Build Your Business One Customer At A Time

Source: 500px.com via Alisha on Pinterest

One customer at a time sounds like the slow painful way to build a business doesn’t it? But trust me when I say it's the only way to build a small business with staying power.

If you start out by trying to appeal to the masses and attract as many customers as you can, you might have a nice little flow of business at first because you’re the new kid on the block. But then the newness wears off and the next shiny object distracts your “customers” because they weren’t really your customers to begin with, they were only checking you out. And they didn’t become loyal fans because you were too generic. Lots of effort for only a little payoff and nothing that's consistent.

The solution... focus on gaining one ideal customer at a time.

First you need to distinguish who this ideal customer is. Who is that dream customer or client who loves everything you do, who truly gets what your business is about? Go ahead; write down the description, I’ll wait.

Now that you know who you’re talking to you need to find ways to connect with them directly. This way you’re building loyal fans who really need and want what you do. You will build a business based on serving a niche market that you understand, not by trying to second-guess the general public.

Sound daunting? It’s not really. Actually it’s easier than appealing to the undiscerning masses. Think of it this way, you have certain friends that are totally book nerds and others that only pay attention to moving images. You can’t talk to the moving images friends about the last great book you read, their eyes will glaze over, but you can spend hours discussing the new fall TV lineup and make bets on which show will get cancelled first. 

If you know who you’re talking to the conversation becomes much easier. You know what things they’re interested in, where they find their information, and what really catches their attention.

Now work on catching their attention, one (or maybe two or three) at a time. Every day. Put in the effort and you will build your loyal fan base that will join in the effort of spreading the word. Why? Because you get them and give them exactly what they need.

How do you connect? You share information they want, give advice that's useful and hang out where they do, both online and in the real world. Find out what this ideal customer is talking about and join the conversation. Write a blog post for their favorite blog that gives them a piece of information they can really use. Be at the events they go to, either selling your wares or just making friends. They'll see you as a friend and resource, not as a business trying to sell to them.

What's your favorite way to connect with new or potential clients?