How do I find customers online?
TL;DR
Show up where they search (Google, Maps), where they ask (Reddit, Facebook groups), and where they hang out (Instagram, TikTok). Local businesses should start with Google Business Profile, then build from there.
Detailed answer
- 1.Google Business Profile: claim and optimize it (50% of local discoveries).
- 2.Local SEO: rank for '[service] near me' and '[service] in [city]'.
- 3.Social media: pick 1-2 platforms your customers actually use.
- 4.Customer referrals: existing customers are your cheapest acquisition channel.
- 5.Community presence: local Facebook groups, Reddit, Nextdoor.
Common mistakes
- 1. Trying to be on every platform at once.
- 2. Buying email lists or follower packages.
- 3. Posting promotional content only and ignoring community engagement.
What to do instead
Pick the single channel where your top 10 customers found you, and pour 70% of your effort there for 90 days before adding a second channel.
Turn your existing customers into your discovery engine. Word-of-mouth, online reviews, and social posts from real customers convert at 5-10x the rate of paid ads.
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