4 Ways to Get New Customers in Your Small Business

I’ve been seeing several posts from small business owners- telling people in their community to support small business.

Yes, absolutely- support small businesses in your community- 100%. I believe the healing of any economy happens in our own community, because we can’t control things where we don’t reside.

As a small business owner going on 18 years... I get it, owning a small business is hands down one of the hardest things I have ever done, and will ever do. It's spiritual, physical, and emotional- but this is a path you choose- it's not for everyone, but you chose it.

Small business owners have to take responsibility, and do a better job if they want to win more business- that is getting exported online, to the closest metropolitan area, or the next town or state over.

4 Areas Every Small Business Owner can improve on:

1. Providing jobs, and being world class leaders in their communities.

>>>Stop saying nobody wants to work, the fact is, nobody may want to work for you. Plenty of people are tirelessly looking for jobs- and are eager to work for a someone with a vision, a mission, a purpose, a plan, and willing to pay a livable wage.

2. Marketing

>>>You may have a fancy sign on Main Street, that people who drive by may never actually see... so there are still more people in your community who don’t know you exist, let alone that your business provides a service or products they have yet to fall in love with.

>>> If you can market are social media- are you? Do you donate to local charities, support local teams, and events? Hosting special sales and events? Promoting all your products, services, new and old? Are you utilizing at least 3 streams of leads? Growing an email list or text list?

3. Do better business

>>> if you can’t beat pricing - you have to win in service with a smile, face and name recognition, honesty, kindness, and followup. The customer isn’t always right, but neither are you. Relationships, experience and service will always win.

4. Spruce up the joint

>>> Small businesses, need to update and improve their stores, facilities and ways of doing business to keep up with the times, even in small towns. It’s respect to your business, your customers, and your community. People want to do business where there is an experience every time they walk in the door. If your business stinks, is messy, or hasn’t been updated since the 80’s don’t be surprised if it’s hard to demand higher prices, or attract new customers.

I see you busting your tails, spinning your wheels and feeling frustrated, and at times hopeless- the posts that tell people to support your local small business- reek of desperation (which begging people to do business with you is a strategy- but not a good one.)

It’s easier to focus on - what can I improve or update in my business today?

I am offering 3 brick and mortar businesses a 45 min audit of their systems, marketing, and experience of their business- so that this time next year your business more profitable, fun, and fulfilling.

You will leave this audit with a strategic plan, that doesn’t involve guilting people to do business with you, but instead attracts and invites more people to do business with you. Click here to book a time to connect.

8 Ways to Create A Community In Your Coaching or Consulting Business

Never under estimate the value of building a strong community. A strong community of people will do great things for your business, but also great things for each other. At the end of the day people need people, and if you as a coach can facilitate those relationships through your products and programs- clients will stay longer, be happier, and see more success.

Which means better reviews, programs clients love, and relationships that your customers can take with them through their lifetime. That’s a gift. Those same people will tell other how they made fabulous connections and friendships while in your program. Which also seeds your program in the minds of others, who when they see your marketing- will go- I have heard great things, and sign up, if your offering suit their needs.

When I owned my gym we focused hard on building community, because a gym without a community, is just a place to workout, which most people can do for free at home. Much like a course without a community, a real community is just another course, not a life changing experience.

How do you build a community? Friends, I hate to tell you, it’s work- like a lot of work.

You have to get people together. In the time of COVID I know that seems like a laughable suggestion. (Please insert your eye roll here.)

Figuring out how to build community is a process in and of itself, but when you succeed, clients will stay clients just so they can remain with their tribe. I look at my life in group programs like intensives, masterminds, collectives and time after time, I stayed apart of these programs a full year past when I wanted to stop, simply to remain close to those whose relationships, input and advice I appreciated.

That’s the power of community, which in this spread out, digital world is harder to come by- because we are all separated by a screen, a mask, or fear.

So how do you build community?

Building community is a layering process, because it means you need to pave the way for all the different ways people like to interact. In person, Online, Through Experiences and shared memories.

Where most coaches and consultants miss the mark, is they don’t layer their communities, they toss up a facebook group and call it community- then wonder why no one is engaging or connecting.

Here is the layering process for building community with your clients, whether your business is online or offline.

1. Facebook group-

   Facebook groups are not all bad, it’s the way we approach them. They should be a place where people are introduced, cheered on, celebrated, inspired and motivated. Where they can feel free to ask questions and get answers. In your facebook group, take time to comment on posts, post a live video, and connect with your people.

2. Zoom/ Video Calls-

   There is something so cool that happens when people can get live coaching from you, in front of others in group. They become vulnernable, create connections, have side conversations, and open the doors friendships. It’s also a great place where you clients can connect with you, be in your space, your energy, and get inspired and motivated. My favorite way to do these calls is on a regular cadence- like daily coaching for general questions, and bi-weekly or monthly for new content. What this does, is it lets your clients know what to expect, get excited, and actually want to show up for the call.

3. In person working events

   In person working events like mastermind meetings, round tables, weekend aways, etc. These are opportunities where you provide the opportunity for your clients to come together, to teach, to work, to discuss new ideas. Typically you provide the meals, snacks, and the content. Some in person events have a theme, while others are business as usual. A chance to unplug from the daily grind, and connect to their tribe in meaningful ways. If you have heard my story for how The Momma Boss came to be, it happened at one of these events.

4. In person fun events

   In person fun events can be built into a working event or be held as a stand alone event. Fun events you bring your clients together for are retreats, dinners, parties with dancings, game nights, laser tag, hiking, workouts, etc. You name it, you can bring people together for it. When people make memories together, they grow a deeper connection to each other, your tribe, and your community.

5. Online Working Events

   These have been super popular the last 9 months as coaches and consultants and worked hard to maintain their business operations in the face of travel bans and closed boarders. 2-3 Day Events where people can learn and connect are great, but also I think the blue screen fatigue is real with all of us. There are several platforms that are great for hosting these online events at scale. Hopin seems to be the smoothest running platform, zoom has some capabilities, and I am sure there are others. When running an online working event that is days… some things to consider… break times, ease of networking and connecting, breakout rooms, chat features, etc.

6. Accountability Coaching

   Separating clients into pods, for coaching and accountability. Each week they come together, learn something, ask and answer questions, and are given their marching orders as a group. Tell them to connect with each other through out the week, checkin with you if they need to, and come back the following week. This works great for intensive coaching programs where each week has a purpose.

7. Be a Connector

   Introduce people, become a connector and facilitate friendships. Tell people who they should know, make introductions, and help people start conversations. This helps people feel less awkward when meeting new people, which can often be very intimidating.

8. Be a cheerleader

   Be a cheerleader for your clients, give them status. When they are crushing it, let your tribe know who is crushing it, how they are crushing it, and why they should get to know this person. It builds the one person up who is doing well, but it also makes them an authority figure to other clients, who will reach out to them and a relationship has a chance to start. Everyone wants to be seen, and everyone wants to know they matter. Being a cheerleader for your clients, serves that purpose.

There can be a dark side of building community as well, when a rotten egg enters the batch, starts gossiping and causing chaos and discontent. I’ve seen it happen where people out stay their welcome, and end up spoiling the whole batch. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens often enough to mention.

As you are building your community, it is just as important to cull the herd every now than, to remove people who no longer fit the values of the community or your company. These conversations are never easy, but you have to value your business- more than they value the drama they are bringing to it. After all it’s your livelihood, and you must protect it.

What are ways you like to create community in your business? Let me know in the comments.

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Ready to take your coaching and consulting business to the next level and start bringing in income to your business everyday. I have a new program you will want to know about. It’s my Get Paid Everyday Case Study Intensive that I will be launching soon.

If you want to know know more about this program that will help you dial in your sales and marketing so that your business isn’t just an expensive hobby shoot me a message with the words “Get Paid Everyday” on Instagram or Facebook.