Attracting customers to your business is quite the challenge. You can never be sure that someone who lands on your homepage or walks through your front door is actually going to buy something. It’s your job, and your products’ job, to pull them in.
But once you’ve secured a few sales, you’re in a unique position to start attracting repeat custom. This will allow you to build a loyal customer base, made up of people who understand your brand message, your product quality, and are willing to be ambassadors for you.
And we think you’ll instantly be able to see the value of that! Which is why we’ve put together a list of the four best ways to curate a loyal customer base in the modern age. Check them out below.
Share Your Life
Tidbits of it, and nothing you don’t want your customer base to see. But when you put out content like this, you appear as more than the faceless name behind the business. You become much more human and down to earth.
After all, you’re just like the customers shopping with you! And you’re right there for them to interact with. Everyone likes a business owner who makes it their mission to be friendly, and that’s something that’ll pay you back tenfold.
Give Them Early Access
Anyone who’s been a patron of your business for a while deserves to be recognised for that. You can pay this back to them by giving them exclusive first looks at new products, promotions, and sales.
Give them an early peek behind the curtains, and give them a few more hours to shop discounted items before the general public gets the same privilege. It’s a great reward for their customer loyalty, and it’s one you can build on.
Of course, you only want your most dedicated customers to have this kind of access, so put up a mailing list for them to join. This way you can be sure you’ve collected together the people who love your business and products.
Allow Them to Buy Gift Cards
Gift cards are a surefire source of profit. Not only do you get prepaid money that can’t be used anywhere other than your own store, but you could secure a new customer in the process for free.
Gift cards are great sources of marketing for both loyal customers and the people they spend time with. If someone knows a loved one loves your store, they’re going to buy that person a gift card to use. They might also shop for themself while they’re at it.
And if a loyal customer buys a gift card for someone else, you’ve secured two customers in the same sale.
So be sure to work with a payment provider that lets you accept gift card payments. And don’t be shy in letting your customers know you have gift cards available either!
Be There for Them
Now this is usually a phrase you’d reserve for the people in your personal life. Your friends, your family, your partner; they’re the ones you can actually be there for when they need support.
But you can also apply a similar principle to a customer base. It’s the kind of thing that helps you to appear a lot more personable, and ensures you communicate in a way that feels real.
Consider this in both direct communications (like emails) as well as your general marketing (such as social media).
How can you come across in a more friendly and caring way? Use the customer’s name (when it’s appropriate to do so), but also think about what might be going on in their life right now.
Ask if they’ve got a moment. Make sure you mention that you hope they’re doing well. And if you’re advertising a sale around a big holiday, make sure you spare some marketing materials for people who can’t celebrate it in the same way.
For example, if you’re advertising a limited sale for Mother’s Day, put out a post that sympathises with those who can’t participate in the tradition. No matter the reason, let this portion of your customer base know you’re thinking of them.
Curating a loyal customer base is easier than you might think. That being said, it takes a good amount of long-standing effort. So take your time establishing yourself with your customers. Be yourself, carry your brand message, and speak to them in ways that showcase your business as a quality and convenient choice.