"If you build it, they will come." Thanks mysterious voice in a field of corn but seriously how? Are you a buisness owner with good taste, a great product, and the perfect space but not sure how to get people to enter it and stick around? Looking for inspiration to start the flow? We asked 10 entrepreneurs what they do to build their customer base. Here's what we came up with.

WORD OF MOUTH

Matthew Bodis from Frontier Barbers & Company says:

As a small business in the Niagara region, our favourite method of growing our customer base would be word of mouth. It sounds very cliche, however, when working in the service industry there is nothing more rewarding than hearing new customers are coming in because a friend or relative had such an amazing experience at your establishment. Being able to connect with the community on a one-to-one basis is the greatest feeling a small business owner can have.

EVENTS

Melanie Jenkinson from Howl at the Spoon says:

We have been growing our consumer base with attendance at events. We are pushing locally around the PNW with Farmers Markets, Food Shows, Makers Markets and Holiday Shows.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

John Lee from Smoke and Mirrors Coffee says:

It is easy to say we think we roast great coffee and prioritize customer service with things like free local delivery for online orders. Vancouver Islanders, like all West Coasters, have an affinity for great coffee and a desire to support small local businesses. Consequently there are many fabulous local roasters and a wide selection of coffees available. We therefore aim to stand out and grow our customer base through highlighting our being a social enterprise roastery. We support, in our small way, four non-profit organizations that represent what we believe to be the pillars of a successful societyequality, social justice and environmental protection. By promoting our business on these foundations our customers know that each bag of coffee beans they purchase helps these non-profit organizations make a difference through our donating 50% of net profit for unrestricted funding.

GROWTH LOOPS

Joel Primus from Kosan Travel says:

My favourite method for growing a loyal, engaged and excited customer is through growth loops. One new customer should always mean two or three new customers because they are so excited about your brand and product that they shared it with their friends of their own accord. To be successful with this the holistic experience of brand message, product quality, shop-ability and customer service need to be on point. Growth Loops can be accomplished through affiliate marketing and referral incentives but nothing beats creating such a great end-to-end experience that the customer genuinely desires to bring their friends in to the know!

DIGITAL INTERACTIONS

Samantha Rayner from Better Basics says:

We love reaching new customers through by building digital relationships. We approach our social media, email and website as if we are speaking with a friend, using friendly, conversational language and ample opportunities for 1:1 connection. With every interaction we have, we pretend that person is sitting next to us at a dinner party, and use that as a guiding light. This then builds authentic relationships that turn into word-of-mouth referral and builds our business with credibility and a great ROI.

IN PERSON INTERACTIONS

Danny Walsh from Peak State Coffee says:

Connecting with them in person - I'll show up on hiking trails, at farmers markets, and at sporting events. Nothing beats face-to-face interaction, despite how it's more work. It's a genuine way to build.

DON'T SELL, TALK

Qazi Jamil from The Other Bazaar says:

The best way to increase the customer base is to meet people and make simple conversation. Do not sell, hear them out and simply talk about what you are doing. Subtle conversations go a long way and customers like it when there are no sales pitches. Once this is done, keep engaged, emailers, LinkedIn and Twitter are good forums of connection. The key challenge in this process is how to meet new potential clients. This can be done at the workplace, community linkups, Aluminis, and business forums. Good luck.

TIK TOK

Anna Zesbaugh from Hooch Booch says:

My favorite method for growing our customer base is Tik Tok. While I am no expert, I feel the platform is authentic and fun. We do not need to worry about our feed looking curated and fun. Many times people would not otherwise find out about us if they weren't scrolling through Tik Tok!

BE SINCERE

Amy Mattison from LovelyByChoice says:

My favorite method of growth is tied to the sincerity of my actions. There is an undeniable sense of intention when there is genuine care and concern of what is being shared between one another. If two individuals or businesses can work together towards a greater cause what is better than that? It envokes creativity through mutual respect and grows into a collective of unlimited possibilities for the greater good. That is the space I prefer to opperate in!

BE PASSIONATE

Matan Steinfeld from Bull in China says:

Having been in sales for 20 years, I absolutely love meeting someone, sharing my passion for my company with them, and for them to become customers, as a result. However, I have to admit, my FAVORITE, is when someone reaches out to me because someone else spoke highly of my company and/or products. There's a certain validation that comes with that version that really keeps me motivated to keep going.

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.