How do you find new clients?

From social media to an ad in a door-to-door magazine. There are so many ways to do acquisition. But which way works best to find new customers? It is a question that almost every self-employed person has to deal with.

We can be brief. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Every situation is different.

Target group

Therefore, before getting started, you need to ask yourself carefully what the purpose of your acquisition is. What do you want to achieve? New customers or a stronger bond with your current customers. In short, who is your target audience? ‘First think about who your ideal client is,’ advises Nanette van Wezel, independent entrepreneurial coach at Wezenlijk Veranderen. ‘You will be more successful if you define your target group. And never sit still. As an entrepreneur, you have to influence your success yourself.’

Show yourself

Furthermore, it is important to show yourself with your expertise. Both online and offline. Conquer Google with your website. Van Wezel hired someone to do her Google marketing. She also writes blogs, e-books and newsletters and puts vlogs on Youtube. She started since the beginning of this year and her workshops are now full. But you also need to show yourself physically. Visit networking events, attend a master class or a trade fair.

Don't forget your network

By the way, it is important that you don't just look at bringing in new orders. Think about your existing customers too. If they are satisfied with you, they might refer other clients back to you. And after all, that is the best advertising. Research shows that acquiring new clients costs as much as seven times as much money and time as maintaining your network.

This works for filmmaker and photographer David Stevens, for example. ‘I find my clients 100 per cent through word of mouth. Important in this, though, is that you stay close to yourself. Your message has to be credible. People just puncture it anyway otherwise.’

Independent pedicurist Riny Schuurman totally agrees. Her pedicure salon also has a regular customer base. She gets new clients mainly through the grapevine. However, she now wants to expand her personal approach with a campaign on Facebook. ‘My customer base is ageing, I need to look for younger customers,’ she says.