This article lists and is going to explain the top 10 best ways to quickly get a few new customers and start getting new income rolling in.

Businesses that are just starting out sometimes have a hard time getting their name and services out to the public. One of the main hurdles new businesses need to overcome is getting their first customer or first client. Read on the find out how easily it can be done with a minimal amount of money.

Lets get right to the nitty-gritty:

#1 Take a small ad out in the local news paper

This may seem like small-peas at first but taking a small ad out in your local newspaper is likely to yield results especially if you do it at the right time of the year or season.

Contrary to popular belief, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people still do read the daily news paper, and for a minimal fee, there’s a good chance you could get your business service ad right in front of the eyes at the right person at the right time.

As an added bonus, a lot of local news papers also have packages where they’ll publish your ad on their website as well. Their goal is to bring you customers and a lot of the time they do just that.

The smallest print ad in a local news paper will cost you anywhere from $300 to $500 – give or take. For new businesses just starting out that’s not a bad cost for getting a few first-time customers.

#2 Create a Google Maps listing

Even if you don’t have a website, you can still create a Google Maps listing which is almost guaranteed to get you at least one new customer in a short period of time.

Everyone knows Google is the world’s most active search engine, and not listing your business on Google Maps is really not an option.

Creating a Google Maps listing will probably take you 1 hour at most to set up and if you do it right, you’ll probably get at least one new customer in your first month.

There are a hundred guides out there that will tell you the best way to set up your business on Google Maps the most optimized way but I’ll summarize them for you below – it’s this simple:

• create the account
• add your business name, phone number, [website if you have one], address, and a detailed business description (but no spamming)
• add at least 10 original pictures of your business and/or services
• verify your business listing when asked to
• create Posts at least once a week within the Google Maps user console

Most important tip: once your Google Maps listing has been set up, make sure to ask your new customers to leave you a review there. Reviews on the Google network are crucial to building up your business exposure.

Follow the above advice, combined with a listing in your local news paper, and you may get a bit more customers than you bargained for. That can’t be a bad thing either. There is no cost to creating a Google business listing.

#3 Purchase custom signage

Investing in business signage is an excellent long term advertising investment simply because signs always pass the test of time, stand out and catch people’s eyes whenever they encounter them and make your business appear professional.

If you’re a new business and don’t have a lot of funds to begin with, a decently priced sign is definitely a great way to drum up new business, especially if you own a physical store. There are a ton of different signage options available, but you’ll want to focus on specific business signs which won’t make you break the bank:

Plastic lawn signs: these are cheap signs, easy to order and easy to make; hundreds and thousands of people will see them and they definitely stand out. A batch of lawn signs usually cost between $400 to $500 and are proven to be an amazing investment.

Window graphics: these are also quite inexpensive, and this type of signage turns a boring store-front window into a perfect advertising medium. They’re great for businesses situated in high-traffic areas and do awesome for businesses situated in tight and confined business complexes. A set of window graphics can cost between $300 and $500 and look good for approximately 5 to 8 years before needing replacement.

Banners: Since sign banners can be pretty huge, they’re perfect for new businesses because they are very inexpensive. Regardless of the size or geographical location of your business, a custom banner can be used as a temporary measure to a business awning. They stand out, they’re weather proof and the get the message across that you’re open for business. The average cost of a large banner is anywhere from $300 to $500 and are usually delivered within a week depending on the sign company you choose.

#4 Create a business Facebook page

If people are not on Google, they’re on Facebook. Facebook boasts of having over 1 billion users which means businesses that setup a profile on Facebook can expect a few new customers in a short period of time.

It’s not always guaranteed that you’ll get business from Facebook but the chances are higher when you’re there. For the type of exposure your business can potentially garner from a Facebook presence it’s a wonder why not all businesses are on there.

Here are the main steps you should take when setting up your business on Facebook:

• create a personal Facebook account if you don’t already have one
• click the blue down-arrow to the top right, and click Manage Pages
• follow the steps to create your first page
• verify your Facebook page is asked to
• make sure to add a logo, and make sure to add a Cover Banner
• add your business website (if you have one)
• add your business phone, email address, and business description
• add your hours of operation
• add at least 10 to 20 photos of your business or services
• share your business page with your friends and family
• ask your friends and family to like your Facebook business page

Most important tip: once your business Facebook page has been set up, and once you get a few customers, make sure to ask them to leave a review on your page. Reviews will help your business get noticed on the network.

There is no cost for setting up a business Facebook page and only takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

#5 Get some business cards

Business cards are perfect for the new business owner because they can be given out to virtually every other business owner you talk to, and if you have a good pitch, chances are you’ll start to drum up some new business.

There’s an extremely popular website that creates business cards called VistaPrint which does so for the most reasonable prices, and they’ll even deliver them to you in a few days.

The cost for cards should remain around $10 to $20 for a pack of 100, and not more than $100 for a pack of a thousand.

#6 Print and distribute door-hangers

You can get door-hangers at VistaPrint too, but you can also print them yourselves. Microsoft offers a free door-hanger template which you can download and customize with your business information. Once you’ve customized the template, print it out, and start distributing it.

Door-hangers can be handed out to areas where there are lots of homes if you own a home-contracting business like home painting, landscaping, renovations.

They’re also perfectly awesome for service businesses and can be placed on the door of businesses in commercial areas as well.

The average cost for creating door-hangers is anywhere from $60 to $150 depending on how many you want to create.

#7 Create a website

Eventually you’re going to have to create a website for your business, especially after you get a few new customers and realize your competitors are getting the bulk of your potential business through their website.

It may seem like an extremely confusing and daunting tasks to undertake but the reality is that setting up a business website is quite easy. The following will be two examples of how you can get this done, quick and easily.

Use GoDaddy: Visit GoDaddy.com, register your website, and also sign up for their Website Builder package. The Website Builder package is one of the easiest ways to create a website and GoDaddy takes care of 98% of the work for you. All you need to do is add your business information, add a contact page, an about page, and a services page and GoDaddy will take care of the rest including your website hosting. The cost if less than $30 in most cases.

Hire a web local designer: You can search the web for local freelance web designers and tell them you only have $500 – and what can they do with that. For the most part a freelance web designer won’t mind taking your money, and if after showing you some of their design examples, if you like their style, you can hire them and get a decent presence on the web for your business.

Pro Tip

Once you launch your website, make sure to add it to your Google Maps listing, and also add it to any of your social media websites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

#8 Join a local networking group

Most local networking groups charge a membership fee of about $500 a year. It’s a pretty much known fact that after you’ve paid your fee and have gone to your first meeting, you’ll get some business and hopefully some long-time customers.

Local networking groups are amazing for making business connections and usually promote a set of guidelines for their members that are meant to enforce the group-bond and help each other member grow their business. If you offer a service that someone in your group needs, they’re technically obligated to choose your.

Each networking group has its own set of rules, so make sure to inquire with a few of them and document each of their individual perks and bonuses.

If you cannot find a local networking group in your city search for your local chamber of commerce. Here is what the Burlington Ontario chamber of commerce group website looks like.

#9 Post free classified ads

Don’t shirk on the power of the free classified ad, especially if you’re a new business. Popular free classified websites are used hundreds of thousands of times a month and if you’re persistent you’re bound to get lucky and find a new customer. Free classifieds allow you to include tons of data about your business and to really sell yourself.

Free classifieds are so effective that a lot of advertisers continue to use them to get new leads even after their websites and social media sites have been established and generating new customers.

Pro Tip

If have a website, make sure to add your website to the set up page for each of your classified ads so users can easily click to your website.

#10 Get vehicle spot graphics

There’s no way vehicle spot graphics could be left out of this top 10 list because they’re so effective at promoting new leads and they’re really cheap. For less than $400 you can get an amazingly professional design installed on the windows of your vehicle and show other business owners in town that you’re in business.

Ask yourself how many times have you taken down a phone number from a vehicle that was using spot graphics. Most of us have and more than once.

The Take Home

All it really takes to get a few new customers after your business is up and running is a little ingenuity and a slew of motivation. If you’re in business, you’re obviously ready to spend a little money on advertising, but there’s no reason you should be forced to break the bank about it.