How to Use Branding to Turn Shoppers Into Loyal Customers

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By Jacob Maslow

If you run a business today, then you are probably focused on the cost of customer acquisition. The current economic climate has changed drastically. There are many companies that are struggling to make ends meet. Therefore, you should be paying close attention to the metrics. In addition to knowing the cost of customer acquisition, you also need to make sure that you are able to retain your customers as well. 

Are you aware that if a customer makes a purchase more business once, there is a large chance at that same customer will buy another product in the future? You need to make sure that you capitalize on this opportunity. This is where branding and brand loyalty are very important. How can you make sure that you use branding to your advantage? There are a few key points that you should keep in mind. 

Know Your Customers Well

Remember that there is never a second chance to make a first impression. Therefore, you need to make this first impression count. The way you do this is by getting to know your customers. If a customer shops with you once, that interaction is going to leave a major impression on them.

In order to make a good impression on your customers, you need to get to know them. Be sure to collect as much demographic data as possible. When possible, try to find out more about their lifestyles, hobbies, and interest.

For example, some of the points that you might want to keep in mind include:

  • Are your customers married? 
  • Did your customers purchase products that lead you to believe they have children? 
  • Based on their purchases, is there any way that you can learn more about what they do on a daily basis?
  • If a person visits your online store, where did they come from? Is there a theme? 

Once you take the time to get to know your customers, you can leverage this information to turn them into loyal shoppers. Make sure that when you build your brand, you are building a brand around this demographic information. This is going to help you turn your shoppers into loyal, repeat customers. 

Optimize the Sessions of Your Customers

As your customers navigate your online store, you should be following them. Figure out where they scroll, where they dwell, and how they click. Take a look at the behavior of your customers. Figure out if there are things that they looked at but did not buy.

If they looked at these items, this means they are still interested in them. Make sure that you save this information and show them these items during their next session. This might be a great way to select an add-on purchase. Remind them that they looked at these items and see if they want to buy them.

Furthermore, take a look at the site and see if there were any issues that your visitors encounter. For example, did they have a hard time finding something? Did a page load slowly? Did they have trouble using the menu to navigate the site? You need to make sure that you do everything you can to optimize their sessions. Your customer should get the most out of every visit. The easier it is for them to find what they need, the better the chance of them falling in love with your brand. When you take the time to optimize their sessions, you build brand loyalty among your customers. 

Your Customers Are Your Business Partners

Your customers are your business partners. Therefore, you should treat them as such. It is time to look at customers differently. It is important to collect their feedback. If your customers feel like they play a role in the manner in which the business operates, they are more likely to stick with you.

When customers invest their time into your company, it is going to be harder to pull them away. Therefore, think about ways that you can collect their opinions and use them to your advantage. This might be as simple as setting up a feedback button at the end of the purchase. Prompt them with a question to take a short survey on their experience. If they decide to leave comments, read them. Take their feedback seriously. They are your customers and they matter.

And also a good idea to link your company’s website to your social media pages. Then, encourage your customers to leave feedback on your social media pages. Feel free to post polls, share videos, and produce images that encourage customers to get more involved with your company. This is just another way that you can collect their opinions and use them to improve your business. When you engage with your customers on a regular basis, they are more likely to become loyal. 

Engage with Your Customers Regularly

If you want to win your customers over, then you need to engage with them on a regular basis. Set up a calendar and use this to communicate with them. For example, if a customer shares his or her birthday with you in a demographic survey, then send them a small discount on their birthday and wish him or her a happy birthday. If a customer has purchased an item, be sure to let them know that the order was received, when the order is going to be shipped, and when it is going to arrive. This clear communication is going to go a long way toward imbuing your customers with a sense of brand loyalty.

Furthermore, if customers have stuck with you for an extended period of time, be sure to note this. Feel free to send customers a small discount on the first or second anniversary of their first purchase. By letting them know the business cares about them, they are more likely to stick around. 

Prioritize High-Value Customers Accordingly 

There’s no way around it. Some customers are going to buy more than others. If a customer spends a significant amount of money with you, then prioritize them. Pay attention to what they do, how they purchase, and assign your best sales professionals to attend to their needs. When these individuals receive personalized service, they are more likely to purchase a big order in the future. This can help you grow your company by leaps and bounds. They are worth more than an average customer and they should be treated as such. Make sure that you make retaining them a priority. 

Build a Brand with Your Business

These are a few of the most important points that you need to keep in mind if you are trying to convert your shoppers into loyal customers. While the cost of customer acquisition is important, the topic of customer retention is important as well. You need to figure out a way that you can efficiently retain customers, turn them into loyal, repeat shoppers. This is going to help your business grow, ensuring that you maintain an edge on the competition even in today’s hyper-competitive environment.

 

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