There are some definite benefits to strengthening your customers’ commitment to your business, the main one being that it will increase your sales, and the next is that your customers will actively recommend your business, products, and services to others.
However, in order to take advantage of this, you are going to have to put some effort into building the relationship between your business and all of your customers, regardless of how often or how much they order from your business.
Here is a guide on how to build your business’ reputation in order to increase your customers’ commitment to it.
1. Provide greater disclosure on social media
You can start this profitable journey by providing a far greater disclosure on important topics, such as where your business stands on inclusivity and diversity within your workforce, and accessibility for your customers via your website and any other online facilities that your business offers. This will provide your customers with the knowledge that they are dealing with a business that values them as individuals regardless of their capabilities.
Of course, you can add to this your intentions towards supporting sustainability, which in this current eco-friendly climate means a lot to a multitude of potential customers who are actively seeking businesses that are trying to look after the planet and the future of generations to come.
2. Provide relevant incentives
On a much more personal note, you can provide your customers with relevant incentives. Your efforts here will not go unnoticed, especially if you take into consideration their past purchases and the products that they are actively interested in.
Offering your customers discounts, which they are likely to use (rather than items that they won’t be remotely interested in just because you have too much stock) is going to attract additional orders and personal recommendations from your customers.
If you are not so comfortable with offering personal discounts, then you may be able to get the same or similar effects from including freebies in customer orders. These, again, will have to be products or items that your customers will want rather than cheap items that you choose to buy in bulk.
3. Organize business social events
To say a big thank you to your customers, you can organize business social events; it is up to you whether you would want to include special offers available on the night only as well or whether you will just be happy to supply entertainment alongside food and drinks for your guests to enjoy.
Although there are a lot of different styles of function you could put on for your customers, choosing corporative festivals as your method of entertaining could make it a night to remember and could give your customers a real buzz while making them feel valued and connected to your business. It will also give them a night that they will remember, and the happy memories and experiences that they will gain will be associated with your business.
4. Ask for customer feedback and act on it
Every business should ask for their customers’ feedback, and they should act on the information provided. However, a lot of businesses neglect this part of the deal and instead, collect the data, then ignore it (especially if it involves hard work or challenging ideals that have been in place for a long time).
This is no good when you are trying to make a lasting relationship with your customers and influence their commitment to your business in a positive manner. Regardless of the work required, acting on the information supplied and letting your customers know the changes that have been put in place at their request will show that you value their input and that you are not just going through the motions of asking for feedback that is then going to be put to one side and forgotten about.
5. Improve your customer experience
Your customer experience starts with your website, which should be easy to use and accessible to everyone who wishes to visit it. Page loading times are also important as you will find that those websites that take an age to load (or anything over 3 seconds) are likely to cause visitors frustration and click away.
It should also provide an easy checkout process on your website with multiple payment options so that your customers can pay in any way that they choose. Most modern businesses also accept some form of cryptocurrency payments, which may be a concept that you, too, would like to offer your customers.
The correct etiquette is also highly desirable when it comes to addressing your customers’ needs. Keeping them up to date on their orders right up to and including dispatch will ensure that they are hanging on your every word. Of course, your service shouldn’t end there; being able to let them know when their order is likely to be delivered and providing them with a tracking number so that they keep track of where their order is on its journey is always a good idea.