7 Ways to Love Your Customers
Did you know it can cost at least 5 times more to acquire new customers than to keep them? Looking after customers needn't be costly or difficult and it should be part of our everyday routine. Here are 7 ways you can show appreciation to your customers:
1. Say 'Thank You'
We all appreciate someone going out of their way to say thanks, why not spread the love with your customers? Whether you say thank you via a phone call, email or card, it's a small gesture that doesn't take much time or money.
2. Say thanks to your followers on Twitter
I remember a few years ago the #FF (Follow Friday) where Twitter users would say thank you to their new followers and those who had engaged with them by tagging them in a post. Try it this week, it does wonders for your engagement levels and users appreciate you are a real person, not just an automated marketing machine.
3. Run a competition
A giveaway needn't be anything expensive. If you run a coffee house, it could be a free round of drinks or if you run an online apparel store, you may give away some free accessories. Customers love freebies and it's a sure way to see who on your channel is truly engaged with your brand.
4. Build gamification into your marketing strategy
Google 'gamification for brands' and you'll learn quickly which brands are seriously looking at building this into their marketing activity. Gamification is simply rewarding your customers for achieving tasks in exchange for a reward or incentive. For example, if you run a gym class, you might giveaway a water bottle if the members attend 10 classes in a row. This not helps you build loyalty but you're also helping your clients tackle the motivational problem to aid them reach their health goals.
5. Customer referrals
If your business relies upon 'word of mouth' referrals, then reward them with a 'personalised' gift. If you get to know your customers at the onset, you'll find out what hobbies and interests they have out of work; a small gift to help them engage with their hobby or interest will make them feel really valued as a customer and help build a longer relationship.
6. Offer your customers a special deal
Okay, most companies are running special deals most of the year round, so try to be creative and definitely make sure the offer is for your customers only. If you have a small business, you may have more time to offer a special discount for goods or services you know that customer would like or in relation to what they have previously bought. For larger companies, you might offer an exclusive introductory offer on a new product or service for your loyal customers through a landing page.
7. Feedback
Ask customers for feedback about their experience with your company through:
Surveys
Focus Groups
Observation
Point of Sale
Customer Service
Social Media
Communities and Groups
Email and Web Forms
We hope these ideas inspire you to love your customers. Let us know in the comments below what your customers really love about your business.
