How To Build A Client List And Scale Quickly

It’s no secret that a business wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for clients, and establishing a strong client base is an essential component of growing your sales. You want to maintain your loyal clients and make sure they are happy, but you also want to continue to build up with new customers. How can you accomplish both?

Relationships with clients can feel daunting, but the key is to just have successful communication strategies. Here are simple and effective ways to build your client list and scale your business at the speed of light.

Divide Your Time

Between loyal customers and newbies, it can be tough to know which group to focus most of your efforts on, especially for a start-up. The key is figuring out ways to divide the time appropriately and give equal love to both.

Only worrying about retention rate means that you’ll miss out on potential new clients that will help add to your client base and expand your chances of getting more referrals. Make sure you’re using some time and energy towards marketing and advertising to draw in new customers that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

With that said, building your client list doesn’t matter if you’re not able to keep any of them on it. After you have a first customer, make sure you follow up with them if they don’t return after a period of time. 

Consider offering exclusive deals or discounts to get them to come back.

Listen to Feedback

You’re not able to objectively look at your company from the inside, so you need to rely on feedback from customers who have used your services before. Ask your clients to fill out reviews or surveys so you can get a sense of your strengths and weaknesses.

Why does this help you build a customer base? 50% of American consumers will read online reviews before buying a new product. Having positive reviews to post on your socials, yelp, website, or Google page can sway potential customers in the right direction.

And negative reviews are just as valuable. Knowing what your customers dislike is essential for improving your business and tailoring your practices accordingly. If you think you lost a customer due to a poor review, addressing their concerns directly and giving them a personalized response can show that you truly value your product’s quality and even help retain them for the long term.

Reward Loyalty

One way to help entice new customers to remain on your client list is by rewarding them for continued support. Loyalty programs are pretty easy to set up, and they’re a fantastic way to incentivize clients who are loyal to your business.

Punch cards are a classic technique that offers freebies and discounts to customers who come to your business a set number of times. But you can also use apps like Dialed to group customers based on their loyalty status so you can send them targeted deals that are specifically geared towards their continued support.

If customers feel like you value them, they’ll be more likely to keep coming back. Loyalty programs are a simple way to give back to the customers who keep your client list strong. Plus, a well-designed loyalty program can even attract new ones.

Communicate

When it comes to seeking out new customers, as well as retaining them, an open line of communication is one of your most valuable tools. Sending out business updates, special promos, and deals or reaching out for feedback is a great way to show your clients that you truly care.

Sending clients a welcome email or text right after they sign up is an amazing way to confirm that they’ve completed the registration process. Still, it’s also an individualized way to let them know that you’re excited to get to know them better. Keeping an open line of communication, even when it’s through something so simple, can exceptionally solidify your client base.

This applies to times when your business might be closed for the holidays, too. It’s a good idea to set up auto-replies so that prospective customers aren’t left in the dark when they try to reach you after hours. These messages can let your clients know why you’re closed and assure them that their correspondence has been received.

Treat Clients Like People, Not Profit

It’s a common theme for building up your base, but customers like to feel appreciated by you. And the worst way to do that is by thinking of them in terms of profit.

Simple gestures can go a long way to show customers that you take an extra effort to care about them. Make a note of their birthdays so you can send them a coupon on their special day, or leave notes in contact databases with information regarding upcoming events in your clients’ lives.

Something as easy as reaching out to a client and wishing them a happy anniversary can go a  long way to retain them and make them more likely to refer new clients to you purely based on customer service.

Stay Social

It’s no secret that social media is one of the best places to promote your business, but it truly is a valuable asset when it comes to strengthening a client list. 

Not only do services like Facebook and Instagram let you gain business insights by setting up a business account, but they also open up a new line of communication between yourself and new customers.

Partner with Other Businesses

Developing relationships and partnerships with other businesses is a great way to build your customer roster, as it gives you access to a completely new set of potential clients. 

Throw a little party with another business to promote your products while also getting to know some individuals on their client list. This works as a symbiotic relationship for them as well.

In Conclusion

Having a solid client roster is an essential component of any small business, and yours is no different. But building up and maintaining loyal customers can feel a lot easier said than done. The good news is that there are some simple tips and tricks to expand your network and keep customers coming back.

Keeping an open line of communication with customers is one of the most important factors. This means reaching out to them on special days, like birthdays, to give special deals and show you care. But it also means grouping your customers based on certain characteristics so you can tailor your ads and promotions accordingly.

Dialed can help you keep in contact with just a couple of taps. It’s a macro tool for micro-businesses that lets you manage your contacts and get a business phone number all in one app. It lets you consolidate your client-building resources all in one place.

Sources:

Online reviews and ratings | Pew Research Center

Do Rewards Really Create Loyalty? | Harvard Business Review

The Importance Of Social Media Marketing | DigitalMarketing.org