Deeper, more meaningful customer interactions inspire people to come back for more. In fact, according to Zendesk, they encourage 42% of customers to repurchase — a level of repeat business that could help your company expand and grow into its next phase. Return customers cost less than new ones. And they’re potential brand ambassadors too, helping to drive even more footfall with their ongoing recommendation of your business.
With so many reasons to turn each first-timer into a loyal regular, what are the tools and methods to make it happen?
Make a great impression first time
Customers start interacting with your brand before they even set foot in your store. When they finally do, they’ll quickly make up their mind about whether or not you’re worth their time. Here are some ideas to make those first impressions count:
On social media
Social media is a powerful marketing tool for small businesses because of its affordability and power to reach the masses. Research has shown that 37% of people use Meta apps like Facebook and Instagram to discover new businesses, indicating that these platforms have the power to either attract or deter potential new customers.
To make this first point of contact count, get rid of any photos that don’t show your business at its best, update your company “about” sections (especially your address and contact details) and respond regularly and professionally to any follower comments to show that you’re active and involved.
On review sites
With over 988 million customer reviews on TripAdvisor and more than 120 million on Trustpilot, these sites are a gateway to your business. They have a huge influence on how you’re viewed before you even get the chance to speak for yourself. Here are some ways to encourage good, honest reviews from your customers on these and other sites:
- Give out free gifts or vouchers when people buy from you
- Have a flexible and free returns policy
- Reward customers for their loyalty
- Only sell high-quality products — scrap anything that’s been received poorly
- Be communicative and attentive to your customers’ needs, both in-store and online
With your shop front
The challenge isn’t over when people eventually arrive at your shop. The way you present yourself in-the-flesh can tempt people in or turn them away. Keep your space clean and free from clutter, curate your products, get rid of any tired window displays and signage and replace them with something that says, “we’re serious about you being our customer”.
If your company logo is looking a little out of date, this could be something to invest in too, because customers love strong brands — they connect to them and recall them far better than weak ones.
Be creative
People get easily overwhelmed with brands vying for their attention, which is why businesses even in the closest communities need to be bold and succinct about their benefits. The more ways you can find to clearly communicate why nobody is better-suited to your customers’ needs than your business, the better.
Treat your customers well
If there’s one way to create bad customer interactions, it’s through the staff who do the interacting. Motivating your staff to provide the best possible customer experience isn’t always easy, but it pays off tenfold.
“Good customer service” can be interpreted in many ways, so keep it simple and focus on these areas:
- Hire staff who authentically express why positive customer interactions are so important to them.
- Allow staff to show their true personalities, but be clear about how you expect them to greet, treat and advise customers.
- Make sure they’re properly onboarded with systems such as your point-of-sale software.
- Provide them with everything they need to do their job well, from the right uniform and equipment, to the right support when things get stressful.
- Reward staff who show they care as much as you do.
- Most importantly, be a great leader who shows them how great customer service is delivered in-practice.
Follow up on in-person experiences
Customer interactions don’t have to end when they leave your store.
Following up with thank you emails, gift cards and freebies extends the interaction, keeping the conversation open and encouraging them back for more great service.
The key to success here is relevance. If someone has a poor experience of your business face-to-face, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll respond well to a thank you email promoting your products. Instead, a digital receipt that asks for their honest feedback reopens communication channels, and gives you the chance to send a voucher to show you care.