4 ways to find your first customer

“Your first paying customer is always the hardest to get but also the most exciting to acquire.” – Inc.com

1. Develop a business plan. Don’t just tell your potential customers that you can save them money; give them measurable results – show them how much money they can save with you. Don’t just tell your prospects the benefits of your product/service; show them how you can provide a solution to their problem that your competitors cannot.

2. Think local, really local. Look at your circle of friends and family; they can be your first customers – but make sure they provide objective, honest feedback. The insight provided by early customers is much more valuable than the revenue they generate for you. But make sure they do pay – or else they will be reluctant to voice complaints.

3. Branch out. Find the people who adopt new trends through market research panels and offer them a free trial or sample. Network: Attend events hosted by your local Chamber of Commerce or business groups, shake hands and and listen more than you talk. There’s also cold-calling, but people tend to tune out unwanted marketing today.

4. Social media. Done correctly, this can be very effective. Blog every day, or every week. Post daily tweets on Twitter or Facebook posts and follow the pages of potential customers, industry groups and complementary businesses. You’d be surprised how quickly your list of followers grow. Create useful content and share useful posts from those you are following.