5 ways to generate new business
You started that business, got your family and family to buy some of your products or use your service; you dabbled into social media marketing and your sales projections have picked up. Awesome! And then time happened.
You keep advertising, getting the occasional inquiry but it is not translating into actual revenue.

What then can you do to generate new business?
1. Offer deals to your past customers: One mistake you would make as an entrepreneur is to assume that business is a one off process; if you want to build a sustainable business, you need to sustain the relationships you have with your clients. This is one of the reason the past attendees of our annual workshop always have a discount on future workshops .To sustain a relationship, you have to genuinely care about the person- remember their birthdays (give them a gift), favorite color (if you have a new product with their colour, let them know), favorite product (inform them on deals on their favorite products), know when they have been absent and reach out to them, ask them to recommend others to you and in turn they get a discount on their next purchase etc.
Sometimes, what we are looking for is right in our address book.
2. Reach out to past referrals: Perhaps you got a referral last year, contacted the person and engaged with them more than once, but ultimately learned that they weren’t ready to buy. If you’ve lost touch with that referral, now is the time to renew your relationship. See if dormant referrals are interested in talking again, if you can provide any new information to help them make a decision, or if their needs have changed.
3. Treat referrals like gold : Referrals aren't a name and number or email address on a piece of paper. They are the next generation of buyers for your company! Build a relationship with them before pitching. Yes, you might be eager to go right into business and not want to discuss the sports or shows; however, you also need to learn "why" these referrals prospects might be a good fit for your products.
4. Provide value: Focus on how you can help prospects, not on what they can do for you. There is something special about having your expectations blown away- think about how you can provide extra value for your clients. The excitement and loyalty you would get from going the extra mile isn't something that you can buy or market. Share useful information that will help them do their jobs better, run their lives better or look and feel better — whatever relates to your business and your market. Create and share content via email marketing, social media and your website.
5. Strategic Advertisement: Put your business out there! Do not be scared to ask for reviews (hopefully they are positive) from your existing customers. Put these reviews out there; use the hashtags in Instagram or paid advertising on Facebook to target potential customers.
If you have other ways in which you have increaded leads for your business, feel free to let us know in the comments!