"Finding prospective customers or "leads" for your business is no easy task. There's a whole strategy involved, for one thing. Identify your target market, market your brand effectively, and create informative, appealing content for your chosen demographic." 

- Neil Patel

Start on Social

First, you need to drive traffic to your website or social media platforms. Don't have a website? That's fine. Use what you DO have to the fullest, whether that's a Linktree, a landing page, or a full-on website.

Once people visit your site or follow you on social media, the next step is to turn them into leads. You want to capture their contact info, like email addresses or phone numbers. Then, you can reach out to them and guide them through the sales funnel. The end goal? Turning them into paying customers!

But listen up, here's the important part: it's not just about any old leads; it's about getting qualified leads. Keep reading to find out how to begin doing that…

Stop Working Covert Ops

I can't tell you how many profiles and websites I've seen where it takes 10 minutes to find out how to get in touch. The average consumer will spend LESS THAN 15 SECONDS looking for information before they leave a website, so you better make sure you have an obvious CTA (Call to Action) and a way to contact you as the FIRST thing they see.

You Don't Need A Ton Of Money To Start Marketing Your Business

Seriously, you don't. 

Don't wait to start marketing before you get the perfect website built, have a ton of followers, or you've made ten tables. If you do, you're doing your business a HUGE disservice. The leads you invest in now will be the backbone of your business later, and we invest in future customers by investing TIME now.

So how should you spend your time? For starters, make your marketing personal. Personalization is key to getting people to buy. Everything you do should show who you are and tell your story. Something as small as pulling out your phone and recording the sawmill in action, the epoxy pour you're about to do, or even a 10-second post saying hi to your audience and telling them what you're working on that day can go MILES in growing your audience and capturing the interest of those who will want or need the services you offer.

Let Your Customers Shine

Lastly, remember that you don't have to spend hours creating content to grow your brand! Use user-generated content to boost your authenticity and trustworthiness. Share product reviews, videos, and images created by your customers. Let them do the talking for you! What did they turn that slab you sold them into? How did the wood they asked you to dry come out looking? What about that table a customer commissioned you to make? 

There you have it! Now go out there and show the world the passion that got you into this crazy wood world in the first place!