As business owners and leaders, it is important that we build trusting and strong relationships with our existing customers and new customers. We want loyal customers to keep coming back and interested customers to consider us. Relationship marketing is a subset of customer relationship management or CRM. Relationship marketing focuses on long-term customer engagement that can eventually lead to customer acquisition and sales increase The goal of relationship marketing is to build strong relationships that go beyond a single transaction with our company. A customer may be interested in your product or service at the time of purchase, but how can you build a connection that will keep them coming back and staying loyal to your company? We’ve gathered a few tips and tricks you can follow to build a strong relationship marketing strategy.
- E-Commerce
Having a webpage where customers can go to learn more information and feel part of your organization is a great way to build a relationship with them. For example, if fitting, your website could include a section where customers can create a user profile that saves their information for the next time they visit your site. This will allow you to tailor the information on the platform to their needs and also track customer activity.
- Customer Service
It is no secret that as consumers we always want to receive high-quality customer service. When you are on the phone with a company from which you are in need of service for a problem, you want to be understood. Customers appreciate when employees are kind, enthusiastic, and empathetic to their needs. A customer who is consistently impressed by your customer service will more than likely be more loyal to you.
- That Extra Touch
A major part of relationship marketing is going beyond your customer’s expectations. Let’s say you are the owner of a small retail store. What’s expected of your business is good customer service, an online platform, and the newest trends. However, there are some extra touches you can add to keep customers interested and loyal. Consider starting a rewards program or an email list for loyal customers to receive special deals or free gifts on their birthday. Showing your appreciation for customer loyalty will help you gain new customers and keep loyal customers happy. Even sending birthday wishes through email or thank you cards can be a small detail the customer will truly appreciate.
- Hold customer events
A great way to build brand awareness and find or retain customers is by hosting events where you can connect and build a community for your customers. For example, the popular athleisure brand “Lululemon” holds sponsored events where their customers can enjoy workout sessions while connecting with other people in the community. This strategy is perfect for interacting one-on-one with your consumer base. It is important that your consumers see you and get to know the face behind the brand.
Running a business is not simply about transactional marketing where you only focus on increasing the number of sales. To build a lasting customer base, you must think about long-term strategies such as relationship marketing. If you’re unsure about where to start, consider reaching out to a Virtual Assistant to help you kickstart the process.
