Today, I’m going to show you how to gain your first 100 customers when you newly start a business.
First off, congratulations on your new business, and if you’re already in business – Happy to see you keep the grind on.
More than 62% of people want to see their dream of owning a business become reality. However, only 14% consider this a realistic goal. In a world of quick fixes and overhyped brands, I’m going to walk you through some organic approaches to start building your customer base in the next 90 days. I will share links to relevant posts that will be actionable steps you can take.
By sowing the right seeds within your target market, you increase your chance of making that first sale.
Think, Test, and validate
For the first 90days of starting out, the key is to build a process that constantly allows you to think, test, and validate your offer within your target market.
– Clearly define the problem you solve
– Find out people who have the problem
– Find out where they hang out
– Test the waters by proposing to solve the problem for a few people
– Get Feedback
– Get Validated
– Expand into other groups
The methods listed below offer the options to help you get started for the next 90 days. Let’s dive in
Day 1-10: Define Your Customers/Define Their Problem/Craft Your Message
To begin, it’s critical to define whom you intend to sell to and create a persona that includes their age, location, and buying patterns.
Next, know your customers’ needs because the internet makes it easy for customers to find alternatives. If your business fails to deliver what the customer wants, they’ll simply move elsewhere.
Lastly, Craft a compelling message that is simple, clear, and relevant to your audience by being specific about the benefit
Here’s a great framework to help you complete these:
1. Who are my customer segments
2. What are my top 3 customers’ problem
3. What are my top 3 solutions and their features
4. What is my unique value proposition
5. How are my channels to reaching my customers
6. What is my core message
Day 11-60: Engage Your Customers/Propose to Solve Their Problems
After 10 days or so, you should have defined your core propositions, and this makes you ready to hit the market. The aim here is to create early adopters and customers in different stages of product development.
Now there are multiple ways you can do this, so look to execute what will be convenient:
1. Ask for introductions:
Reach out to 10 people within your network and ask them to be your customer or introduce you to those who can
2. Position yourself on the web:
This means presenting yourself to the right person, at the right time and place, in the right way, with the right message. Some of the different ways you do this include:
a. Setup your social media pages online
b. Create networking opportunities on LinkedIn
c. Fish for leads on Twitter
d. Create a website or landing page that converts
e. Build a waitlist and use email marketing to capture and nurture leads
f. Start engagements online with daily posts and content online
g. Join Online communities – Facebook, slack, discord
h. Work with influencers
i. Run sponsored adverts for key products
j. Send out cold emails to announce your business and automate follow-ups
k. Create reliable sales documentation
l. Share your expertise on blogs
3. Offer special discounts: This may include starting off your product on a freemium marketing model, where you offer your product on a “Free trial” basis to customers to attract them.
Day 61-90: Build Your Community
Now, you have a well-mapped business, more than 40 days of online engagement to resonate with the right people, and some buzz online
If you’re really solving a problem, you should have some positive response by now. The next step is to create an opportunity to have your customers come back every single day thereafter. How? By creating a network of link-minded people.
When you create an online community that fits what your customer is looking for, you’ll put them into your ecosystem and that is beneficial to you.
Online communities allow you to engage leads and massage customers through the buying cycle.
Say, for example, you are in the weight loss business. Online communities allow you to share information and advice on particular projects, such as how to lose some pounds after childbearing.
In this particular conversation, you would include information about the products you sell to support this project, such as a food timetable or routine exercises. Once interest has grown, you can hit your community with a special offer or discount, thus, converting the lead to an actual customer.
How to Build an online community
1. Define the goal for the community
2. Select a platform, and promote your community
3. Integrate your community into your marketing
In summary,
Day 1-10: Define your Customers/Define their problem/craft your message
Day 11- 60: Engage your customers/propose to solve their problems
Day 61-90: Build Your Community
