It’s much easier to sell to existing customers than brand new ones, there’s no question about that. But if you don’t have a plan in place on how to implement strategies towards creating opportunities for repeat business, Small Business Trends has compiled a comprehensive list for you:
Stay in Touch with The Customers Your Already Have
Ivana S. Taylor is the CEO at DIYMarketers.com. She says getting repeat business is about being thorough.
“Getting repeat business is an exercise in staying top-of-mind with your customers. The best way to do that is to send emails to existing customers about any special offers that you have,” she says. “If you have the kind of business where your customers appreciate appointment reminders this is a great opportunity to use text messaging.”
Email newsletter platforms like our Newsletter module are a great way to stay in touch through email marketing and get repeat business.
Create Memberships
This is an outstanding way to increase the number of loyal customers. Creating an offer that brings in more business can be as simple as a free meal with a discount for a second person for membership in a restaurant.
“This will incent the current customer to come back and bring a new customer with them,” Taylor says.
Provide Excellent Service
Having a good customer relationship team can mean the difference between a one off and repeat business. For many small businesses, how you talk to the customer is just as important as what you say. It’s important to stay away from jargon and use a friendly even tone.
Even a customer with some kind of issue who is dealt with properly can become a repeat client.
Ask for Feedback
Using surveys is one of the best ways to find out what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong so customers come back. There are a variety of other methods you can use.
Get Customer Contact Info
Robert Brady is the Founder of Righteous Marketing. He supplied some excellent tips.
“Getting customer information allows you to send tips for using the product as well as marketing messages around upcoming sales, new product launches, related products, etc.,” he says.
Host Customer-Only Events
Inviting your customers that spend the most to attend will make them feel special. Try using a modern online platform like GoToWebinar.
Create a Loyalty Program
“This could be as low tech as a punch card (i.e., buy 5, get the next one free) or as high-end as a branded app,” Brady says. “If you’re going to reward any customers, it should be your most loyal.”
Stay Active in Social Media
Keeping an active presence in social media will help to keep your brand in your customer’s thoughts. Video is one of the perfect formats to use and making a series of behind-the-scenes videos showing the inner workings of your firm is trending.
Offer a Community Incentive
Texting your clients after they’ve used your services and offering to donate a small amount to charity for their feedback is another good idea. It helps people to feel connected and leaves them with a good impression of your small business at the same time.
In Conclusion
Building relationships with your customers is key, and when you take the time to ensure that your clients feel like they are part of a community, they are informed on business offerings, and believe in the products and services that you provide, building out a plan for repeat business becomes an integral part of your company’s revenue stream.
Knowing your customer and their business needs is critical, it provides you with the endless opportunities to maintain the relationship and keep your clients excited, while opening up the doors to helping them improve their business.
If you’re looking for ways to reach your existing clients, feel free to reach out to us, at REM Web Solutions we take pride in the relationships that we’ve built with our customers and we’re always here to help, we have a suite of tools available that can help you grow your business.
