5 ways to show your customers appreciation
Without your customers, a business is nothing, yet so many opportunities to show them appreciation are overlooked by brands every day.
Showing them that they matter than that you really do care is critical to repeat business and referrals, so what are some ways you could be showing your customers that they are valuable and important?
Kabbage, the leading online provider of working capital for small businesses, offers five tips on showing your customer love this Valentine’s Day:
1. Create a Customer Loyalty Program
Give loyal customers coupons and discounts to express your gratitude to them. Loyalty programs can include special perks, gift certificates, discounts like frequent buyer’s cards and point cards. Loyalty programs are an extremely memorable way to express how much your customers mean to you because it gives an added reward, making your clients feel valued while also giving them incentives to come back again.
For small businesses loyal customers are critical, and your current customer base is your best source of business, so reward them for all they do for you.
2. Highlight Your Customers
Featuring one of your customers every week or month by posting information about how they use your products and services on your social media platforms makes them feel loved and admired. This is a great way to recognize all the work your customers do to keep you in business and the reach out to those consumers and let them know how much their business means to you.
Openly expressing your gratitude towards your customers is one of the best ways to build a positive merchant-client relationship. Highlighting your customers can also help build a culture or community around your business and keep your customers involved.
3. Reward Customer Referrals
Rewarding customers who send new clients your way is a great way to get new business and show your customers how much you care about them and appreciate all they do for you. By offering discounts or gifts for referrals, you keep your clients happy, and you keep them coming back and talking about your small business to all of their friends.
Think about rewarding both the customer who did the referring and the new client, as this gives them both incentives to keep spreading the word about your business.
4. Get To Know Your Customer
Customers like to feel special and known. It makes them feel comfortable and trusting. By getting to know your customers through social media or spending time with them while they are in your store, you can build a solid merchant-consumer relationship that makes the customer feel important. By getting to know your clients better, you can personalize their experience and open the communication pathway to learn more about their needs.
Your customer is the base of your business, so understanding them and knowing who they are will help drive sales and build a loyal and happy consumer base. This is a good way to keep your customers involved with your business, and have them care about you back.
5. Give Back Through Customer Service
Interact with your customers by playing an active role in their experience with your product or service. You can do this by teaching your customers how to best use your products with blog posts of video posts or by answering their questions with direct and honest feedback. The most important thing about customer service is that your are reaching out to meet the needs of your consumers, so ask your customers what they want and then give it to them.
By doing so, you show your clients that you truly care about their wants and needs.
Outdo your competitors
Kabbage.com notes, “By getting to know your customers better, you can create an overall better experience that fits them like no other business does. Showing your clients some love and appreciation is a great way to give back to them and turn them into loyal customers. As a small business owner you should always be showing your customers loves because by focusing on your customer relationships you can help your business grow exponentially. You already have the advantage of being close to your consumer base, so connect with your customers now!”
