How to Find New Customers for Your Direct Sales Business (Without Being Spammy or Awkward!)
Hi, friend!
Welcome back to the Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust. I’m Lindsay Dollinger—high school Spanish teacher, dog mom, world traveler, and direct seller turned business coach. I empower women to build their direct sales businesses the right way so they can earn the income they deserve, live their dream life, and travel the world.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way… let’s dive in!
Today we’re talking about something every single direct seller has asked at one point:
👉 How do I find NEW customers?
Whether your customer base is 5 people or 5,000 (and if it’s 5,000, message me because I want to interview you!), this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start using immediately. As always—take what serves you, leave what doesn’t, and challenge yourself to do 1% more each day.
Let’s go!
1. Leverage Mutual Friends on Facebook
One of the easiest ways to find new customers is something you’re probably already halfway doing: adding new friends.
Here’s my simple weekly routine:
- Check your Mutual Friends list
- Check People You May Know
- Add anyone who:
- has several mutual friends
- shares similar interests (Disney, teachers, travelers, etc.)
- looks like a real person (not a cat meme profile pic or a faceless account)
- has several mutual friends
✨ Bonus Tip:
If you’re adding five new friends per week… could you add five per day? That’s 1% more, friend.
2. Ask for Referrals (They Matter More Than You Think!)
You don’t need a giant customer base to start asking for referrals. You just need ONE happy customer.
A few ways to encourage referrals:
- Mention it inside your customer thank-you notes
- Add a line like:
“The kindest way to support my business is through the gift of a referral. Thank you!” - Include 1–2 product samples for them to gift a friend
- Ask your top customers directly who they know who might also love your product
Your customers refer because they LOVE you, not just the product.
3. Get Out and Live Your Life (Really!)
Some of your best customer connections will happen OUTSIDE social media.
Examples:
- the barista complimenting your nails
- the drive-thru cashier asking about your lip color
- fellow parents at sports games
- your fitness class friends
- coworkers
- people standing in line next to you
💡 Pro Tip: Compliments are the BEST open door for starting the conversation.
Get out, be visible, talk to people, smile, and let life do its magic.
4. Join Interest-Based Facebook Groups
Your ideal customers hang out in the same groups you do.
So go join groups related to:
- Disney
- Peloton
- Teaching
- Travel
- Moms
- Crafting
- Dogs
- Book clubs
- Your city/town
How to use these groups effectively:
- Don’t just scroll—COMMENT
- Offer helpful advice
- Post your own questions or tips
- Build relationships
- After 1–2 exchanges, it’s totally fine to send a friend request
These are some of the warmest leads you’ll ever meet.
5. Clean Up Your Social Media Profile
Your Facebook or Instagram profile is your storefront. If it’s cluttered, confusing, or inconsistent… people won’t stick around long enough to become customers.
Audit your profile:
- Is your face in your profile photo? (It SHOULD be!)
- Do you share things about you and your life?
- Is your vibe clear?
- Do you show up in Stories daily?
- Does your feed provide value?
- Would YOU follow you?
Your brand is NOT your company.
Your brand is YOU.
6. Go Live—Often
Facebook loves live video. You will get prioritized in the algorithm. Your audience will see you and connect with you faster.
Tips:
- Don’t wait until you “look perfect”
- Your audience needs real, not perfect
- Go live in your VIP group if you’re nervous
- Pick easy topics: unboxings, product demos, tips, stories, motivation
Want faster growth? Go live more often.
7. Strengthen Your Instagram Strategy
Here’s an IG strategy that works every single time:
- Find someone who attracts your ideal customer
- Click their comments section
- Choose a few commenters and visit their profile
- If they’re public and you vibe with their content:
- like 3 posts
- leave 1–2 thoughtful comments
- follow them
- like 3 posts
Nine times out of ten…
They will check your page out and follow back.
Relationship = started.
8. Start Conversations (Without Selling!)
Once someone becomes your friend or follower, reach out:
“Hey! Thanks for the add. I love meeting new people online. I saw you’re in the Disney group too—when’s your next trip?”
NO pitching.
NO weird scripts.
NO “Hey girl” spam.
Just connection.
Facebook sees when you chat in Messenger, which means they’ll see more of your posts.
9. Post in Your Stories DAILY
Every time you add a Story, your little profile bubble gets bumped to the top.
Which means:
- More views
- More interaction
- More familiarity
- More trust
- More future customers
Story ideas:
- your daily routine
- your nails
- your morning coffee
- your dog
- behind the scenes
- product tips
- memes
- your workouts
- your car karaoke
People LOVE real life.
10. Leverage Other People’s Audiences
One of the smartest (and easiest!) ways to get new eyes on your content:
✨ Share someone else’s podcast episode or post and tag them.
Nearly every podcaster or influencer will repost your story… which puts YOU in front of their audience.
Genius.
11. Host Parties (Yes, Still!)
If you’re in a party-based company, then listen closely:
👉 Parties are STILL the fastest way to get NEW eyeballs on your business.
Why?
- You meet new people
- You get fresh eyes on your product
- You build new relationships
- You gain new VIP group members
- You increase your potential hostesses
- You get more future referrals
Show up well inside parties:
- go live
- tag guests
- message guests
- make it fun
- create energy
Even if your company isn’t party-based, you can get creative with online events.
Final Thought: Don’t Forget the Invite
You can nurture all day long.
You can make friends all day long.
You can show up all day long.
But if you never INVITE people to buy or host?
You won’t build a business.
Nurture ➜ Build trust ➜ Invite confidently
That’s the formula.
If You Found This Helpful…
✨ Please screenshot this blog or the podcast episode
✨ Share it with your audience
✨ Tag me @lindsaydollinger so I can repost it
✨ Leave a 5-star review—your support helps the show grow!
Thank you so much for hanging out with me today—whether you’re in your car, on a walk, or sipping a coffee. I’m cheering you on as you build your business the right way.
Go make today fabulous, friend. 💖✨