It’s Valentine’s Day is this weekend! And while you’re browsing the aisles of heart shaped chocolates and overpriced cards, don’t forget about your other Valentine – your customers! They have put their time, money, and faith into you – so don’t they at least deserve yours? After all, you may have wooed them once, but you need to keep the “romance” alive in order to maintain a long term relationship with your customers. Here are 5 ways to woo your customers this Valentine’s Day!
1. Treat your Customers Right – Genuinely Interact
Are you speaking to your customers like a robot or a person? Don’t act as a nameless or faceless business; genuinely talk with your customers as a person representing the business (while keeping your emotions in check). Happy customers who get their issue resolved tell 4 to 6 people about their experience.
So that’s a way to significantly influence the word of mouth about your business. Remember to address your customers by name, and tell them your name at the very beginning of your interaction. Make them feel important, and like they are your only customer by responding to them as soon as possible (max 24 hrs).
2. Reward Customer Referrals.
Rewarding existing customers for referring you new business is a great way to instill loyalty in existing customers and drive new business through your door. People are much more likely to look into a business that their friend has told them about, as opposed to following up on an advertisement. If you run a business where customers do not make frequent visits back to your business then consider a reward for customer referrals!
3. Offer Your Online Fans a Special Deal.
Craft a special deal for your loyal followers on social media. Generally, your best, and most loyal advocates of your business will “like” or “follow” you online through your social media profiles.
Creating a deal just for them (free shipping, discount or contest) not only rewards your existing fans, but also enables them to easily share this deal with all their online connections – it’s a great way to drive awareness about your business and increase your fans and followers online.
4. Build Trust & Loyalty – Alert Customers to Large Scale Changes
Very few people welcome change – even if it means an improved experience. However, your business always needs to be growing and changing in order to keep up with our ever-changing world. So how do you strike a balance between growing your business and keeping your customers happy? By treading lightly. Similar to making any big decision within a relationship, alert them of the changes before they happen, and make sure they know that you will be there to help them along the way.
5. Sprinkle in some mystery and intrigue.
Within every relationship, a little surprise and delight never hurts. It enables you to keep it fresh and drives conversation. A gift for no reason? Yes, please. A spontaneous weekend getaway? Why not? A special dinner for two out on the terrace? Talk about feeling appreciated!
Customers are no different – why not send them an unexpected “thank you” note, email, or care package? (you can create a 1CRM drip-feed campaign of treats!) You can be rest assured that they’ll be gabbing about that to their social network when they get the mail that day.
What has your local business done to show your customers some love? As a customer, what has a business done that has really made you an advocate for them? Share your experiences with a comment.
