How do you increase your customer base?

It’s rarely an instant return on the Internet. You need your website coming up relevant to what people "search for" on the Internet. It takes time to get placement in the right places within the Internet and if you're listed in the right category of searches you stand a better chance of returns. The following is one of the better ways. For a small charge you can have a “Permanent” website advertisement placed in an index such as this in a choice of around 750 categories to target your business trade. This will raise your website profile and increase its chances of extra sales because this site is indexed by the search engines placing your site within public searches. The advantage of a site like this is that you don’t have to update your listing again. For a permanent ongoing promotion: www.search-the-world.com/form/listing This will only cost you $6.00 for a permanent listing that will eventually get picked up in search engine searches. You can also get a higher profile permanent advertisement as well for $20.00. You never have to list with them again.

Offer great service, customer satisfaction and look for less expensive local ways to advertise. For teacher appreciation week, fax an offer to post in teachers' lounges for a discount for teachers. Offer similar discounts for police officers and firefighters, etc. A fax machine is inexpensive to use and you can target select groups. You should be able to do a little research and find out fax numbers or call and ask for the fax numbers. This could be done when business is slow.

It would be much easier to answer this knowing what kind of business and how much your advertising budget. Here is what I suggest base on limited info to help you. 1. Use Word of Mouth- Offer some kind of incentive for people to refer other to your store. It could be cash or a small gift or have a monthly drawing with a much larger prize. 2. Special events can bring a lot of traffic and many can be free or low cost. If done right, they can even get you free publicity from the media which is much better than advertising. 3. If you have a mailing list, send a postcard to these customers. You will probably get a return 5-10 times of that instead of looking for new customers. This extra money can help with additional ways to advertise the store. If you don't have a mailing list, start one now. It is also a great way to mean the first two suggestions to your customers. 4. Get a website and list all the things about your store especially info about products, services, employees and definitely testimonials. Post some free ads on craigslist. This can help you with search engine rankings especially Google.

It depends on what type of business you are in. And what type of stage are you in, are you new to the area? Do you sell online? For example, for a restaurant, if you have to change what you are advertising in, so different person reads your ad. The best way to promote is to get reference from your current customer, they always love to bring someone new (only if they like you).... Please be more specific on this topic

Basically you advertise online and off and utilize email/direct mail communication for use of newsletters and product news to turn reluctant visitors into future customers. Advertise, advertise, advertise! It gets the word out about your business.