5 Ways Local Businesses Can Get More Customers Without Spending a Fortune

Running a small business in the UK is no small feat. Between managing staff, keeping the lights on, and delivering a great service, finding time — and money — to market yourself can feel impossible. The good news? You don't need a big budget to attract new customers. You need the right strategies. Here are five that actually work. ## 1. List on a deals platform One of the fastest ways to get new customers through the door is to offer a compelling deal on a platform where people are actively looking for offers. Think about it: deal-seekers are already in "buy now" mode. They're not browsing aimlessly — they're looking for something specific in your category. A well-crafted deal puts your business directly in front of them at exactly the right moment. The key is to make the offer genuinely attractive. A 10% discount rarely moves the needle. A 40–50% off deal on a popular service? That gets people clicking. Platforms like Seagum let you list for free, set your own terms, and control the expiry date. You only attract customers when you want them — making it perfect for filling quiet periods without cannibalising your busiest times. ## 2. Ask every happy customer for a Google review Your Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful (and free) marketing tools available to you. A business with 50 glowing reviews will consistently outperform a competitor with 5 — even if the competitor is objectively better. The problem is most happy customers don't leave reviews unless you ask. And most businesses don't ask. Fix this with a simple system: - **Train your staff** to mention reviews at the point of payment or checkout - **Add a QR code** to your receipts, menus, or counter that links directly to your Google review page - **Send a follow-up message** (if you have customer contact details) thanking them and including the review link You don't need to beg. A simple "If you enjoyed your visit today, we'd really appreciate a Google review — it helps us enormously" is enough. Most people are happy to help a business they like. ## 3. Partner with complementary local businesses Your neighbours aren't just competition — they're potential marketing partners. A hair salon and a beauty therapist. A gym and a healthy café. A florist and a wedding venue. These businesses share customers but don't compete directly. A cross-referral arrangement costs nothing and can send a steady stream of warm leads your way. Here's how to make it work: - **Identify 3–5 local businesses** whose customers overlap with yours - **Reach out directly** — a simple email or in-person visit works fine - **Propose a mutual referral** — you'll recommend them, they'll recommend you - **Consider a joint offer** — a bundled deal (e.g. "Gym membership + 20% off at [Café Name]") that benefits both businesses The best partnerships feel natural to the customer. If someone's just had a massage, they're probably open to hearing about a nearby yoga studio. ## 4. Use social media to show, not just tell Most small businesses use social media wrong. They post promotional content — "Book now!", "We're open!", "Special offer!" — and wonder why nobody engages. Social media works when it makes people feel something. Show the behind-the-scenes. Introduce your team. Share a customer story (with permission). Post the messy reality of running a small business alongside the polished results. A few principles that consistently work: - **Video outperforms everything** — even a shaky 30-second clip of your kitchen, studio, or shop floor gets more reach than a polished static image - **Consistency beats perfection** — posting three times a week with your phone beats posting once a month with a professional photographer - **Engage with comments** — reply to every comment, especially in the early days. The algorithm rewards engagement, and so do customers You don't need to be on every platform. Pick one where your customers actually spend time and do it well. ## 5. Create a reason to come back Getting a new customer is expensive. Keeping them costs almost nothing. Yet most small businesses put all their energy into acquisition and almost none into retention. A customer who visits once and never returns is a missed opportunity. A customer who visits monthly is the foundation of a sustainable business. Simple retention tactics that work: - **A loyalty card** — even a paper stamp card increases repeat visits. The psychology of "I'm halfway to a free coffee" is powerful - **A birthday offer** — collect customer birthdays (even just the month) and send a small discount. It feels personal and drives visits - **A regular newsletter** — not a sales pitch, but genuinely useful content. A restaurant sharing a recipe. A gym sharing a workout tip. A salon sharing a seasonal hair care guide. People stay subscribed when they get value The businesses that grow fastest aren't the ones with the biggest marketing budgets. They're the ones that turn first-time visitors into regulars, and regulars into advocates. ## Start with what costs nothing If you're not sure where to begin, start with the strategies that cost nothing but time: ask for Google reviews, reach out to a complementary business, and post more consistently on social media. Then, when you're ready to actively drive new customers through the door, [list your first deal on Seagum](/lp/list-your-deal?utm_source=blog-aab&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cmp_6NAgRQ6274ykmCWYKWb_bmNIQiPoEh0ewooYoVxzb4o&utm_content=act_dU67pxjNUJK9LQrkcghFSno10WhCWoroLdYDYrm1bLI&utm_term=topic_get-more-customers) — it's free, takes five minutes, and puts your business in front of thousands of deal-seekers who are actively looking for offers like yours. The customers are out there. You just need to make it easy for them to find you.