In a digitalized world of price comparisons and 24-hour delivery, where same-day delivery is taken for granted, and in a market where customers can choose which product they want to buy, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep customers loyal in the long run. But customer loyalty is crucial to a company’s long-term success. In order for customers to recognise the value of a long-term relationship with you, it is important to show them why they should shop with you and not the competition. We would like to share with you below five valuable tips on strengthening customer loyalty, and give you numerous practical ideas.

Tip 1: Get ahead with events 

Incorporating the customer experience into retailing builds a closer relationship with customers. Experiences generate emotions. Offering an in-store event encourages customers to linger for longer with you and your staff. This builds a stronger relationship with you and your store. Customers feel a sense of belonging and will look to repeat the positive experience.

Tip 2: Successful sales talk

The main component of customer loyalty is a service- and customer-oriented company approach. Customers who are happy with the services you offer will trust you and come back. To ensure you achieve this, practise active listening and ask questions during the sales talk. It is also important to respond to the different types of customers and offer them individual advice. After all, you have to speak the customers’ language and understand what makes them tick to sell successfully. It is worth having your employees attend a seminar specially designed for this. If you exceed your customers’ expectations and wow them, they will want a repeat experience. This turns chance customers into regulars.

Tip 3: Stay in touch with customers through social media

Given the steady growth in social media, it’s hard to imagine life without it now. In addition, it can be used as a way for companies to interact and engage with their customers and almost all stakeholders. We like, comment and/or share the posts we agree with. Everybody is on social media these days, and companies should absolutely use it in a purposeful way to reach customers in order to build a relationship.

Tip 4: Content marketing – offer added value and strengthen customer loyalty 

Hard facts and pure product information are no longer enough when communicating with customers. Interesting content is becoming ever more important! Valuable and emotional content places users in the centre and increases their long-term loyalty to a brand and company. 

Tip 5: Use complaint management to improve

Even service-oriented retailers with a premium offering are not immune to receiving negative feedback or complaints. What matters most of all is that you respond correctly to these. Complaint management is regarded as a core component of successful customer loyalty management.

An extra tip: Surprise your customers!

People love to be surprised. Little treats and gestures create a positive and cheerful mood and leave a lasting impression. Retailers should take advantage of this and offer their customers some small surprises. In doing so, it is important to adapt them to the business concept and the needs of the customers. The more individual they are, the greater the surprise experienced by the customer.

Copy from Internet resources