Emily had been running her family-owned bakery for years. Located on a busy high street, the bakery had a steady stream of loyal customers, and the business was turning over a healthy £850K each year. But recently, she’d noticed a dip in new customers. While her regulars kept coming back, the bakery wasn’t attracting many fresh faces. Emily needed to turn things around—and quickly.
With no room in her budget for expensive marketing campaigns, Emily tried some simple online tactics that promised to increase customer growth within 30 days. The results were immediate, and within just a month, Emily saw a noticeable increase in new customer inquiries and foot traffic to her bakery. Here are the exact tactics she used—and how they will help you grow your customer base fast.
1. Tell Your Story on Social Media to Build Connection
In today’s world, customers want more than just products—they want to connect with the businesses they buy from. One of the first things Emily did was share more of her bakery’s journey. Instead of focusing solely on posting pictures of cakes and bread, she told the story of how her family started the business, the love that went into every recipe, and why their ingredients were locally sourced.
Within days of posting these stories on Instagram and Facebook, Emily noticed her followers engaging more with her content. Some commented on how they loved the story behind the bakery, and within the first week, new customers visited her shop, saying they had discovered her on social media.
Telling your business’s story makes it personal and relatable, and you will see an increase in customer engagement and visits in just 30 days.
2. Use Customer Reviews to Instantly Build Trust
Emily had always received glowing feedback from her loyal customers, but she wasn’t making the most of these reviews. So, she made a point of asking every satisfied customer to leave a review on Google and Facebook. She also showcased these reviews on her website and social media.
Within two weeks, the number of positive reviews doubled, and her bakery’s online presence improved dramatically. More new customers found her through Google, and several mentioned that the excellent reviews convinced them to visit.
Encouraging reviews builds trust with potential customers quickly. In just 30 days, you will see more footfall from those who trust the experiences of others.
3. Create a Simple Email Campaign to Drive Immediate Visits
Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach your audience—and it doesn’t need to be complicated. Emily created a simple email newsletter offering exclusive discounts, baking tips, and sneak peeks at new products. She sent this out to her list of existing customers and promoted it through her website and social media.
By the second email, she saw an uptick in customers coming to the bakery to use the exclusive offers. Email marketing keeps your business top of mind and brings customers directly to you. You’ll see a surge in visits within 30 days of starting a campaign.
4. Run a Limited-Time Offer to Create Urgency
One of the quickest ways to bring in new customers is through a limited-time offer. Emily decided to run a “buy one, get one free” deal on her most popular pastries for just one weekend. She promoted the offer through social media and a quick email blast.
The sense of urgency worked. The bakery was busier than it had been in months, with both regulars and new customers eager to take advantage of the deal.
Running limited-time promotions will increase your customer base quickly, with a noticeable spike in traffic within the 30-day window.
5. Collaborate with Local Influencers for Immediate Visibility
Emily also reached out to a few local food bloggers and influencers, inviting them to try some of her signature products in exchange for a mention on their social media. Within days of these influencers sharing their posts, her bakery received a flood of new followers and customers.
Local influencers have an engaged audience who trust their recommendations. Collaborating with them will bring immediate visibility and a surge of new customers in just 30 days.
6. Optimise Google Business Profile for Instant Local Discovery
Emily’s bakery had a Google Business Profile listing, but she hadn’t updated it in years. After optimising her profile by adding fresh photos, updated business hours, and encouraging more reviews, her bakery started appearing at the top of local search results.
Within weeks, she noticed more customers mentioning they found her through Google. Optimising your Google Business Profile will help new customers discover you faster, and you’ll see the results in 30 days.
7. Host an Online Giveaway to Boost Engagement and Reach
Emily decided to run a simple giveaway, offering a free box of cupcakes to one lucky winner who liked, shared, and tagged friends in her post. The competition took off, with hundreds of entries and plenty of new followers.
Within the first two weeks, the bakery’s social media presence grew significantly, and the buzz around the giveaway brought in new customers who had never heard of her bakery before. Hosting a giveaway will increase your reach, engagement, and customer base quickly.
8. Offer a Referral Programme to Encourage Word-of-Mouth
Word-of-mouth is still one of the most effective ways to grow a business. Emily introduced a referral programme that rewarded both the referrer and the new customer with a discount. This simple system encouraged her regulars to spread the word.
Within a month, new customers were visiting the bakery, having been referred by their friends. Referrals are a powerful tool, and offering a discount in exchange will boost your customer growth in 30 days.
9. Post Consistently on Social Media to Stay Visible
Consistency was key to Emily’s success on social media. She made a commitment to post every day—whether it was new product updates, behind-the-scenes photos of her team, or stories about her customers. By staying consistent, she kept her audience engaged and top of mind.
Within just a few weeks of daily posting, Emily’s engagement grew, and more new customers visited her bakery. Posting consistently on social media will ensure your business stays visible, attracting new customers every day.
10. Create Simple ‘How-To’ Content to Build Authority
To position herself as an expert, Emily started sharing quick how-to videos on baking tips and advice for choosing the perfect cake for special occasions. These posts resonated with her audience, and people appreciated the free advice.
In just 30 days, Emily saw an increase in inquiries, with many customers visiting the bakery after watching her videos. Creating helpful, how-to content will build trust and drive new customer growth quickly.
Ready to See Immediate Customer Growth?
These simple online tactics helped Emily increase her customer base in just 30 days, and they’ll work for your small business too. You don’t need big budgets or complex strategies—just practical steps that connect with your audience.
Contact Mark A Preston, Customer Growth Coach & Speaker, to learn how you can create a plan to grow your customer base fast. With Mark’s guidance, you’ll be able to implement these tactics effectively and see immediate results.
