Ever pondered this 18th-century conundrum: “If a tree falls in the woods and no one’s around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Well, here’s a new version of the question, restated for folks who work for themselves: “If you’re open for business but no one’s buying, are you actually in business?”

Ouch!

Rather than think too hard on this brain-straining riddle, we’re here to offer up some strategies to ensure a steady stream of satisfied buyers are keeping your business not just open but booming. Maybe you’ve already read our checklist for getting ready for customers and our post about three key customer insights to help you build a better business. Now you’re ready to explore the next level of ideas and actions around growing and expanding your customer base.

Fact: A repeat customer is your cheapest (and best!) customer

Did you know you’ll spend five times more money attracting a new customer than you would satisfying an existing one? It’s not rocket science to figure out customer retention is far more cost-effective than customer acquisition. Not only that, says Todd Eby, customer success expert and founder of SuccessHacker, marketing only to new customers is risky. “If you solely focus on acquisition, you’re going to find it harder and harder to acquire new business as you saturate your market and pluck all the low hanging fruit.”

A smarter strategy, says Todd, is aiming for repeat business from the get-go. You’ll save money in the long run, since investing in ever-more creative ways to reach new customers adds up quickly. You’ll also fast track your business growth thanks to this fundamental truth: Repeat customers are happy customers. Happy customers say great things about a business. A business with a rock-star reputation naturally attracts new customers.

A final thought from Todd: When retention is top of mind, “you’ll start exploring what else you can offer and how you can become more "sticky.” You move beyond being just a vendor and become a trusted advisor.”

Armed with these important insights, let’s explore tactics for turning one-time clients into dedicated and loyal buyers.

1. Give your goods and services away for free

Yes, you read that right! You’ll score brownie points with both existing and potential customers when you share select product or services with no strings attached. Note the word “select.” You should think carefully and strategically about what you’re offering gratis – and why. The following insights might steer you in the right direction.

Selling services? Establish yourself as a thought leader or industry expert. If you’re a web designer, a marketing consultant, an accountant or a personal trainer (or something else entirely), you’re selling a service or an expertise. Creating and sharing relevant information about your industry solidifies your reputation as a leader in your field, which, in turn, helps you build and grow your audience. Here are some knowledge-sharing strategies from our QB Community members:

“I teach free classes about non-profits at our public library. In my experience, it can take a year or two of running a monthly class or a regular meet-up before people realize the value. The media wants us to believe success happens overnight. It doesn’t. But if you keep building personal connections, you will create a following.” -- Dawn Brown, CPA and founder of AZ Business Consulting

“I grow my email list by offering free information for business owners and continuing to help them as they grow. My newsletter lets me establish a relationship and build trust with my audience. When they're in a position to grow their presence online further, then I'm a natural first step.” – Nick Leffler, online presence coordinator and owner of Exprance

“Identify relevant topics and blog about them. Blogs are a great way to stay engaged with clients while remaining relevant and top of mind. This is particularly true if you are helping solve day-to-day problems related to the service that you offer. The key thing is building trust and fostering the belief that you’re a knowledgeable expert who can help when it’s time to engage on a project or make a purchase.” – Todd Eby, customer success expert and founder of SuccessHacker

Selling products? Find a creative approach to freebies that works for you. Product giveaways let you reward existing customers and motivate potential buyers. Of course, determining what your freebie will be takes careful consideration and a dash of creativity. One QB Community member offers this guidance: “Rewards work when properly implemented. Just remember that they can set expectations. A reward should never eat into your operational costs. They should be a percentage of your margins. Labor, product and operating expenses should always be covered. Otherwise, your profits are negative, and the rewards are a loss to your business.”

Let’s see how other folks who work for themselves approach product giveaways.

“I offer a taste-test of what I'm selling (breads in a jar and other items). I joke that it’s "food for thought" until next time.” – Baked goods guru and active QB Community member since 2016

“Stamp cards are awesome tools for me. Ten stamps fill a card, and you get a freebie upon redemption. It's incentive for people to keep coming back for more. It's also a way of saying "Thank you" to customers who do business with me.” – Entrepreneur and QB Community member since 2016

Other out-of-the-box freebies to consider:

• Offer a surprise gift with a minimum purchase.
• Provide no-charge delivery for a minimum order or for any referral.
• Create a challenge or contest, and reward the winner with a goodie bag packed with your products.

(Want more ideas? Check out this post.)

2. Beyond cat videos: Go deep with targeted demographics on social media

These days, social media platforms are packed with a lot more than just adorable pet videos. In fact, they offer an incredible wealth of information about your current and prospective target audience. Facebook, in particular, let’s you specify all manner of demographics about viewers you want your post to reach, from gender and age to hobbies, profession, physical location and much, much more. (Is your ideal customer a 26-year-old woman who eats gluten-free, lives in the Midwest and loves tattoos, hot air balloons and knitting? No problem. You’ll find her!)

Analyzing and then leveraging insights gleaned from highly targeted online posts and campaigns gives you a huge leg-up on identifying and reaching your audience.

“Facebook is a solid platform for exploring “persuasion marketing ” or “neuromarketing.” My advice: understand as much as you can about why people buy something – and why they don’t. What catches someone’s attention and motivates them to go from cold (no action) to hot (taking action)? When it comes to social media, I’m a “maximizer,” which means I’m very good at leveraging things in different ways. For example, I post inspirational photographs and messages on Instagram and then make those items available as calendars and notecards. I’m doing everything I can to build a “top of mind” brand presence.”– Keith Engelhardt, founder of NeuroYoga Zone

“Social media is without doubt the most important marketing tool I've used so far. My target demographic spends more time consuming information via social media than they do watching TV or reading magazines. There isn't a day that goes by when I'm not uploading a new tutorial, adding images to my online portfolio, engaging with my followers or updating my paid ads. I think the key to a successful social media campaign is to constantly be on top of the action.” – Lottie Hadwen, founder of Makeup by Lottie

“Our biggest marketing efforts go into social media, because that's where we see the best potential. For example, when someone comments on one of our Instagram photos, we use the direct message feature to send them a coupon code. It makes them feel special! We've also tried running targeted ads on Facebook and we use Google AdWords to drive traffic to our website via search keywords.” – Adam and Shaun Lee, founders of Bohemian Guitars

“You need to conduct a methodical exploration to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Watch the return on investment (ROI) like a hawk. Otherwise, you’re just throwing money away – and money is the one thing you’ll always run out of. Our weekly MailChimp newsletters have the highest ROI. It only takes me an hour to put together an email, and we can track exactly how much money each campaign generates. – Danielle Vincent, founder of Outlaw Soaps

3. Embrace timeless marketing tactics: business cards, cold-calls and great service

Sure, social media opens the high-tech door to deep customer insights and analysis. But let’s not forget the power of good ol’ fashioned marketing techniques. Here are some tried, tested and totally true tactics that are absolutely worth remembering.

“What’s been super effective is leaving our printed materials – postcards, brochures, business cards – at all the local real estate offices. I’ve paid to join a vendors’ program, too, which means I can attend regular meetings and network with agents and brokers. I’ll be presenting about our company at an upcoming event. It’s definitely worth the fee!” – Cheri Drake, founder of Sisters Staging

“My best marketing strategy is working as a vendor at various local events. It helps so much when people can try on the product and compare styles. Customers wear their new shades straight from my booth, so they become walking advertisements for the brand. – Beth Arca, founder of Bright Futures Eyewear

“You can go to your county's office and get a list of all the new businesses that registered for the month. Cold-call them or send a letter describing your services.” – Ray White, founder of Ray White Enterprises (accounting software)

“We are a creative agency creating animated videos. One client wanted a video for a digital marketing event. We worked almost seven days and late nights straight to make the tight deadline. The client used the video for his product demo and won the Best Product award. Now we have a lifetime customer and a great referral.” – Mini Sarin, founder of SocioPixels

4. Do it all (well, just about)

Not sure which marketing approach will do the most to grow your business? Why not try ‘em all! We’re pretty sure that’s what freelance musician Matt Clackett would say, considering his description of a multipronged approach to marketing:

“Word of mouth is the biggest asset for any self-employed professional. I've found that social media really helps experts get the word out about their work in a niche field. I write a blog that I update frequently, and I’m always looking to learn and contribute to online forums and networks. It’s the 21st century version of going to jam sessions. I have large networks on Facebook and LinkedIn, which need to be utilized in different ways. On Facebook, I post interesting articles sparingly. LinkedIn is a great tool for contacting people I’d like to speak to directly. I rarely post articles or comments, although I do read interesting stuff there. I haven’t even scratched the surface of Twitter yet.” – Matt Clackett, freelance musician and music consultant

Wow, Matt, we’re impressed!

Before you go

All the marketing tips and tactics we’ve shared in this post will help you build a solid base of new and repeat customers. As you work toward forging lasting relationships with loyal, long-term customers (every business owner’s dream!), we hope you’ll share what works, and what doesn’t, when it comes to reaching customers and clients in your field. Remember, your ideas and insights are important.

And let’s face it: Sharing marketing tips means no one has to consider this highly, uh, “creative” strategy for keeping customers (suggested by one lighthearted QB Community member): Zip ties!

QB Community members, what’s your best strategy for building your customer base? Share your tips -- and check out this post for more ideas from our awesome members!