Guides
June 19, 2025
7 Ways to Get More Customers (That Aren't Social Media)
Table of Contents
You've been posting. Reels, stories, carousels, hashtag strategies. And what do you have to show for it? A handful of likes from your mom and a creeping suspicion that this isn't working.
You're not wrong. Social media organic reach has dropped more than 50% since 2020. The platforms want you to pay for visibility now. And even when you do pay, you're competing against every other business for attention in a feed people are scrolling through at lightning speed.
There's a better way. Actually, there are seven of them.
Why Social Media Alone Isn't Cutting It
Before we get to the solutions, let's acknowledge the problem. Social media isn't dead, but it's definitely not the free marketing machine it used to be.
The algorithm changed. Platforms prioritize paid content over organic posts. Your follower count doesn't mean much when only 2-5% of them actually see what you post.
Your customers are everywhere. They're on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube. You can't be everywhere at once, and neither can your content.
The time investment is brutal. Creating content for multiple platforms, engaging with comments, staying on top of trends. It's a full-time job that doesn't guarantee a single new customer.
The businesses that thrive don't rely on one channel. They diversify. Here are seven proven ways to get more customers beyond the social media hamster wheel.
1. Local SEO and Google Business Profile
When someone searches "coffee shop near me" or "plumber in [your city]," Google shows them local results. If you're not showing up, you're invisible to customers actively looking for what you sell.
Why it works: These are high-intent searches. People aren't browsing, they're buying.
Quick wins:
Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
Add photos, hours, services, and a description with your location
Ask happy customers for Google reviews (and respond to all of them)
Keep your information consistent across all online directories
Cost: Free
This isn't glamorous, but it's effective. A complete Google Business Profile can drive more local customers than months of social media posting.
2. Email Marketing to Your Existing Database
You probably have a list of past customers, leads, or contacts sitting in a spreadsheet somewhere. Those people already know you. They've already shown interest. Why are you ignoring them to chase strangers on social media?
Why it works: Email marketing has an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent. No social platform comes close.
What to send:
Monthly updates or tips related to your business
Special offers for past customers
Reactivation campaigns for customers who haven't bought in a while
New product or service announcements
Cost: Free to $50/month for email tools
Your past customers are your warmest leads. A simple email can bring them back faster than any Instagram post.
3. Strategic Partnerships and Cross-Promotion
Find businesses that serve the same customers but don't compete with you. A wedding photographer partners with florists and caterers. A gym partners with a healthy meal prep service. A real estate agent partners with mortgage brokers and home inspectors.
Why it works: You get access to an established, trusting audience without building it yourself.
How to approach it:
Identify 3-5 complementary local businesses
Propose a simple exchange: you promote them, they promote you
Create joint offers or referral arrangements
Cross-promote on each other's channels and in-store
Cost: Free
The best partnerships feel natural to customers because they actually are. You're both helping the same people.
4. Community Sponsorships and Events
Sponsoring a local Little League team, charity event, or community festival puts your name in front of people who live and shop in your area. And it comes with built-in goodwill.
Why it works: Local sponsorships create visibility and positive association. People remember businesses that support their community.
Options to consider:
Youth sports teams and leagues
Local charity events and fundraisers
Community festivals and farmers markets
School programs and events
Local podcasts or newsletters
Cost: $100-500 typically
You're not just advertising. You're becoming part of the community fabric. That matters more than any targeted ad.
5. Google Local Services Ads
If you're a service business (plumber, electrician, lawyer, locksmith), Google Local Services Ads put you at the very top of search results with a "Google Guaranteed" badge.
Why it works: You pay per lead, not per click. No wasted budget on people who weren't serious.
How it works:
Pass Google's background check and verification
Set your service area and budget
Receive leads directly through the platform
Only pay when a customer contacts you
Cost: $50-300/month depending on your industry and area
This is one of the most direct paths from "searching for a service" to "calling your business."
6. Streaming TV Advertising (Yes, Really)
Here's the channel most small businesses assume is off-limits: television.
But streaming TV (CTV) has completely changed the game. You don't need a six-figure budget or a production crew. You don't need to negotiate with cable networks. You can create a professional TV ad and start running it on major networks for $50.
Why it works: TV advertising has something social media doesn't: undivided attention. When your ad plays on Hulu, Roku, or Peacock, viewers watch 94% of it on average. No scrolling, no skipping. And appearing on TV carries credibility that social posts simply can't match.
What's changed:
AI creates professional ads from your website or social profiles
Budgets start at $50 (not $50,000)
Target locally by address and radius
Run on 100+ premium channels including NBC, ESPN, and Hulu
Cost: $50-500/month
The biggest brands in the world advertise on TV for a reason. Now you can too. Platforms like Adwave make it possible for any business to create and launch a TV campaign in under 10 minutes.
7. Referral Programs That Actually Work
Your happiest customers are your best salespeople. They know people who need what you offer. They just need a reason (and a reminder) to make the introduction.
Why it works: Referred customers have higher lifetime value and lower acquisition costs than any other channel.
Simple structure that works:
Offer something valuable for both the referrer and the new customer
Make it easy to share (a simple link or code)
Remind customers about the program (receipts, emails, in-store signs)
Thank referrers personally
Cost: Cost of your referral incentive
Don't overcomplicate this. "Give $20, get $20" works. So does "refer a friend, both get 10% off." The key is making it genuinely rewarding for both parties.
Building Your Multi-Channel Strategy
You don't need to do all seven at once. That's a recipe for burnout. Start with 2-3 channels that make sense for your business.
If you're a local service business: Start with Google Business Profile optimization and Google Local Services Ads. Add TV advertising to build local brand awareness.
If you're retail or e-commerce: Focus on email marketing and referral programs. Test streaming TV to reach new audiences.
If you're a professional service: Partnerships and community involvement build trust. Combine with local TV presence for credibility.
How to know what's working:
Ask new customers how they heard about you
Track leads by source (even a simple spreadsheet helps)
Test one new channel at a time
Give each channel 60-90 days before judging results
The goal isn't to abandon social media entirely. It's to stop relying on it as your only strategy. When you diversify, you're not at the mercy of any single algorithm.
Ready to Try the Channel You Didn't Expect?
Streaming TV advertising is the marketing channel most small businesses don't know is available to them. While your competitors are fighting for attention in crowded feeds, you could be on the biggest screen in your customers' homes.
Adwave makes TV advertising accessible to businesses of any size. Create a professional commercial from your existing content, target the neighborhoods that matter to you, and start running on premium networks, all starting at $50.
Your customers are watching TV tonight. Make sure they see you.
Create your free TV ad and see how it looks before you spend a dollar.