You may have thought of an amazing idea for your new startup, but the business can’t generate any revenue until it gets its first set of customers. Read through our list of tips for acquiring the initial customers of your startup and you will soon be on your way!
Tip #1 Start to the people who know you best
Even if they aren’t part of your target market, family and friends are those who care about you the most – they want to see you succeed and can provide valuable feedback about your startup idea so you can modify it for the better. Practise makes progress, so by talking through your startup idea to your loved ones, it will improve your persuasive pitching skills for when you introduce your startup to potential customers and investors.
Tip #2 Set up your social media accounts early
It’s a given that you should set up your website early but as social media has become a central part of everyday life, it can also be an incredible tool to give your startup the exposure it needs. Facebook and Instagram pages are a must, and if your target audience is on the younger side (18-24 year olds) create a TikTok account too as TikToks have a higher tendency to go viral, which can attract more attention to your startup. Using hashtags in your post captions is great to draw in new audiences, but don’t just create content and expect followers to rush in overnight. Like and comment on other people’s posts who you think would provide value to your startup. They will receive a notification for every interaction you make with their account, increasing awareness of your business. Make the most of the free exposure that comes with social media!
Tip #3 Run a low-budget paid advertisement
Although running a paid ad in the early days of your startup might seem risky at first, Google and social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook can provide you with comprehensive data about your ad and its audience. We are not telling you to go all out and spend the entirety of your savings on an extravagant advertising campaign though! Just a few dollars for around a week will be enough for you to gauge the kinds of people who show interest in your product or service. This data can show you a profitable audience to target for acquiring your initial customers.
Tip #4 Attend events and popular meeting places
You should try to make a name for yourself in the industry early on. Attend events and visit popular meeting places to increase the presence of your startup in the minds of your target audience – whether it’s a shopping centre, market, convention or elsewhere. Going to places where your product or service could be promoted will help you scout the competition and give you opportunity to understand potential customers’ pain points and try to fill the gap, making your startup something worthwhile in their eyes without being too salesy.
We hope these tips will help in your search for the first set of customers to get the ball rolling. You can chat to the coaches at Business Advice AU today who are specially trained in providing advice for starting a business.
