New Business Ideas: 49 Growth Tactics

An important review of many often-forgotten new business basics plus some other reminders that every business owner and new business pro needs to know. Use this list of our Top 40+ to spark some of your own ideas about things you need to do to get more new business now.

Low Hanging Fruit

Low hanging fruit - gets you most value for the least investment. Why stretch to reach way up there when there's one right here within arm's reach?

Grab the Low Hanging Fruit

NOTE: If you have any more please let me know and I’ll add them to the list!
1. Move into public relations
  • When the economy slows down and media spending falters.
  • Money spent by clients is usually all fee.
  • If you’re not into this, move that way now.
  • Expand that part of your operation.
  • Stress with all your clients. It’s a real money maker.
2. Dress the part
  • When business gets bad, this helps.
  • You’ll do better
  • When clients see you, they have more confidence in you.
  • Always dress one notch better than your prospects and clients.
3. Stimulate business signage
  • Walk in business can often be strong and highly profitable.
  • Many agencies in high traffic locations have reported surprising results by listing what they do: advertising, branding, digital, public relations.
  • Key what you want and refer the rest.
  • Walk in business is usually fee business which is good.
4. Get a strong/narrow focused point of view
  • Be clear about what you do.
  • Too many agencies hide the fact that they’re an agency.
  • Use a strong energy line as part of your corporate identity package.
5. Stress your benefits
  • You help businesses grow.
  • You move markets.
  • You generate results.
  • You return a lot for a little.
6. Get a new business lead going contest
  • Talk up new business with your staff.
  • Get them hunting for leads.
  • Ask everyone for three leads per month.
  • Everyone who does, goes to lunch with the boss.
7. Use your best new business assets better—your senior staff
  • Not always great at new business, but good to start building relationships
  • What you need are relationships and your senior staff are in the best position to get relationships started.
  • Senior staff are the ones who prospects want to see.
  • Get them “sharking” for you on major pieces of business whales
  • Get them a limited number of prospects to reach out to maybe 5.
  • You land one; the staff member gets a great reward.
8. Work one industry hard.
  • Agencies have conflicts. Consultants have areas of expertise.
  • Develop an area of expertise for your agency and work that vein hard.
  • Prospects respond well to category experts.
  • And industry experts can work ocean to ocean.
9. Work close to home
  • Most agencies drive by good accounts all day long.
  • Go “smoke stacking” for leads.
  • Look for successful businesses close at hand.
  • Remember the story of the prospector who was surrounded by acres of diamonds. But he stopped a foot too short.
10. Work your Direct Flight markets
  • Used flight schedules to target key cities
  • Follow one-flight rule
  • Helps speed up servicing distant accounts
  • A better story for prospects
11. Work your clubs and organizations
  • Relations are easy to make
  • Use as referral base
  • Don’t have to lead, just participate
  • Good source of leads