The long-term customer: Reality or Urban Legend?
Competition is fierce these days. Your ideal customer base has constant noise coming at them from all sides. New competitors are popping up every day and it’s not as easy at is used to be to get new customers in your doors. With this barrage of noise coming at your customers, how do you break through and make an impact? After that, how do you ensure that you keep them coming back?
You’ve probably been to a few seminars or listened to a webinar about the next big thing in marketing that is guaranteed to work. You’re probably experiencing some fatigue just trying to keep up with the latest and greatest way to engage your customer. I can tell you from experience, there is no silver bullet. After years of searching myself, I can save you the trouble and let you know now that I still haven’t found it. What I have learned is this:
Creativity and consistency works.
The reality is, nothing works overnight. The positive news is that many of your competitors are focusing on a one-trick pony approach and giving up too soon. Your job is to stay engaged, and to consistently take a variety of approaches. The goal is to constantly be ‘in touch’ with your customer. Build your brand and tell your story to them before they even walk in the door. What does this look like practically? As I mentioned before creativity is king, but you need to be consistently interacting with them. Direct mail, Facebook, Door-hangers, Local events, Email, Networking groups. Be creative, meet the customer where they are at, but don’t give up after one approach fails, stay consistent and keep telling your story.
So you’ve got them in your door!
They liked what they saw and made their first purchase. Done, right? This is one of the most important times in your customer interactions. You have the chance now to create value beyond price and ensure you make customers for life. One of the biggest reasons a customer continues to come back to a business (especially a service based one) is trust. But more than just a trust that you’ll do the job right, rather a trust that you have their best interest in mind. People still want a human connection. Creating a personal follow-up program for each of your customers can build a trust that goes deeper than just price or convenience. People will drive that extra mile to come to your shop if they feel that care exists. How do you create that? Nothing fancy here. Handwritten notes, personal follow-up calls, maybe even a thank you gift? Consistently keeping a personal connection with your customers through those things can have a monumental impact. Those quotes about the simplest things in life being the most extraordinary are most definitely true. Take the time to invest in your existing customer base this way and you not only help create customers for life, you expand your reach through your "ridiculously happy, tell everyone about it” customer base.
Interested in learning more about Frontline Operations and how we’ve helped businesses create lasting relationships and real connections? Contact us at info@frontlineoperations.com
Competition is fierce these days. Your ideal customer base has constant noise coming at them from all sides. New competitors are popping up every day and it’s not as easy at is used to be to get new customers in your doors. With this barrage of noise coming at your customers, how do you break through and make an impact? After that, how do you ensure that you keep them coming back?
You’ve probably been to a few seminars or listened to a webinar about the next big thing in marketing that is guaranteed to work. You’re probably experiencing some fatigue just trying to keep up with the latest and greatest way to engage your customer. I can tell you from experience, there is no silver bullet. After years of searching myself, I can save you the trouble and let you know now that I still haven’t found it. What I have learned is this:
Creativity and consistency works.
The reality is, nothing works overnight. The positive news is that many of your competitors are focusing on a one-trick pony approach and giving up too soon. Your job is to stay engaged, and to consistently take a variety of approaches. The goal is to constantly be ‘in touch’ with your customer. Build your brand and tell your story to them before they even walk in the door. What does this look like practically? As I mentioned before creativity is king, but you need to be consistently interacting with them. Direct mail, Facebook, Door-hangers, Local events, Email, Networking groups. Be creative, meet the customer where they are at, but don’t give up after one approach fails, stay consistent and keep telling your story.
So you’ve got them in your door!
They liked what they saw and made their first purchase. Done, right? This is one of the most important times in your customer interactions. You have the chance now to create value beyond price and ensure you make customers for life. One of the biggest reasons a customer continues to come back to a business (especially a service based one) is trust. But more than just a trust that you’ll do the job right, rather a trust that you have their best interest in mind. People still want a human connection. Creating a personal follow-up program for each of your customers can build a trust that goes deeper than just price or convenience. People will drive that extra mile to come to your shop if they feel that care exists. How do you create that? Nothing fancy here. Handwritten notes, personal follow-up calls, maybe even a thank you gift? Consistently keeping a personal connection with your customers through those things can have a monumental impact. Those quotes about the simplest things in life being the most extraordinary are most definitely true. Take the time to invest in your existing customer base this way and you not only help create customers for life, you expand your reach through your "ridiculously happy, tell everyone about it” customer base.
Interested in learning more about Frontline Operations and how we’ve helped businesses create lasting relationships and real connections? Contact us at info@frontlineoperations.com
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