Social Media
Build your online presence through different social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or LinkedIn. It’s important to spend equal time campaigning on all platforms you use until you’re able to see which one has more influence than the others, and what works best for your company.
Find out which social media outlet your target customers engage in the most, and become part of their online activity there. Interacting with followers, sharing your content as much as possible, and providing great online customer service can help to build up your customer base and also spread brand awareness.
Partnering
Choosing to partner with other businesses can help you learn a great deal about growing a customer base. It can also help you to gain access to new potential customers.
Collaborate with businesses in co-sponsoring events or complimentary services, causing both sets of customers to interact with both companies. Create referral programs that can generate awareness for each company, and offer incentives for customers who spread the word about your partnering business. Your business, as well as your partners, could benefit greatly from the exposure.
In-Person Networking
Although today’s market relies heavily on online marketing, it’s equally important to network face-to-face. A conversation in real life can provide feelings of trust and connection in ways that an online presence cannot. Human beings are primarily social, and an in-person dialogue or interaction can help contacts to become more invested in your company.
Networking with people in-person can also help create a lasting impression on potential customers, and it’s important to represent your business well when conversing. Take an interest in who you talk to, ask genuine questions, and listen intently to what each potential customer has to say.