Most manufacturing businesses will want to acquire new customers throughout the years.
It doesn’t matter if you have recently opened a new facility, have expanded into a different market, or are scaling operations; you must adopt various tactics to encourage your target audience to choose your business over its rivals.
In the past, manufacturing leads were secured following in-person networking, such as cold calling, industry events, or business lunches.
Nowadays, most leads are earned online, and your business may need to alter its tactics to grow its revenue and profit margin.
Keep reading to learn how to attract more clients to your manufacturing business.
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Join Forces with Industrial Marketing Experts
As most B2B clients will head online to find a manufacturing business, you must introduce clever tactics to increase your online visibility.
Boosting your presence requires much more than creating a professional website, as you must embrace various digital marketing strategies to drive web traffic, increase brand engagement, and generate high-quality leads.
Instead of making uneducated decisions, join forces with talented industrial marketing experts who can capture your target audience’s attention.
For example, they might recommend content marketing to promote your industrial items, equipment, and services to a prospective client.
Also, they may suggest running paid ads to drive instant traffic to your website and increase sales.
Whatever your company’s goals are, you can trust industrial marketing experts to help your business execute an effective strategy to ensure its growth.
Claim Business Listings
In addition to visiting your professional website, many B2B clients will search for a manufacturer through an online business listing site, such as a Google My Business, Facebook Business Page, or Yelp for Business, to name a few options.
If your business doesn’t have a listing, a customer will turn to an industry rival instead. Make it easier for your target audience to find your manufacturing company by claiming your business on various listing sites.
Also, don’t forget to include your business’s name, contact details, and a comprehensive list of your company’s services.
Feeling a little apprehensive about claiming a business listing is natural, as it will provide a platform for past customers to write honest reviews online.
However, many positive online reviews could promote your business to potential customers, increasing its annual revenue.
Also, a bad review is an opportunity for your business to showcase its exceptional customer service skills, as you can write an apology and encourage them to call your contact number to resolve their problem.
Nurture Every Lead with Email Marketing
It is easy to feel frustrated if your site has a high bounce rate or your social media followers aren’t converting to customers. If this sounds familiar, it is a sign you need to nurture your online leads.
Email marketing is the best way to nurture every lead. All you must do is gather your web visitors’ email addresses before sending compelling, informative, and relevant newsletters to their inboxes.
Improve your clickthrough rate by segmenting subscribers into groups, which could be based on their online behavior, age, or interests.
The more personalized and relevant the emails are to subscribers, the more likely they will click on the message, engage with the content, and become a client.
It is wise to introduce a system to identify, qualify, and professionally manage leads to ensure smooth and effective communications.
For instance, you could introduce a CRM software system to easily follow up with a potential lead and encourage them to place an order.
Keep in Touch with Past Clients
Various studies have found it will cost five or seven times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an old one.
If you are eager to boost sales and grow your business, don’t overlook your past clients.
For example, you can send targeted email newsletters to their inboxes, encouraging them to place an order or buy more from your company.
Also, don’t be afraid to request feedback to prove you run a caring business with excellent attention to detail. It might convince a former client to pick your company over a cheaper competitor.
Many past clients might be more than happy to write a positive review, too, which may encourage a lead to become a customer.
Request Referrals & Testimonials to Grow Your Business
The chances are a B2B client may know an entrepreneur or industry professional who might be interested in your manufacturing goods and services. For this reason, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask your existing customers to refer your business to their network.
Word-of-mouth marketing is crucial in manufacturing, as people are more likely to trust business recommendations from people they know and trust.
Increase the likelihood of a client recommending your manufacturing services by providing:
- Discounts
- Loyalty points
- Freebies
While many clients might be happy to refer your business, others might prefer to write a positive testimonial, which you can proudly display on your website, social media profiles, and marketing materials.
Network at Various Events
When you’re not embracing digital marketing tactics, nurturing leads, and retaining past customers, consider attending many events offline and online.
It is a great way to expand your network, find new business opportunities, improve your business’s reputation, and, most importantly, secure new clients.
Explore the likes of LinkedIn, Eventbrite, and Meetup to find events, workshops, conferences, and webinars relevant to your business.
Also, you could attract new clients, suppliers, or talent by hosting one or more events, such as seminars, product demonstrations, or Q&A sessions, as they will prove your business is an expert in its field.
Conclusion
Attracting new clients can take a great deal of time, commitment, and patience. Yet, you mustn’t stop working hard to acquire new customers, or you will open the door for your direct rivals.
For this reason, you would be wise to hire industrial marketing specialists to grab the attention of your target audience and keep hold of it.
Also, you must check in with new customers, encourage referrals, and attend networking events to convince your target audience to place an order with your manufacturing business.