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Keeping your customers happy is one of the keys to running a successful business. However, it can be challenging to find ways to keep your customers engaged especially if you are a new business. You need to find creative ways to make your customers feel valued.
Once customers know that they are appreciated they will keep coming back to your business over and over again. What’s more, they will recommend your business to their friends and family.
This is how word-of-mouth advertising is done. Here are a few tips you can try to keep your customers coming back for more.
Be Sociable
One way to make your customers feel valued is to engage them in conversation. Go beyond the traditional, ‘How are you doing today?” and ask them more specific questions.
You do not have to be intrusive as most people will understand the difference. This type of approach to communicating with your customers is something that you will need to train your staff to do.
Once you get the hang of it it will become automatic. This type of customer service makes customers feel appreciated and will always keep them coming back for more.
Handwritten Notes
If you run a small business then it is easy to include a handwritten note with a customer’s purchase. This is especially beneficial if you have an eCommerce site where you do not get to physically interact with your customers. Adding that small personal touch when you send out their products is a great way for them to feel valued and appreciated by you.
Make sure that you thank them for their purchase in the note and offer them some kind of discount code or freebie. Don’t be stingy with your discount as it will not be appealing to your customers. If you do offer a freebie, make sure that it is something that the customer would want based on what they have already purchased.
A freebie should be something that makes a nice companion to the item purchased. This will keep customers coming back to your shop for more.
Ask for Feedback
Feedback is something you should ask of your customers. It is extremely important because it will help you to know which areas you are doing well in and the ones that you need to improve.
Once you have the feedback you should put your customer’s suggestion into action. This way they will see that their feedback is effective and that you are considering it. This will make them feel even more valuable.
Invite your customers back once you have made changes to let them see their suggestions in action.
Prioritise customer privacy
Data privacy in today’s world is of utmost importance. Communicating with a business that asks for personal details online has become a concern for many. Whether you are a large or small business, being transparent to your customers about what kind of data you want to collect, what you will use it for, and how long you will keep it will go a long way in making them feel secure and valued by your company. Also, ensure your business adheres to the Google Analytics GDPR compliance rulings for a smooth operation.
Give Gifts
You should never run a business without having some kind of customer appreciation day or period. Set aside some time to give your customers gifts and tell them how much you appreciate them.
You should make a splash of it. Let your customers know about it ahead of time so that they can make special arrangements to show up. Once they do you should make sure that if possible you see them personally, and tell them how much their business means to you.
You’re going to have to put out some cash to make this a reality but it is well worth it. At the end of the day, your customers will feel valued and appreciated and keep coming back to your business.
Make Your Store Environment a Pleasant One
Nobody wants to come to a store that is drab and dreary looking. You need to make every effort to make the environment of your store a pleasant one so that when your customers walk in they feel comfortable.
If possible place signs inside the building to give directions. Choose the right colors for your business as well. Make sure you paint your office in a color that is welcoming.
Add art to the walls whenever possible to make sure that the environment is a pleasant one. You can select art that shows off nature. Beautiful landscapes are often a pleasant addition to the walls of any business.
Offer Follow Up Services
Depending on what you’re selling, offering follow-up service may be something that your customers would appreciate. There are some industries where customers can run into problems after they have made a purchase.
Your business needs to offer follow-up service so that they can feel as if you care about them beyond the sale. Your after-sales service can be a big selling point for your company.
Try Automation
One of the things you can try on your website is to have a live chat available. Live chat will make it easy for your customers to get in touch with you while they are navigating the website.
Sometimes while browsing your website people are on the fence about whether they want to make a purchase. Live chat can be just the feature that is needed to push them over the edge and get them to make a purchase.
Your live chat doesn’t have to be powered by a real human.
You can automate your chats based on previous responses that you have gotten from customers. Using customer service automation provides an effective and easy way to connect with customers.
Start Communicating
You must start communicating with your customers as much as possible. The greater your rapport with them the more they will feel that they can trust your brand.
The key to getting repeat sales from your customers is to treat them well and get them emotionally invested in your products and services. Once they feel that you are the best around they will keep coming back up all the time and this will only help to level up your business.
When people love customer service at a business or feel as if they are valued they are more likely to share with their friends and trusted loved ones, this too can help to grow your business.
