Want loyal customers but don’t know where to begin? Consider this blog your go-to guide.
Below you’ll find five ideas to appreciate, celebrate and delight your customers. These tactics are ones creative enough to catch your audience’s attention and set you apart but also strategic enough to provide some real value.
So read through, take what resonates and implement it into your business. Then, sit back and reap the benefits of happier customers.
Creative ideas that will boost customer loyalty
1. Unexpected upgrades and freebies
Everybody loves a pleasant surprise. And I don’t know about you, but when someone surprises me with something I actually want and can use, it makes me feel known and appreciated.
This is the feeling you need to give to your customers. If you do, you’ll increase their trust and further set yourself apart from the competition. Accomplish this by delivering unexpected surprises to your customers without expecting anything in return. You can even craft a “just because” automated campaign with your automation software that sends out spontaneous upgrades, rewards, and freebies throughout the year.
Bonus: Creating a campaign like this is also a great way to get your audience to open your emails and texts year-round. Plus, consistently providing value will make them more likely to act when you do ask them to take action.
2. Get creative with your rewards program
Rewards programs are increasingly popular among businesses of all niches and sizes because they truly do work to engage customers and keep them coming back for more.
But if you want to step up your game, consider amping up your rewards program. A few ways you can do this include:
Reward for more than just purchases: Diversify how your audience can earn points by rewarding them for attending events and webinars, engaging with your brand on social media, and providing reviews and referrals.
Double-point days: Enhance your audience's earning potential by offering double or triple points for certain actions. Make this a limited time promotion to add urgency.
Create tiers: Use tiers to show your audience the rewards they can work toward. But make sure to offer increasingly enticing perks. This will motivate them to keep engaging.
Your customers will notice when you put extra effort and creativity into the way you reward them. So gather your team and use the above ideas as launching points to delight and excite your customers with an enhanced rewards experience.
3. Collaborate with your network to provide rewards
Speaking of rewards, they don’t always have to be something from your company.
Many businesses reward customers with discounts and bonus products, and these things are awesome. However, you can benefit your customers even more by mixing in some rewards from outside your wheelhouse.
For example, maybe you offer movie tickets, restaurant gift cards, or vouchers for a cool experience. Consider even reaching out to your network of fellow entrepreneurs to see if you can swap reward items to give to one another’s audiences. This will cross-promote your businesses and offer your customers something unexpected and special.
This is especially appropriate when you collaborate with other businesses that offer products and services that your customers naturally need. For example, if you offer housecleaning services, you might set up a JV partnership with carpet cleaning and window cleaning companies, offering discounts on their services to your customers (and vice versa) as rewards for being your loyal customer.
4. Exclusive invites and access
This next strategy involves giving your customers an exclusive invite to something that isn’t available to everyone. The key with this step is to provide something you haven’t offered to the rest of your audience and let your customers know that. But this can’t just be anything — whatever you deliver has to offer value.
Below are a few ideas:
Behind-the-scenes access to your business (ie. a tour, exclusive Q&A with experts, etc.)
Customer-only webinars where you bring on special guests and industry experts
Early access to sales or new products
VIP events, such as networking socials and appreciation dinners
All of these ideas will depend on your business and what you offer. You know your customers best and therefore you know what events or initiatives would benefit them the most!
5. Creative, personal outreach
People remember when you spend your time making something special for them, so this last tip involves getting personal with your outreach.
An awesome way to do this is sending a hand-written note. You might be thinking, “Is she really telling me to hand-write a card, put it in a physical envelope with a stamp, and mail it when I could just email them?” The answer would be yes. Indeed I am, because although a small business CRM can help you personalize emails and texts, your customers are used to receiving those. What they’re not accustomed to are hand-written, thoughtful notes from your company. This is a sure-fire way to catch them off guard in the best way.
See in action: Take Chewy for example. One of my best friends is a loyal customer of Chewy, ordering her dog’s food from there every month. She even has auto-delivery set up.
A few months ago, out of nowhere, my friend received a canvas painting of her dog from Chewy, thanking her for trusting them with her beloved pup’s needs. She cried and quite honestly, so did I. Needless to say, she’s a customer for life.
This is what a little bit of thoughtfulness can do for your customers. Now, I’m not saying to whip out your paint brushes and craft a pet portrait for each of your customers, but just take some extra time to say thank you with a note. The gesture will go a long way.
Pro-tip: This idea doesn’t have to be limited to customer purchases. You can use it for their birthdays, holidays, and any other chance you may have to celebrate them.
Another crucial step to loyal, happy customers
If you take each of these tips, customize them to your business, and use your automation and CRM system to bring them to life, you’ll be well on your way to a satisfied and loyal customer base.
But if you want to take it a step further, browse our other customer experience blogs, such as “Creative Ways Your Small Business CRM Can Help Prevent Buyer’s Remorse for Your Customers”.
