How to find potential customers and clients

1. Determine your ideal client

Determine who your ideal client is. After all, you cannot reach everyone. When you can say which clients you specifically want, you can specifically look for them.

To determine who your ideal customer is, you think about which group of people your product or service is interesting for. This is called customer research. Gather information online about your ideal client. For example, where they live, their age, and what their needs or challenges are. If you know these things, you can target them accordingly.

2. Start your marketing

Start by announcing your business. Your potential customers do not yet know who you are and what you do. So, actively make your business known to your target audience.

• Do market research and write it down in a marketing plan. That way, you know where your customer is online and offline. Get active in these locations and make your business known. Do you need help making your plan? Then you can spar with experienced entrepreneurs at Entrepreneurs Soundboard OKB.
• Launch a website that clearly states what you do and for whom - in other words, what problem do you solve for your dream customer?
• Keep your customer involved and regularly post business or product updates on social media.
• Hand out flyers in your area or at a networking event promoting your business.
• Send a press release to (local) newspapers about a development in your business, product or services.
• Make a pitch and practise it. For example, try your pitch on your family, friends and acquaintances first and learn from their reaction. Because even when you talk about your business to your neighbour at a party, this is part of your marketing. After all, this is word of mouth (or 'via via').
• Make sure you are easily findable online with search engine optimisation.

3. Increase number of customer contacts

Create different moments when (potential) customers get in touch with you. Show that you are an expert. You can do this by writing blogs or sharing your knowledge on a current topic on LinkedIn or other social media channels Build your network and mingle with industry peers. For example, go to a trade show and join your sector association. 

4. Highlight exclusive offers

Make your offer exclusive or offer something extra to encourage purchases. Van Heck: "A temporary opportunity that suddenly presents itself, such as a discount or free product, is something customers want to make the most of." He advises using promotions such as 'There are only 2 rooms available', 'Now temporarily reduced in price', or simply 'Sale'.

Act ethically and according to the rules. The sales opportunity you offer must be real.

5. Sell through online marketplaces

Sign up to an online marketplace. For example, a platform where you offer your services as a self-employed professional without staff, such as Freelancer.nl or Werkspot, or an e-commerce platform like Bol.com or Amazon.nl.

By signing up to an online marketplace, you start building a network or customer relationship. An online place where you can build your name is important to get clients in the future. Find out which platform is a good fit for your service or product, or see where your competitors are. Register on the platform and after, say, 6 months evaluate whether the online marketplace brings you customers.

6. Invest in the customer relationship

Build a relationship and keep the contact warm. Show your customers that you care about them and that they are important to you. You want your customers to be satisfied and to come back more often.