B6 W e d n e s day, F e B r ua r y 1 1 , 2 0 1 5 e d M O n T O n J O u r n a L e dm o n t o n j o u r n a l . c omBusiness

UPCOMING:

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Trent Oster, president of Beamdog (beamdog.com), says that one thing in particular expanded his customer base. “We localized our first video game project and the associated store pages to 19 different languages. Our international sales have greatly improved since we undertook this effort — South Korea loves us on Android!”

PHOTO BY SCOTT GREIG/SCOTTART.COM

“To increase our customer base, we focus on increasing the value we deliver. With every project, every interaction and every message, we measure the value we give to our customers, then we try to up it a notch. Companies that focus on the value they provide normally experience an amazing referral stream from their current customers that appreciate the great work being done.”— Bea Bohm-Meyer, founder of Bohm-Meyer Group — bohm-meyergroup.com

“Edmonton is a relationship town; you have to get out and do more, talk more, meet more and genuinely care more about the community and the people in it. Search engine optimization helps for online, and social media can enhance relationships, but nothing grows a business stronger than being visible and active in the market. Creating advocates through personal advocacy — that is our focus.”— Darryl Moore, vice-president of marketing and communications at Executrade — executrade.com “As a consultant, expertise is my product,

so I accept nearly all invitations to present workshops, sessions and guest lectures. I also apply to present at conferences in my industry. After that, network, network, network.”— Nikki Van Dusen, founder of NikComm Inc. — nikcomm.ca

“Get out and meet potential customers. Social media is great to get your name out, show off your product and create conversations, but actually going and meeting people is what we found most effective … We would also recommend cross-promoting with other like-minded businesses, too.”— Kristi Wozniak, owner of KEYLIME Athletic Wear — keylimecanada.com

“Oddly enough, by focusing my business offerings in a certain direction and specifically targeting a niche clientele, I have increased my customer base twofold as I have become a sort of specialist in the corporate photography field. I am slowly making my name synonymous with corporate and commercial photography needs in Alberta.”— Crystal Puim, owner of Crystal.Puim.Photography — crystalphotos.ca

“Signage on work sites has been a low cost [investment] with a high return. Very few competitors use job site fences for their company’s signs as a way to promote themselves. Seventy-five to 80 per cent of our clients have contacted us because they saw one of our signs, and once we get them in the door as a customer, they don’t want to leave.”— Adam Richardson, president of Tempest Fire Protection — tempestfire.com

“I love networking! Meeting new people who own their own businesses gives me motivation and energy … Networking events help me increase my customer database.”— Stacey Shepherd, mortgage professional at First Financial Link Dominion Lending Center — staceyshepherd.ca

“I find that simply attending trade shows has been one of the best sources of new customers. I go as much to see the products as I do to see how I can partner with companies to help them make their products better. Just make sure to have lots of business cards on hand.”— Howard Suissa, founder of Suissa Design — suissa.ca

“We have implemented SEO and new marketing tactics with the objective of increasing my customer base, but ultimately there is an alternative best method we’ve found to be true: happy clients equal more clients. Referrals from existing clients who share positive experiences are an authentic and organic way to connect with more customers.”— Daryl Smith, president of Benefit Strategies — benefitstrategiesinc.ca

“One of the most important things to remember is to meet new people; networking is the easiest, most inexpensive and exciting action I have always believed in … If you are not in front of your potential clients, they will buy from someone else. Networking equals new people, which equals new business.”— Dorothy Briggs, owner and publisher of Womanition Magazine — womanition.com

“Our customer base is largely linked to the quality of our service, and to our ability to remain flexible to the changing needs of the clients we serve. Through surveys, open communication with clientele and exceptional service, my business evolves with the changing market demands.”— Keltie Brisson, owner of Rehab and Retreat — rehabandretreat.com

“I have found that word-of-mouth seems to give me the best results. I encourage my clients to recommend my services to others, and many of them do. It gives me more business as well as positive feedback on the quality of my services.”— Cindy Chopoidalo, founder of Expert Editing and Proofreading — expertedit.ca

“We focus on customer service, which includes translating accounting and tax concepts into layman’s terms. This focus has resulted in the organic growth of our client base by way of referrals from our existing clients. Our marketing initiatives are focused on using social media to reach new clients, as it’s both cost effective and reaches a large volume of people. It’s also an easy way for existing clients to make referrals.”— Debbie Engel, owner of Debbie L. Engel Professional Corporation — depc.ca

“We have really tried to work in partnership with other firms and community organizations to extend our reach and develop new client relationships.”— Ian Mathieson, senior consultant at CRC Consulting — crcconsulting.ca

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CAPITAL QUESTION:How Do You Make Your Business Bigger and Better?A monthly panel discussion hosted by Capital Ideas Where: Edmonton Journal (10006 101st St.)When: 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.Admission: Free. Tickets at capitalideas36.eventbrite.com

“Welcoming the Sheep” 2015 Lunar New Year GalaA celebration encouraging businesses in Edmonton to support cultural diversity from all four corners of the city Where: Chateau Lacombe (10111 Bellamy Hill)When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.Admission: $98, or $788 for table of 8. Tickets at neba.ca

Startup Weekend EDUAn intensive weekend focused on improving education by transforming ideas into action in only 54 hoursWhere: NAIT (11762 106th St.)When: 4:30 p.m. Friday to 8:30 p.m. SundayAdmission: $75 to $99. Tickets at edmonton.up.co/events/5474

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CAPITAL IDEASEntrepreneurs share how they get more business

For more great events, visit capitalideasedmonton.com/edmontonevents.

What have you done to increase your customer base?

These answers are in response to a question posed by Wellington Holbrook, executive vice-president of ATB Business. Here’s his take: “Over the years, I have seen many promising businesses stumble because they became too reliant on one or two of their customers. It is always terrible to see businesses run into difficulty because the prospects or strategies of an important client change. But yet it happens all the time. As a small business, an important strategy to reduce the risk of running your business is to be as diversified with your client base as possible. Lots of things can be done to increase your client base, and depending on your business, the how might be very different. For service businesses, it might be about growing your network. For retail businesses, it might be about finding new creative ways to raise your profile. The bottom line, particularly in a more challenging economic environment, is that if you are running a small business you want to have the broadest customer base that you realistically can.”

Competition is an important part of business, but sometimes you can get further by collabor-ating. That’s why we’ve invited Claire Seo, vice-president of Di-versus Media Group (diversusmg.com), to ask this week’s community question:

How have you prospered by working with other businesses?

You can answer the question in two ways:• Open today’s Capital Ideas email if you’re a member, or• Visit capitalideasedmonton.comWe’ll publish the best answers, along with your busi-

ness name and website address, on Feb. 18.Diversus Media Group is working with the Kingsway

District Association, North Edmonton Business Asso-ciation, West Edmonton Business Association and South Edmonton Business Association to present “Welcoming the Sheep,” a Lunar New Year celebration to embrace business and diversity. Visit diversusmg.com/blog for details.

COMMUNITY QUESTION:

How have you prospered by working with other businesses?

“Being service-based, it’s all about hustling by meeting people. Aligning yourself with other businesses that are complimentary to your services and clients will help you increase your customer base.”— Dennis Michael, owner of Wake Creative — wakecreative.ca

“One of the best ways to increase your client base is through referrals. If your current clients love you they will feed you new clients, and referrals are some of the best clients to have! Make sure you have some kind of referral program in place to reward your current clients for the new leads they give, and talk about your referral program to everyone, and often!”— Stacey Hogbin, owner of Wevive Fitness — wevivefitness.com