It’s finally hitting us all. There are fewer jobs and less dollars circulating through the economy. But it’s not all doom and gloom. People are still spending. Businesses are still in business but have started looking for most saving-friendly ways of getting their message out there.
Why not try getting back to basics and nurturing existing client relationships?
Think of your customers the way you think of your significant other. It’s the little things that count. Work on personalizing your relationships by addressing people by name. If you don’t know their name – ask for it. Or implement a customer profile software system. Collect their information.
Start a GOOD loyalty program that gives value. If you’re a small business you can outshine the big corporations by giving more. Instead of points – give real dollars back. Make your program easy –without a lot of strings attached. (This is a whole other topic that we’ll blog about soon.)
Start a referral program. Either entice your loyal customers with a reward or simply acknowledge their referral/testimonial - a personal phone call or thank you card will likely go a long way.
Be spontaneous! A chocolate cafe that I hold client meetings at (called Mink) will sometimes bring over a scrumptious bite of chocolate to accompany our mochas. It’s unexpected, it’s memorable and I continue to choose their coffee shop over any of the big guys. (And look, here I am plugging them!) Look for ways to elicit this response in your own business.
Be kind. Volunteer and participate in your community. It will be both personally and professionally rewarding. You’ll meet new people, strengthen existing relationships all while helping out. And hey, you can advertise what you’re doing to lend a hand.
Go above and beyond (cliché, but true!). Show your customers that you truly care about them and your business by over-delivering and wowing them!
And the cost for doing all of these programs? Likely less than the cost of losing just one of your loyal customers.
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