Marketing Ideas to get New Customers for your Company

Getting new customers is what keeps any business alive. I’ve worked with startups, small service providers, and mid-size B2B firms, and one thing is always true: when customer acquisition slows, growth stalls.

So, how do successful businesses get new customers? Not by doing one big thing, but by doing many small things consistently and doing them well.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through practical marketing ideas—backed by real examples, stats, and lessons learned—that work especially well for those seeking ideas for small businesses or testing new ideas for businesses online.

Key takeaways

• Optimize your website and content for SEO using long-tail keywords, fresh blog posts, and local listings to attract organic traffic.
• Use referral programs and reactivation campaigns to convert warm leads from past or existing customers at a low cost.
• Leverage social proof and partnerships by encouraging user-generated content, collaborations, and community involvement.
• Combine email marketing and expert content to build trust, stay top-of-mind, and drive repeat engagement.

Marketing Ideas for Businesses

There are a thousand marketing tactics out there. But not all are worth your time. The best ideas are the ones that align with your customer’s behavior, your team’s strengths, and your brand’s mission.

These are the marketing ideas I’ve seen generate real results, whether you’re running a storefront, launching a startup, or exploring business online ideas to reach a wider audience.

Proven Marketing Ideas to Get New Customers

Let’s start with what’s been working across industries, especially in service-based businesses and local markets.

It’s All About the Technique

One of the first things I tell clients is: “Don’t just copy tactics—master the technique behind them.” I’ve seen businesses run Facebook ads with no targeting, send out emails without value, or post on social media without a strategy.

Here’s how to get the technique right:

• Understand your audience deeply. What keeps them up at night? What makes them smile? What do they Google when they’re alone?
• Craft a message that speaks directly to their problem. For example: “Tired of no-shows? Our cleaning service guarantees reliability or it’s free.”
• Be consistent. The best marketers aren’t always the loudest—they’re the ones who show up regularly.

Pro Tip: Use free tools like Google Trends, AnswerThePublic, or even Reddit to learn what your audience really cares about.

Collect Customer Feedback

Your existing customers are a goldmine. Not only can they help you improve, but their words are powerful marketing assets.

Here’s how we used feedback to improve conversions for one client:

• We ran a short email survey asking: “Why did you choose us?”
• The most common phrase: “You responded faster than anyone else.”
• We added that directly to their homepage: “Get a response in under 5 minutes—guaranteed.”

It increased click-through rates by over 40%.

Optimize Your Website for SEO

Search engine optimization is one of the most cost-effective long-term strategies. Yet so many businesses skip it or do it poorly.

In my own agency’s case, ranking on page 1 for just one long-tail keyword (“affordable marketing support for small business”) led to 18 new leads in one quarter, without spending a dollar on ads.

Tips:

• Use tools like Ubersuggest or Google Search Console to find what people search for.
• Write blog content that answers those questions.
• Optimize titles, images (with alt text), and internal links.
• Keep your content fresh. Update old blogs. Refresh product pages.

And remember, local SEO is king for location-based businesses. Add your business to Google Maps, Yelp, and local directories.

Low-Cost Marketing Ideas to Get New Customers

You don’t need a big budget to market smart. Most of the ideas below cost nothing but your time, and they work. If you’re looking for ideas for small business owners or entrepreneurs working with tight budgets, the following marketing ideas deliver a big impact without a big spend.

Ask for Referrals

Referrals are not just free—they’re powerful. Nielsen reports that 92% of consumers trust referrals from people they know (source).

Yet, most companies never ask. One of our security firm clients began asking clients for a referral after every successful job. Within two months, referrals made up 30% of their new leads.

Tips:

• Automate it. Use an email template that triggers after project completion.
• Make it easy. “Just send this quick message to a friend.”
• Offer a small reward like a discount or gift card.

Offer Discounts and Incentives for New Customers

People are naturally hesitant to try something new. Give them a reason.

Examples:

• “Try your first session free.”
• “Get 20% off your first order—today only.”
• “First 3 customers this week get a free consultation.”

Urgency matters. Use deadlines and limited quantities to drive action.

Re-contact Old Customers

Your past customers already know you, and reactivating them is often easier than winning someone new.

Here’s what’s worked for us:

• An email titled “We miss you!” offering a 15% discount.
• Sending newsletters with updates, new services, or useful tips.
• Birthday messages with personalized coupons.

According to Harvard Business Review, increasing customer retention by 5% can increase profits by 25% to 95% (source).

Social Media Marketing Ideas

Social media, when done right, isn’t just vanity—it builds credibility, increases reach, and helps people trust you before ever buying.

Network

This doesn’t just mean schmoozing at events. It means:

• Connecting on LinkedIn and actually starting conversations.
• Joining niche Facebook or WhatsApp groups where your customers hang out.
• Commenting helpfully on others’ posts.

One of our consultants gained two high-ticket leads just by offering free advice on a small Facebook group.

Share User-Generated Content

Real customers = real credibility.

Encourage customers to:

• Tag you in posts
• Leave video reviews
• Use a specific hashtag

Reposting their content not only builds social proof, it invites others to participate.

Jump on Trending Topics

Social platforms reward relevancy. Tapping into current events, memes, or challenges can increase visibility.

Pro Tip: Stay authentic. If it doesn’t relate to your brand or audience, skip it.

Partner with Complementary Businesses

We once paired a gym with a meal-prep company. They ran a joint giveaway and exchanged flyers in each other’s spaces. Each business gained over 100 new Instagram followers—and more importantly, sales.

Look for:

• Shared audiences
• Non-competitive offerings
• Opportunities to co-create value

Promote Your Expertise

One of the easiest ways to build authority? Share what you know. Post short videos, LinkedIn articles, or live Q&As.

Topics could include:

• FAQs from clients
• Behind-the-scenes process breakdowns
• Industry news and your take on it

Consistency is key. A home organizer I worked with gained 10 new clients after 6 weeks of posting simple before-and-after photos with captions like “One hour, one drawer, zero stress.”

Participate in Community Events

Show up where your customers are—offline too. Sponsor school events, join expos, or just volunteer.

Then take it online: post about your participation, tag organizers, and use location hashtags.

It builds recognition and goodwill, and that always leads to conversations.

Run Creative Ads

Small budget? No problem—if the ad is good.

Best performing ads often include:

• Clear benefit (“Save 3 hours a week with this tool”)
• A testimonial (“Best experience I’ve had in years” – Google reviewer)
• Visual appeal (short videos, real photos)
• A time-limited offer

Test different variations. Start with $5/day and monitor clicks, cost-per-click, and conversions.

How Do Ads Attract Customers?

Ads grab attention, but great ads create a connection. They make the viewer say: “That’s me. That’s what I need.”

The anatomy of a great ad:

• Problem-focused headline: “Still managing schedules on paper?”
• Emotional hook: “You deserve better.”
• Proof: “Used by 10,000+ businesses.”
• CTA: “Try free for 7 days.”

Platforms like Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and Instagram give you precision targeting—use it. Narrow by age, location, interests, and job titles.

Email Marketing Ideas to Get New Customers

I’ve seen email marketing outperform every other channel when it’s done right.

Here’s what works:

• Welcome email with an offer (average open rate: 82%)
• Drip campaigns introducing services, client stories, and expert tips
• Newsletter with new blog posts or seasonal offers

Segment your list. Send tailored emails to new leads, current clients, and past buyers.

Use subject lines like:

• “Your free quote is ready.”
• “You asked, we delivered: new services inside”
• “Here’s a 15% thank-you.”

Email marketing delivers a $38 return on every $1 spent.

Using Content Marketing to Build Long-Term Trust

Content is still king—but only if it’s relevant, helpful, and well-written.

Types of content that work:

• Blog posts answering industry questions
• Case studies showing real results
• Customer success stories with quotes and images
• Downloadables like checklists, templates, or how-to guides

One of our clients (a plumbing business) saw a 5x jump in website visits after we added a “Plumbing Tips” blog series.

Final Thoughts

Bringing in new customers doesn’t require luck—it requires systems. Start with 2–3 tactics from this blog. Implement them this month. Measure the results. Then adjust, improve, and expand. Whether you’re testing new ideas for business or refining existing strategies, remember: growth doesn’t come from luck—it comes from execution.

Growth is in the doing, not the planning. And if you need help turning these ideas into campaigns, emails, or automations, I’m happy to help. Let’s turn strategy into results—one customer at a time.