5 ways to attract the right customers for your online business
5 ways to attract the right customers for your online business
Have you ever wondered why ants gravitate toward honey or why magnets gravitate toward metal? Or, in less figurative terms, a business's paying customers? If so, you are not alone.
Pricing, aesthetics, and occasionally certain nuances all contribute to a person reaching for their wallet to pay for a good(s) or service (s).
However, just as ants congregate around honey rather than gall, and magnets gravitate toward metal rather than wood, each business has a target audience.
In other words, as a business owner, you have an audience for your offerings, and when you recognize them, it's similar to the satisfying sound of the correct key in the keyhole. Click!
Fortunately, we live in an era when people are more connected and accessible than ever before. However, keep in mind that not all "people" are your target market. So, how do you use social media to strategically reach the right audience?
Whichever social media platform you prefer, the following five steps outline strategies for attracting the right customers to your business.
1. Put value first
The adage "money follows value" is accurate. Consider the value first. Take a step back from the ecstatic rush of those brilliant ideas and plans racing through your mind and honestly ask yourself, "what value am I looking to provide with this product?" ”
In other words, why should anyone care about your offering in the first place? I'd even go a step further and say that if you weren't you, how will your product impact your life? Improved delivery times, improved aesthetics for an existing offering, and fresher food?
Whatever you're selling, appreciating the value you're offering is critical because if your product/service does not seem worthwhile to you, you're unlikely to present it in a valuable light to the public.
2. Make it easy for people to find you (Search Engine Optimisation)
When you open your business page on most social media platforms, you are presented with a bio space where you have a limited number of words to describe your offerings. This can be accomplished through the use of keywords. This cannot be emphasized enough.
Rather than simply writing "food and clothing services," use specific terms that accurately convey your brand's uniqueness. This is critical if you want your business to appear among the first results Google displays when someone searches for the service you provide.
3. Identify the people who need you
After defining the value you're offering, the next step is to identify your audience, the people who will pay for the value you're offering.
If you're a business owner who sells clothing and your primary target audience is pregnant women, you're probably best off searching for them on Facebook, where there are several Moms' Pages dedicated to mothers and expectant mothers.
Do not simply sit there. Enter these groups with your business name, respond to questions, establish relevance, ask intending mothers what they wish they had in terms of comfortable clothing, interact with them, and learn about their needs. Demonstrate a genuine interest in developing relationships. Oftentimes, relationships are the primary factor in online sales via social media; sales follow.
Then introduce your product, explain why it meets their needs, and remember how we discussed how word-of-mouth increases sales last week? One happy customer will spread the word, and this could be the spark that ignites your forest fire.
Barbara Findlay's quote perfectly encapsulates the point:
“Regardless of the goal you're pursuing online, avoid making sales your primary objective. Selling turns people away from your business rather than attracting them, particularly on social media sites.”
What a paradox! If you want to stay in the game for the long haul, relationships will go a long way toward broadening your reach. Utilizing a tool like Social Mentions, you can participate in and contribute to conversations occurring in your field.
4. Ensure your content is engaging
Now that you've established value, developed beneficial relationships, and seen a steady increase in your user base, the work is far from over. Maintaining relevance is critical, and an excellent way to do so is by posting visually appealing and relevant content.
This can be accomplished by sharing snippets of informative content via tools such as Canva or by starting a blog on platforms such as Medium. Please ensure that all content emphasizes the significance and uniqueness of your offerings in the grand scheme of things.
5. Leverage online sites
Numerous transactional and classified eCommerce platforms allow merchants to create an account and list their products/services under their brand name.
This is one strategy for utilizing already established online platforms to reach your target audience. Whether you begin with Jumia.ng or Scrader.com, you can easily make your offerings known to the public, expand your customer base, and track your online growth.
In addition, given the somewhat crowded nature of these platforms, considerable strategic marketing is still required.
If all of this feels a little overwhelming, that's understandable. In today's world, connectivity and business growth are having a field day. Your brand, too, has a piece of the pie, but only through strategic application of the right tools can you fully capitalize on the cream of the crop.
That is why you should not miss the upcoming SME Clinic 2021, where you will learn firsthand proven strategies for growing your business online from seasoned experts.
