up to 80% of your potential sales. And you're not just losing the value of their initial sales, but you're also losing the combined value of their future sales!

All enquiries should be logged properly by taking contact details. These are enquiries are your future leads. These leads can turn into prospects with regular contact by phone, mail or email. If you have done your job because you have made sure that your business is uppermost in their minds, these prospects will turn into customers when they are ready.  Don't ever throw discard names and addresses because they haven't done business with you after one or two follow ups.

5. Samples = New Customers

Samples are everywhere. For example:

Ø  If you test drive a new car, you are receiving a sample.

Ø  When you watch a preview of a new Hollywood film, you are receiving a sample.

Ø  If you take up a free session at your local gym, you are receiving a sample.

Ø  With any ‘30 Day Free Trial’, you are receiving a sample.

Ø  If you take up Qi Marketing on a Free Marketing Review, you are receiving a sample.

Why do so many companies invest in giving away samples?

·         Gives you a chance to prove your service or product

·         Makes a prospect more inclined to give something back

·         Provides a chance to make a sale ‘on the spot’ or to up sell

·         Gives an opportunity to add prospects to your marketing lists

·         The obvious answer is because in most cases it works