When it comes to running a small  business, there’s a lot that you need to consider. One of the most stressful parts of running a business is also one of the most vital, and that is landing new customers. The whole process of attempting to get new customers is a little bit like dating – or courting as it used to be called – because you have to move slowly, learning more about them over time, wooing them slightly.

 

Finding new customers is like courting, that’s a well-known fact within the business industry, but what a lot of newer business owners don’t know is what it takes to ‘woo’ new customers. It’s not an easy task, that’s for sure but with the right knowledge, you can easily make your offer seem more attractive to your customers than the offers that they have from competing businesses.

 

Wondering what it takes to woo your clients? Below are some handy hacks that many highly successful business owners swear by to win new clients.

 

Be transparent

 

A consumer survey asked people what they valued most in a relationship with businesses, and do you know what the answer was? That’s right, you’ve guessed it, transparency! Consumers like to know that the business they are spending their money with is an open and honest one, which is why transparency is crucial from the start. Say, for instance, you are trying to win a new customer who is from a niche you’ve never dealt with before. When they ask what experience you have with their niche, be open and say that you don’t so far but that you have experience in similar areas and know that you can pull it out of the bag for them too. Potential customers will appreciate your honesty and will be more likely to opt to use your company as a result.

 

Say their name

 

Nothing says ‘too busy’ than a business that doesn’t know the names of its potential customers. Take the time to learn people’s names – they will thank you for it. If you want to ensure that your potential customers feel valued, learning their names is a crucial step. When you’re speaking to them on the phone, communicating via email or having a meeting with, ensure that you are using their name. If a customer has an unusual name, ensure that you note it down phonetically so that you and your team know how to say it when speaking to them.

 

Treat them

 

A great way to improve the relationship that you have with potential customers (and customers too) is to spoil them a little. What does this mean? It means treating them well when they come to visit your office for meetings – a great hack is to find out what their ‘tipple’ is such as fancy chocolates, nice coffee or Montecristo cigars. Treat your customers like they really matter – which they do, of course – and you should find it easier to build a rapport with them.

 

Offer perks

 

Another simple hack to make wooing potential customers easier is to offer them exclusive perks. These little added extras are a great way to make them feel valued and important; whether it’s offering something for free or throwing in something extra, it doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you are offering perks that will make them feel more valued. You would be amazed at how far a perk or two can go in helping clients to favour your business over your competitors.

 

When it comes to ‘courting’ new clients, the rules above should help you to ensure that you are able to win every last client, or most of them, at least.