Feeling like you’re yelling into a void, hoping a customer will magically appear? I’ve been there. But getting more customers isn’t about shouting louder—it’s about becoming the business people are excited to find.
It all starts with a simple idea: know your favorite customer like a best friend. And guess what? You can totally do this.
Stop Chasing Customers and Start Attracting Them
Are you tired of feeling like you’re on a hamster wheel, always running after the next sale? Let’s hop off that thing. It’s making me dizzy.
Attracting customers is way easier (and more fun!) than chasing them. This isn’t about some complicated, expensive marketing plan. It’s about being genuinely helpful to the right people. Easy peasy.
Think about it. When you truly understand who your perfect customer is, everything else gets simpler. You’ll know exactly what problems they need solved and where they’re looking for answers. This little mind shift is the first, most important step in making your business a magnet for new customers. You got this!
Know Who You’re Talking To
Before you spend a single dollar on ads or throw a post up on social media, you need a super clear picture of your best customer. Who are they, really?
Get specific.
- What keeps them up at night? (Besides their neighbor’s dog who barks at squirrels). Think about their biggest frustrations. A cleaning service doesn’t just sell clean floors; it sells free time and peace of mind to busy parents.
- Where do they hang out online? Are they scrolling through local Facebook groups? Watching DIY videos on YouTube? Or are they looking for pros on a platform like LinkedIn?
- What words do they use? Listen to how they talk about their problems, not how you do. If you’re a plumber, your customers are probably searching for “leaky faucet fix,” not “pipe joint repair.”
This isn’t just homework. This simple step is your treasure map. It tells you exactly where to go and what to say.
This picture shows the simple path from understanding the world to finding your perfect buyer. Knowing who you’re talking to stops you from wasting time and money trying to please everyone—a game you can’t win.
Your First Three Customer Magnets
Ready for some action? Here are three simple things you can do right now to start attracting customers without a big budget. You can do these today!
| Action | Why It Works (In Simple Terms) | Your First Easy Step |
|---|---|---|
| Answer a Common Question | You become the helpful expert. People trust experts. | Write a short social media post or blog titled “The #1 Mistake People Make When [Your Service].” |
| Create a Simple Checklist | It’s a quick, helpful win for them. They’ll remember you. | Make a one-page list: “5 Things to Check Before Hiring a [Your Job Title].” |
| Share a Before-and-After | It shows real results, not just promises. Seeing is believing! | Post a picture of a finished job with a one-sentence caption about the problem you solved. |
These small steps make you the solution people are looking for, so selling feels natural instead of pushy.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Trying to sell to everyone is like trying to hug a whole parade. It’s exhausting and super expensive. The cost to get a new customer has gone through the roof, so being focused is a must for small businesses.
In fact, the average Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) has shot up by 222% in the last ten years. It’s more than tripled! You can read more about what’s driving up customer acquisition costs and why it’s a big deal for businesses that don’t adapt.
The bottom line is simple: when you attract the right people, your marketing gets better and cheaper. You spend less time trying to convince strangers and more time helping customers who were already looking for you.
You can absolutely do this. It just takes a little bit of thinking before you start doing. Let’s walk through these simple steps so you can stop chasing and start growing. And if you need a hand, we’re here to help.
Become a Go-To Expert in Your Niche
You don’t need a huge marketing budget or a fancy degree to be the most trusted name in your town. This is about becoming a mini-celebrity to your best customers, and you do it just by sharing what you already know. It’s that simple.
Think about it like this: if you own a local bakery, posting a one-minute video on the “secret” to perfectly fluffy cookies instantly makes you the cookie expert. The goal isn’t to constantly scream “buy my stuff!” It’s to help. You’re giving away little bits of your know-how for free.
When you offer up helpful advice without asking for a single thing in return, you build something that money can’t buy: trust.
So, when people are finally ready to buy cookies, who are they going to call? The helpful expert they already know and like. You.
Share What You Know
Getting started is way easier than you think. You don’t have to write a book or produce a Hollywood movie. Just start answering the questions your customers already ask you every single day. That’s the secret sauce of content marketing.
This simple picture from Wikipedia nails it.
The big idea here is that creating helpful stuff brings people to you, and those people can become paying customers. It’s a friendly way to grow that feels good for everyone.
Here are a few super simple ideas you can try this week:
- Jot down a quick tip: Turn a common customer question into a short, helpful social media post.
- Show your work: Snap a before-and-after photo of a project. People love seeing cool changes!
- Answer a question on video: Use your phone to record a 60-second clip answering one—just one!—common question.
This isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being helpful over and over again. You can do this! We can even help you come up with ideas.
You are already an expert in what you do. The only trick is to start sharing that knowledge with the world. People will notice, and they will remember you when they need help.
Make It Easy and Fun
Your stuff doesn’t need to be boring. In fact, it shouldn’t be. Let your personality shine! Are you funny? Tell a joke. Super organized? Share a checklist.
The best stuff feels like a chat with a helpful friend. It’s easy to understand and makes people feel smart. You can absolutely do this. Just pick one small idea and give it a shot. We’re here to help you get started.
Turn Your Current Customers Into Your Biggest Fans
What if your happiest customers became your best (and cheapest) marketing team? It’s not a wild dream; it’s one of the smartest ways to get more customers. This is all about turning people who already bought from you into cheering fans who bring their friends to your door.
You can do this! It’s simpler than you think. You don’t need a complicated system. It’s all about creating small, happy moments for the people who already support you.
This isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a powerhouse for your wallet. Finding a brand-new customer can cost 5 to 25 times more than simply keeping a current one happy. Plus, those loyal folks are the ones who really help you grow.
Make Them Feel Special
People love to feel important. A tiny bit of effort here can create a customer for life. Think about how you can give your current customers a little surprise bit of happiness.
It could be as simple as a handwritten thank you note in their bag or a follow-up email a week later just to ask how they’re enjoying their purchase. These little things get noticed.
Here are a few easy ideas you can try today:
- Start a Simple Punch Card: Remember those “buy 10, get one free” cards from the local coffee shop? They still work because they’re easy and rewarding. You can get them printed for cheap.
- Feature a Customer of the Week: Post a picture of a happy customer (ask them first!) on your social media. It makes them feel like a star and shows everyone else you love your customers.
- Remember Their Name: If you have regulars, try to remember them. A simple “Hey, Sarah! The usual?” can make someone’s day.
Ask for Their Help (They Want to Give It!)
Your happiest customers are often just waiting for you to ask them for a review or to tell a friend. They want to help you win, but you have to make it easy for them.
Don’t be shy! After a customer has a great experience, that’s the perfect time to ask. You can say something like, “I’m so glad you’re happy! Would you mind sharing that in a quick Google review? It helps our small business so much.”
Most people will gladly leave a review if they’ve had a good experience and you make it easy to do. Your online reputation is one of your best tools for getting new business.
Taking care of those reviews is a key step in turning good words into more customers. For a deeper look, our guide has some great online reputation management tips that are easy to follow.
Putting in a little effort to make the people who already chose you happy is the secret to growing for a long, long time. For more ways to keep your customers coming back, check out these powerful customer retention strategies. We can help you set up simple systems that turn one-time buyers into lifelong fans.
Find New Customers Online Without the Headache
Trying to market your business online can feel like a bad joke. Everyone tells you that you have to do it, but nobody tells you how without losing your mind or your money. It’s a lot.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to be everywhere at once. You can get more customers online without it turning into a second full-time job. I promise.
The secret is to stop chasing every shiny new thing and focus on the few things that actually work. It’s like fishing—you don’t just throw a line into a random puddle and hope for the best. You go where you know the fish are biting.
Think of your online spots as your digital storefront. Our only job is to make sure it’s clean, easy to find, and welcoming to people who are already looking for exactly what you do. You can handle this, and I’m going to make it simple for you.
Be the Answer to a Local Search
Let’s skip the confusing words. Local SEO is just a fancy term for “showing up on Google when people nearby need you.” That’s it. When someone in your town searches for “best coffee near me” or “plumber in Newark,” you want to be the name that pops up.
This isn’t some secret magic known only to computer geniuses. It’s mostly about making sure your basic business info is correct and the same everywhere online.
Your best tool for this is your Google Business Profile. It’s free, and it’s like the old Yellow Pages ad but way, way better. Get this right, and you’re halfway there.
Making it super simple for Google to understand who you are, what you do, and where you do it is the fastest way to get in front of local customers who are ready to buy.
Make Your Digital Storefront Shine
Okay, so they found you. Now what? Your website and social media are your digital handshake. They need to look good, be helpful, and get straight to the point. You don’t need a crazy expensive website, but you do need the basics covered.
To make sure your online space isn’t scaring customers away, do a quick checkup. I’ve even put together a simple small business SEO checklist that shows you the important stuff without any confusing garbage.
At the very least, you need these things locked down:
- Your Name, Address, and Phone Number: This has to be super obvious and easy to spot on every single page. No excuses!
- What You Actually Do: Don’t make people guess. Tell them exactly how you can solve their problem in five seconds.
- A Clear Way to Contact You: A big, can’t-miss-it “Contact Us” or “Get a Quote” button is your new best friend.
Honestly, getting these simple things right is 80% of the battle. You can absolutely do this yourself. It’s just a matter of checking a few boxes to make sure your digital shop is open for business. And if you get stuck, we’re here to help.
Understanding Your Customer Acquisition Cost
Let’s talk about money for a second. You know the old saying, “you have to spend money to make money,” right? But how do you know if you’re spending it wisely or just throwing it into a black hole?
This is where a fancy-sounding term called Customer Acquisition Cost (or CAC for short) becomes your new best friend.
Don’t let the name scare you. It’s just a simple way to figure out exactly how much money you’re spending to get one single, new customer. Knowing this number is like having a superpower for your business.
It tells you which of your marketing ideas are actually making you money and which are just expensive hobbies. You can totally figure this out, and it’s way simpler than you think.
What Exactly Is CAC
Imagine you own a local coffee shop. You decide to print 500 flyers for a new latte. The whole thing—design and printing—costs you $200.
From those flyers, you get 20 new regular customers. To find your CAC, you just do some quick math:
- Total Cost: $200
- New Customers: 20
- Your CAC: $200 divided by 20 = $10 per customer
See? No hard math. Now you know it costs you $10 to get a new coffee lover hooked. This one number helps you make much smarter choices. Is a customer who spends $5 a day worth that $10? You bet!
Knowing your CAC helps you stop guessing and start making smart choices about where to put your marketing money.
Why This Number Matters So Much
Look, knowing how much it costs to get a customer is the key to making a budget that actually works. It keeps you from dumping money into things that aren’t bringing people in the door. It’s the difference between growing your business on purpose and just hoping for the best.
Of course, this cost is going to be different depending on what you sell. The price to get a customer isn’t the same for every online store.
The average cost to get a customer in the Food & Drink world is around $53, while a fancy Jewelry brand might spend as much as $91. This just shows you that “normal” can be very different. You can see more info on eCommerce customer acquisition costs at firstpagesage.com.
The goal isn’t just to get the lowest number possible. The real goal is to make sure the cost makes sense for your business and what each customer is worth to you.
You can do this. It’s just about paying attention to what you spend and what you get back. Let’s make every dollar you spend work smarter, not harder.
Common Questions About Getting More Customers
Feeling a little overwhelmed by all this? It’s okay! That’s normal. You’re not alone.
Most business owners I talk to have the exact same questions buzzing in their heads. Let’s answer them right now with simple, no-fluff answers. You can do this.
How Long Does This Actually Take?
This is the big one, right? When will the work actually start to pay off?
Think of it like planting a garden. Some things pop up fast, and other things take time to grow strong.
- Quick Wins (Like Radishes): Things like running a special deal on Facebook or asking your happy customers for a quick Google review can get the phone ringing this week. They grow fast and make you feel good.
- Long-Term Growth (Like an Oak Tree): Building your name as the go-to expert takes more time. Sharing helpful tips over and over again builds deep trust. You won’t see a huge change tomorrow, but in six months, you’ll have a strong, steady stream of new business that your competitors can’t copy.
You should see some small, exciting wins in the first month. Give it 3-6 months of doing these things regularly, and you’ll start seeing real growth. Being patient is part of the plan!
What If My Budget Is Zero?
No money? No problem. The best marketing tool you have is already paid for: amazing customer service.
When you make your current customers super happy with great work and a great experience, they become your volunteer marketing team. They’ll tell friends, family, and neighbors. That’s word-of-mouth, and it’s pure gold.
Your next best free move? Ask for online reviews. After a customer tells you how happy they are, just say, “That’s awesome to hear! It would help our small business a ton if you could share that in a quick Google review.” It’s powerful, and it’s 100% free.
Do I Really Need to Be on Social Media?
Nope. You don’t need to be everywhere. That’s a fast track to feeling burnt out. The key is to be smart, not busy.
Just ask yourself one simple question: “Where do my best customers actually hang out online?”
If you sell custom cakes, a picture-heavy site like Instagram or Pinterest is a goldmine. If your clients are other local businesses, LinkedIn is probably your best choice.
It’s far better to be a rockstar on one social media site where your customers actually are than to be a ghost on five different ones. Pick one, do it well, and have real conversations with people.
How Do I Know If This Stuff Is Working?
Forget about complicated charts and confusing programs. Keep it simple.
The easiest way is to just ask every new customer, “How did you hear about us?”
Seriously. That’s it. Keep a little checklist by the phone or a simple note on your computer. After a few weeks, you’ll have a super clear picture of what’s bringing people in. You’ll see if it’s friends telling friends, your Google Business Profile, or that one Facebook post that did really well.
This one simple habit gives you all the information you need to do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.
Feeling more confident? You should be. Getting more customers is just a series of small, simple steps, and you can totally do them.
If you want a partner to help you map out those steps and make sure they lead to real growth, we’re here. At The Cherubini Company, we help local businesses like yours turn these ideas into action without the headache. Let’s make it happen together.
Learn more at https://cherubinicompany.com.
