Become an Expert

As a business owner, you’ve learned a lot along the way to make your business as successful as it is, so think about sharing that knowledge! 

Consider starting a blog or hosting a podcast (or becoming a guest on relevant industry blogs or podcasts) to establish yourself as a thought leader in your field.

Not only does sharing your expertise establish your credibility in the industry, but if you’re able to keep you and your company’s name top of mind for potential clients, they’re more likely to turn to you the next time they need the good or service you offer.

Feature Items

Running sales and promotions can drive new business and draw customers’ attention to lesser-known products, but it’s possible to do this without offering a discount as well. 

Featuring items grabs customers’ eyes and will even drive sales of a given item upward, but it does so without requiring a price cut.

If you’re running an online business, a “featured products” banner at the top of search results will do the trick. 

Brick and mortar stores can take advantage of this tactic as well; featuring products in a display that are “staff favorites” is a creative way to draw attention to products that don’t sell themselves, while also giving your customers a sense of connection with the individuals who run your store.

Host an Event

A fun way to generate new business can be to host an in-person event. 

Whether it’s a family-friendly face painting party at your bakery, or a wine and cheese soiree to launch the new line of jewelry at your gift shop, the event will generate buzz, get new and returning customers through the door, and give you a chance to make face-to-face connections with your clients.

Advertising for an event like this is key, so spread the word through your email list, on your business’s Facebook page, and with flyers and posters around town.

Create a Personal Shopping Experience

One of the reasons a customer will choose to do business with a smaller company is the personalized attention they’ll receive. 

Train your staff to give detailed, specialized attention to your clients, and then offer this up as an additional perk for new clients.

If you own a boutique clothing store, create the opportunity for clients to meet with an in-house stylist to find pieces that fit their look.

If you run a shop focused on skincare, offer a free treatment that’s tailored to each client’s individual needs. 

While the bigger, multinational companies may offer a wider range of goods, a personal connection is something that will keep clients coming back to you.

Offer a Guarantee

As a business owner, you have full confidence in your product, but a potential new customer is likely loyal to their existing provider and might need extra incentive to switch over to your good or service.

Offering a 30- or 60-day guarantee on your product can be a way to drive new business to you. 

Just be aware that when you extend an offer like this, you have to be willing to graciously honor the guarantee to those who ask for it.

Increase the Convenience Factor

Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Between work, family, and friends, finding time to 

shop for necessary items can be a hassle — particularly when most stores keep business hours during the day.

Consider offering additional support into the evening hours to be more customer-friendly. 

You might even add the option to make special arrangements for clients on nights, weekends, and holidays for an additional fee. 

People are willing to pay for convenience, and if you’re the only business offering that service, you’re likely to win over new customers based on your flexibility alone.

Be Charitable

Keep the giving spirit of the holiday season alive throughout the new year by donating a portion of your sales to charity. 

You may select a charity of your choice or offer customers the chance to choose from a handful of charities that will speak to their individual areas of interest. 

Either way, customers will feel good about doing business with you and will be more likely to shop with you in the future knowing that you’re a business with a social impact focus.

The new year is the perfect time to focus on generating new business. 

Take a look at the sales tactics you’ve implemented in the past and what they’ll be able to do for you in the coming year. 

Then resolve to add some new, creative tools to your sales-generating arsenal for 2018.