<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=349935452247528&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Find out where you can get a Taste of TAB... our global events blast is on!
Search
word-map-thumb

The Alternative Board Blog

Learn How to Boost Customer Loyalty to Your Business

Dec. 7, 2016 | Posted by The Alternative Board
351417f351d8698e698a8c5849b21cbc902da125_a836cc5f293f1f751b0ae15b8efab145c55c8cd4_twitter-1

What’s the long-term value of a loyal customer? Let’s start with a look at the “non-loyal” customer. He or she will:

  • Abandon your business after one mistake in delivery or a bad moment with your customer service representative
  • Jettison your business if they find better pricing from a competitor, even if the quality of that competitor’s product or service is suspect
  • If sufficiently disgruntled, spread the word on social media—potentially damaging your brand’s reputation before you have a chance to defend yourself

Given these scenarios—and considering the high cost of new customer acquisition—there’s a lot to be said for cultivating long-term loyalty among your current customer base. Here’s a look at key loyalty-boosting strategies to boost greater allegiance to your brand:

Customer-Service-Blog-Photo1

1. Reward loyalty with exclusive offers. Loyalty doesn’t count for much if there’s nothing “special” about it. Explore options such as offering exclusive discounts, free shipping or a points-based loyalty program you can promote on social media and in email marketing campaigns.

2. Be active in the community (and foster a community among your customers). People respond favorably to businesses that display a sense of civic duty. What type of charity events or non-profit involvement seems like a logical fit with your business? Get involved in your community and don’t be shy about publicizing these efforts on your website and social media platforms.

In the same spirit, how about cultivating a sense of community within your business? If possible, invite customers to visit your retail space and host events where they can mingle with you and other customers. Over time, such gatherings can instill a genuine sense of being “part of a family.”

Want additional insight? Read 4 Step Guide to Strategic Planning now to learn more

DOWNLOAD

3. Give customers a say in product development. If you’re looking at a product upgrade or new product launch, why not contact some of your loyal customers and get their feedback? This kind of informal collaboration not only generates loyalty (in terms of the customer’s pride of ownership), but helps ensure that Product 2.0 will more effectively meet your customers’ needs.

“We’ve used a private Facebook group of ‘super users’ to encourage customers to discuss their needs,” says Victoria Lynch of the UK-based Additional Lengths Ltd. Giving customers this kind of influence “has paid dividends both for product development and brand value overall, because people can see that we are listening and responding.

4. Share your expertise and insights. You’re an expert in your field, or you wouldn’t be leading a successful business. Create opportunities to share your expertise and insights with loyal customers—for example, through once-a-quarter email newsletters—and invite them to ask questions on your website or blog. If the information you provide proves helpful (in terms of boosting their own customer loyalty or getting them over a business hurdler), their gratitude and loyalty will be strengthened and more likely endure.

5. Remember customers’ special occasions. Marking an event like a birthday can be both a pleasant surprise and a touching gesture towards your customers. Entrepreneur Jai Rawat suggests motivating customers “to provide their special dates when they opt in to your newsletter” and then “reward them with bonus loyalty points” on their birthday.

6. Always provide a quality customer experience. Perhaps most importantly, do everything in your power to ensure customer satisfaction with your business at every touchpoint. Provide extra training where needed for customer service representatives. Invest in the most advanced and customer-friendly technology so people can easily contact you with inquiries or complaints. In these days of fragmented and often deficient service, people will often pay more for a quality customer experience.

Putting more effort into cultivating long-term loyalty will help keep your business growing in 2017 and beyond.

Read our 19 Reasons You Need a Business Owner Advisory Board

DOWNLOAD

Written by The Alternative Board

Related posts

How AI Can Help You Understand Your Customers Better Than Ever
Aug. 29, 2024 | Posted by The Alternative Board
Know thy customer. It's the first rule of business success. But deep understanding of your customers and their evolving wants and needs can be tricky. Artificial intelligence offers advanced tools...
5 Ways To Show Customer Appreciation This Holiday Season & Year Round
Nov. 30, 2022 | Posted by The Alternative Board
While showing your appreciation for your customers should be a year-round activity, the holidays are a particularly fantastic time to express gratitude to those who support your company. Never...
3 Customer Service Hacks That Will Keep Them Coming Back
Nov. 23, 2022 | Posted by The Alternative Board
Great customer service is one of the biggest drivers of customer satisfaction and retention. Customers care about the treatment they receive from a business - and how that engagement makes them feel...
How to Thank Customers for Supporting Your Business
Feb. 24, 2022 | Posted by The Alternative Board
These days, after what seems an eternity of business restrictions due to Covid-19, companies are rightfully grateful for returning customers, and new prospects willing to give their business a...
Use Customer Feedback to Pivot Your Business
Nov. 17, 2021 | Posted by The Alternative Board
The global pandemic has prompted a wide range of businesses to pivot and repurpose their products and services in new ways. Changing market conditions often mandate that businesses evolve (whether...
5 Tips for Handling Bad Customer Reviews
Jul. 2, 2021 | Posted by The Alternative Board
No business wants to get a bad review for its products or services. However, since it’s impossible to please all customers all the time, the likelihood of encountering dissatisfied customer reviews...
Journey Mapping and the Road to Customer Retention
Jun. 22, 2021 | Posted by The Alternative Board
How well do you know your typical customer’s purchasing journey? Successful businesses work hard to understand this journey, from initial awareness of a need for your product, the subsequent...
A Quick Guide to Winning Back Lost Customers
Jun. 15, 2021 | Posted by The Alternative Board
Losing a customer is always cause for concern, but it can also be a learning opportunity. Businesses face a constant challenge of thoroughly understanding customer buying behavior, and when that...
Does Your Sales Team Possess Client Engagement Skills?
Dec. 28, 2020 | Posted by The Alternative Board
We hear a lot of talk about the importance of employee engagement, but how well do members of your sales team engage with current and prospective clients? Whenever a customer and salesperson talk...
5 Ways to Surprise and Delight Your Customers in 2021
Dec. 17, 2020 | Posted by The Alternative Board
Customers are a lot savvier than they used to be. With tools like the internet and social media at their disposal, they can do a great deal of preliminary research before embarking upon the...