How to Find New Clients for Your Clothing Store for Under $10,000/month

Marketing your clothing store in the modern economy is nothing like it used to be. Some of the same tactics will still work, of course, but they may be exercised in different ways. Take word-of-mouth marketing, for example (which is still one of the most effective marketing tools). Instead of people talking about your clothing store over lunch, they might be sharing about it on social media or leaving a Google review about their experience. 

Regardless of the changes in marketing and the increasing focus on digital marketing and optimization efforts, there are plenty of ways that you can utilize your growing marketing budget to keep the new customers coming in. You can (and should) set up an eCommerce presence so that people can shop online if they prefer, but there’s a lot more that you can do, too. Read on to learn five great tactics to help you generate new customers for your clothing store with your $10k/month marketing budget. 

Tactic #1: Get referrals and reviews 

Cost: Free, unless you offer incentives, discounts, etc. 

As mentioned, word-of-mouth marketing is still one of the most effective marketing strategies out there. In the digital age, you’ll be best served by referrals and testimonials, as well as online reviews, both of the clothing that you sell and your business itself. You can solicit reviews by offering incentives like discounts and special savings for those who leave a Google review or post on your website. You can also set up a referral program so that you can reward referrals and the people who send them your way. 

Take advantage of word-of-mouth marketing in as many ways as possible, including with online reviews and ratings. Get reviewed on your website, but ask for reviews on social media, Google and Yelp!, and in other relevant places, as well. That way, no matter where people search, they will see that your clothing store is the one that they want based on what people have to say. 

Tactic #2: Get engaged on social media 

Cost: Free

Social media is no longer optional. It’s also not something that you can just set up and forget about. You have to be active and engaged on social media. Find out where your biggest audience is and put your focus there. Create profiles on Facebook and Instagram, at the very least, so that you can show off your clothes and connect with your audience socially. Consider how you can use Twitter, YouTube, or even TikTok for your clothing store marketing efforts, too. 

Don’t just use these platforms to market your clothing or your brand. Use them to give your brand a voice. Share information with customers. Offer tips and insights. Share content about fashion or related topics and get a conversation going. Everyone knows you’ve got clothes to sell—what they don’t know is why your store is the one to shop at. Now is your chance to show them. 

Tactic #3: Optimize your local SEO 

Cost: $500-$5,000

Unless you do business entirely online, you’re going to need to optimize your local SEO so that people can find your clothing store in the “real world.” Local SEO includes things like your Google Business Profile, using location-based keywords, managing ratings and reviews, engaging on social media with local audiences, and so forth. It also includes mobile-friendly website development, linking, and more. 

You’ll want to participate in your local community and get involved in the local business networking world that is in your city or region. You will also need to have a consistent name, address, and phone number listing, referred to as your NAP citation, for Google to rank you well as a local business. There’s a lot involved here, which is why it’s best to hire someone to handle your local SEO efforts. 

Tactic #4: Build your professional network 

Cost: Free, unless you pay for memberships, networking events, etc. 

In retail, relationships are everything. If you’re marketing a clothing store, think of who you can network with to attract more business. Perhaps you’ll connect with related clothing or accessory stores, the brands that you sell, other local businesses, etc. Your reputation and sense of authority go a lot further than you might realize in helping you market your business. The stronger your professional reputation, the more likely people are to shop with your clothing store, whether it’s online or in person. 

Attend local business expos and trade shows. If you sell a specific type of clothing, look for events related to it (such as formal wear with proms, weddings, etc.) and get involved with those. Connect with other businesses and build a solid backlinking strategy, too, so that your professional reputation precedes you when people come looking for a clothing store that has the latest and greatest fashions. 

Tactic #5: Outsource what you can 

Cost: $250-$5,000, depending on what you outsource 

In the clothing industry, your focus is going to be on getting the latest styles in stock and setting up your shop so that it’s appealing to your audience. You don’t need to spend hours sitting behind the counter doing paperwork, returning calls, and trying to handle all the little details. That’s where outsourcing can come in handy. 

Today, you can find plenty of ways to outsource parts of your business that you don’t want to handle or that would simply be better left to the professionals. In addition to outsourcing to someone that can help with your outreach campaigns in the first place, you can find tons of other services and support. 

For example, when you partner with the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai, you’ll get that support along with a 24/7 answering service to guarantee that you never miss a single lead. Plus, we can assist with lead screening and intake, appointment scheduling, and even your live website chat. 

If you’re ready to learn more, schedule a consultation or reach out to hello@smith.ai. 

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