7 Amazing Ways to Build Long-Term Relationships With Your Customers
Digital Marketing Specialist Norm Bond shares this article with great tips for spas and salons during the holiday season.
If you’ve been in business a while, you’ve likely learned how difficult it can be to win a new customer.
The segment of your customer base who regularly buys from you could be the biggest asset your company has. By adjusting your marketing spend so that you target not only new customers but also nurture your existing audience, you could enjoy far greater profitability. Here are seven ways that you can ensure your company has a sizable share of long-term customers.
Engage them
Long-term customers generally do far more than buy a company’s products. They connect with the business itself, which incentivizes them to keep coming back. Through your website, email messaging, and social media posts, make sure you’re engaging the customers and increasing their personal connection.
Allow them to experience your brand.
Nothing can replace the experience of interacting with a company in person. When customers can meet you and your team, while also seeing your products live, they’ll feel a stronger connection than if they’d only purchased from your website and read your email messages.
Understand their relationship with your brand.
In order to better serve your customers, you need to know as much as possible about them. Analytics tools can help with that. If certain features get more clicks than others, you can note that and make sure you’re focusing on those aspects of your site.
Explore their social media influence.
When it comes to getting the word out about your brand, not all customers are created equal. Nurturing relationships with your more engaged customers can pay off if they mention you online.
Provide value
Your goal is to introduce new customers to the products you provide.A consumer’s goal is to find products and services that add some type of value to their lives. As you develop a strategy to build customer loyalty, keep in mind what the average customer would hope to get out of such a relationship.
Make them feel special.
No customer wants to feel as though he or she is just a number. This is one benefit that small businesses have over much larger corporations. In your database include a notes section where you and your staff can create a history and input details that come up.
Respond to every concern.
Even the most loyal customer can have problems. When someone calls for help, it’s important to offer the same friendly, attentive service no matter how many times they’ve bought from you. But if a long-term buyer has an issue, it’s important to flag the call for immediate attention to avoid losing someone who regularly makes purchases.
Make sure you’re monitoring for online mentions of your brand, as well, to capture customer complaints that are posted on social media or review sites.
Linda Harding-Bond
