Get New Clients in the New Year
Every January, we resolve to lose weight, quit procrastinating, stop smoking, save money and generally improve ourselves in many ways. In addition to personal improvement, have you thought about what you will do to grow your business? This is a great time to create a strategy to attract your ideal clients.
The first step is to create a mission statement. This is your vision for your business. It can include goals or be a brief description of where you want to take your business. Create a picture, in words, of what your business will be like once your ideal clients have found you.What is different?
Next, determine who your ideal client is. Do not rush to judgment on this. Do not just think about who your clients are currently, think about who you would like your clients to be. What are their goals? What will you do for them? In what ways are they like your current clients? In what ways are they different? Take some time to think about the characteristics that make up your ideal client.
You may want to imagine your ideal client as a “real” person. . Give them a name and create a profile where you describe their demographicsand why and when they’d use your products and services. Your ideal clients may include solo-preneurs, soccer moms, teachers or authors. Or your ideal clients may share other characteristics, such as a common hobby, religion, geographic location, etc. After you have developed these profiles, create a marketing strategy for each profile.
In step three, you should outline how you will market to your ideal client. To upgrade your clients, you should upgrade your business reputation by building your credibility and authority in your industry. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone, if necessary. Consider:
- Speaking to industry associations and conferences
- Publishing articles in trade magazines and online
- Getting testimonials from recognizable customers and authorities in your industry
- Partnering with experts in your industry on projects, such as books, teleseminars, etc.
- Writing ebooks, case studies and white papers
- Distributing press releases
- Building relationships through social media
To make your ideal business a reality, determine the techniques you will use to achieve these goals, and how you will measure success. Then take the first step, and the next, and the next…
This is the most important step in achieving your goal to attract your ideal clients, and this is where people miss the boat. We’re great at wanting to improve, and even at setting goals, but often not so good with the implementation. You can be different, though—take action and reach your goals!
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