Customers are a company’s lifeblood. They’re what keeps your doors open and lights on, but they can also be finicky. The flow of customer loyalty is hard to predict, so you’ll have to stay on top of things if you want to keep them coming back for more — and pay full price for it. Here are some ideas that will help you retain those valuable customers.
The big promise
The big promise is the summation of all your customer loyalty strategies. It’s what keeps customers coming back because they know that you care about them. And the best part is that you don’t have to be a huge company or luxury brand with endless resources to make it happen—you just need a little planning, creativity, and passion.
No points, just rewards
No points, just rewards. It’s a simple yet powerful concept that breaks down the barriers to customer loyalty by eliminating point accumulation and redemption. Customers don’t have to keep track of points or remember when they’re due to expire—they simply earn rewards based on their purchase amounts. There are no complicated tiers or thresholds, so customers can truly focus on shopping with you instead of tracking their points.
Ask for feedback and act on it
Asking for feedback is a critical component of any customer loyalty program. It can help you learn what your customers value, which areas of your business need improvement, and where you stand against the competition. You can ask for feedback in different ways: surveys, reviews on social media, or review sites like Yelp, etc. It’s best to ask for feedback at regular intervals such as every couple of months) but don’t bombard your customers with requests for their input—they won’t want to give it if they’re inundated by questions all the time.
Once you’ve gathered some feedback from your clients, how do you act on it? The most important thing is to listen carefully and take action based on what they tell you. For example, if someone has a complaint about something specific during one of their visits then address those concerns quickly so future customers don’t have similar issues. If most people are complaining about something that isn’t easily fixed then look into other options like changing suppliers or service providers who might be able to help solve the problem more effectively than what’s currently available at your business.
Offer incentives with a time limit
Now that you’ve identified your most loyal customers and created an incentive to reward them, it’s time to offer those incentives. The easiest way to do this is by using a time-limited discount code or promotional credit. Customers who meet the criteria for your loyalty program will be able to use the discount code during checkout.
Once you’ve built a list of customers who are eligible for the loyalty program, send out an email campaign with instructions on how they can redeem their rewards and let them know what’s at stake if they don’t take advantage of your offer. You can also post about it on social media channels and include details about where these offers will be available so that people have time before they expire—just remember not to give too much away.
The paying it forward method
The paying it forward method is a great way to incentivize customers and keep them coming back. It’s the same concept as referrals, but with a bonus; you give the referring customer a discount on their next purchase, while also rewarding them for their work. Your goal should be to make sure that your business has repeat customers, but you can take it one step further by encouraging word-of-mouth advertising through this method.
The first step in implementing this program is to determine how much of a discount you want to offer. The higher your discount, the more likely people will be willing to spread the word about your business and earn themselves some extra cash along the way. Don’t be afraid of charging less than the full price; even small discounts can make all the difference in attracting new people to your store or restaurant.
Next up should be determining what kind of rewards are best suited for each situation. This really depends on your industry type, budget constraints, and most importantly your preferences as an entrepreneur.
Conclusion
While there are some things that you cannot change, there are others that you can do. This is why these few tips will help you to keep your customers happy and coming back for more. Remember that when it comes down to customer loyalty, it’s all about the little things which make all the difference in their experience with your business.