Building a clientele can be a daunting task for new businesses. Yet, it’s a vital part of establishing a business. The world still revolves around its axis like ancient time, but the ways have changed. People consume the majority of the information online. Calling a business to ask questions or visiting in-person to get details is outdated. According to a recent survey, 67% of the people prefer to access information on their smartphones rather than going in-person.
The online world never sleeps. A vast majority of the population is always online and using the web. Hence, it’s always a good idea to build an online presence and try to attract clients. Facebook has 2 million active followers. As per statistics, 70% of the users use the site daily, whereas 49% scroll through multiple times. With such a high influx of users, Facebook can be a great place to build a clientele. This is not just limited to only one site; there are several others like this. Let’s look at how the webspace can help a business, shall we?
Facebook Groups:
Facebook can be an excellent place to gain clients. The site is full of groups that cater to every category. Let’s suppose you want clients for your newly opened acupuncture clinic. Search for related groups by typing acupuncture in the search bar. The results will show hundreds of groups with people of similar mindsets looking to receive acupuncture care.
Use the platform to the best of your abilities and market yourself. Try to highlight what separates you from countless others offering the same services. Let your unique selling propositions (USP) talk for you.
USP stands for “Unique Selling Point”. It is the one feature that makes you shine among your competitors. If you haven’t already identified your USP, we strongly recommend working on it.
Don’t stop at Facebook groups. Create a brand page and use it to market yourself. It enables you to create a community of your own. Connect with the people on your page by posting fun contests, sharing experiences and engaging them. Seem as professional as possible. Reach out to clients but avoid acting like a spammer.
Twitter:
People mostly use twitter for keeping up with the latest news and trends. Do you mostly get lost looking at funny pictures and videos? Many business owners sleep on Twitter and do not utilize it to its full potential. The platform can connect business owners directly to the people looking for the services they offer.
Start by typing “find an acupuncture clinic” in the search bar. The results will display thousands of tweets from users looking to connect with the people offering the services.
The first step towards marketing your business on Twitter starts by building a strong Twitter profile. Invest time in increasing the following by tweeting relevant content. Obviously, it’s not easy to tweet all the time. Take help from scheduling apps. Furthermore, instead of mindlessly scrolling, spend that time engaging with your followers and replying to tweets.
The next step includes adding value to content. But don’t keep posting about the same thing. When things get monotonous, people stop paying attention to them. Bring in variation followed by optimization.
Influencers can be a key tool in increasing traffic to your profile. They already have a following that looks up to them. Engaging and interacting with them can redirect that traffic to your profile and boost followers.
Existing network:
Chances are you might have tons of clients resting within your existing network. We all have a social media profile, whether it be Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat. Put up a story or post on your profile with the following text:
“Hello [name], I recently started a business where I help [whatever you do]. Do you know anyone who would benefit from my services? I’d appreciate it if you could forward my contact information to them.”
Make use of online marketing material:
Design an attractive brochure to market across different platforms. It should be directed towards the target audience with a thoughtful message and prompt call-to-action. The front page should have a single yet attractive headline. Main content must be as precise as possible.
Images, PDF files, YouTube videos and presentation can also be used as digital marketing materials. You can use google ads to market your brochures whereas gifs/image can be included in emails. Social media is an excellent place to share marketing content online. Influencer marketing may also help tremendously.
Webinars:
As a business owner, try to focus on hosting webinars. They have great potential. Select a topic with a goal.
If your goal is to attract more leads and convert them into long-term clients, focus on addressing the core problems. Put yourself in the shows shoes of those attending the webinars. What will they want to hear? Do they want it to be focused on the beneficial details where only the host is talking? Or should it be engaging where the audience is given a chance to put their point forward. Market it properly. Ideally, you should start promotions at least two weeks before. If you have the budget, ads might be an excellent way to gather audience.
However, the question right now is whether hosting a webinar is enough or not? It might be the first step towards attracting clients. As a business, it’s a golden opportunity to build a relationship with the attendees. Don’t forget to send a thankyou email to everyone who registered. You can even add a special offer or discount for the attendees to convert them into clients directly. Here’s a webinar checklist to make things ease:
- Identify the target audience and their needs.
- Settle down on a topic and contact a relevant speaker.
- Hype up the webinar across all platforms to ensure attendees.
- Practice all tools one day before to avoid any mishaps.
- Enjoy the influx of attendees on the day of webinar.
Craigslist:
Business owners haven’t yet figured out the potential of craigslist. It can be an extremely effective way of increasing the traction of clients to a business. Publish an advertisement for the service you’re offering. People seeking similar services will reach out to you themselves. Here’a step-by-step guide on how to post an advertisement on the site:
- Go to the craigslist website and chose the place you prefer by using the column on the right side of the page.
- Now, select the “post classified ads” located in the upper left part of the page.
- Choose the category that best fits the services you are offering.
- After choosing the category, click continue. You will be redirected to a page that will ask you to choose the subcategory.
- At this point, a new page will appear where you will be required to add all the details regarding the post. Title, body and other relevant information.
- Click continue. Now go to maps and pin the correct location. The people coming across the ad will use the location to navigate you.
- Add relevant images and publish it.
- After you’ve hit the publish button, go to your email (which you’ve linked to the post) and click the “publish link” button to make it live!
Old clients at the previous workplace:
Did you ever provide services somewhere else before starting your own business? If so, you must have built a healthy relationship with your clients over the years. Ring them and tell them how you’ve opened up your business. Inform them about your independent services and encourage them to visit you.
Reddit:
Reddit can also prove to be a fruitful platform for getting clients. It has around 85 million monthly viewers and stands at number 7 of the mostly visited websites.
Understand the mindset of reddit users. Most of them are either looking for answers or trying to get entertainment. What if you provide both as a business owner?
Try to interact with the community; share funny incidents about work. Actively answer any queries posted by the users regarding acupuncture. Analyze the commonly asked questions. Use tactics that will increase traffic but don’t make it too obvious.
Emails:
Use the power of email marketing to interact directly with clients. Post questionnaires related to the niche using google forms on different online platforms. Additionally, build an email list by adding a Call-to-Action on the landing page or as a pop up at the corner. This way, you can create a database of emails from potential clients. Send them detailed emails describing your services and informing them about any offers.
It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to market yourself. Statistics suggest that around 90-95% of people check their emails on daily basis. Hence, it’s difficult to ignore the numbers and even harder to not take advantage of the strategy.
LinkedIn:
LinkedIn is a professional platform. Hence, you will find several people running the same business as you. Try to connect with them and discuss strategies. The platform has groups similar to Facebook. Market yourself the same way.
Build a profile that describes what you do. Make sure it’s tailored to be specific about the services you provide, especially the headline. Add your work experience and client testimonials. Suppose you are an acupuncturist looking for new clients, you must interact with fellow acupuncturists on the platforms to build connections. Discuss the market with them and try to grasp the strategies they are applying by visiting their profiles.
Last but not the least, make targeted content your best friend. Post informational content that resonates with your services. It will allow you to reach a larger audience, especially those that are looking for something similar.
Conclusion:
You cannot expect clients to come to you by themselves. As a business owner, you need to put in the effort to increase the client base. As per statistics, 79% of people are more likely to trust a business if they have an active and transparent presence on the web. Don’t shy away from taking help from Practisco. It is a management app that allows the individual to rest a little by automating multiple tasks. Furthermore, Practisco provides a free professional website that aids in the development of trust among your potential clients. Take advantage of the sales and marketing features offered by Practisco to grow your practice by multiple folds.
