Do You Work to Keep Customers Coming Back for More?
In the world of business, it’s no secret that your customer is everything. Well, what if instead of looking for a customer, they came to you every time you opened your doors or launched a new product? While this may sound like a dream, think of some of the larger companies out there that have a cult following, such as Apple. This is proof that it can be done. A great read on this topic is Create Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard, its a powerful easy to read book. If you want the most loyal customers on the block, read Ken’s book.
To assist you with getting started, here are some strategies —
Start Getting Personal
A customer generally hates working with a business that feels too big. For instance, think of the last time you walked into a multi-billion dollar company. Did they greet you by name? Did they thank you for your last purchase? Probably not.
No matter how large or small your business is, it’s time to get personal with your customers. This can include greeting them by name, offering them a personal shopping experience or making them feel loved on Facebook. It’s up to you to be creative here.
Be Consistent
No one likes going into a restaurant and getting the same meal cooked differently every time. Consistency is a huge component in the business world. If you’re not able to replicate their shopping experience every time, a customer won’t know what to expect when they walk through your doors.
Find a Partner and Learn
Every city has a business that has very loyal customers. If you don’t know where to find these businesses, a simple search on Yelp or Google can yield some decent results. If at all possible, try to network with these business owners and learn the ropes. If you can’t network, that’s fine. Instead, try to pretend you’re a customer and see why the experience is so wonderful. Try to take bits and pieces from their marketing strategy and apply it to your own business in a creative way.
Rewards
Most successful companies in the world today have one thing in common — amazing customer service. Sure, customer service should be your number one priority, however, your business should always take it one step further.
Aside from offering stellar customer service, be sure to reward customers that keep walking through your door. This can include prizes, a free gift after spending so much and so forth. Again, this is where you will need to be creative. Rewards are a great way to get people coming back for more.
Branding
As you brand your business, don’t forget to include your customers. For instance, let’s say you own a bar. On your website, you could include shots of your customers inside of the bar having fun, or you could put these pictures up on your social media outlets and brochures. To take it one step further, get your customers to take part and send in photos of themselves using your product. When someone participates, be sure to reward them.
When you’re thinking of creating your brand and growing your business, you shouldn’t ignore your customers. Take your time to be creative, consistent and always treat them like they are your first customer ever. By doing so, you could have enough business where you never have to market again.
