Getting that first customer is easy for a lot of companies, but getting the customer to return again and again can be a challenge for businesses. The problem is that no matter what business you’re in, there’s probably someone down the street or one click away who can provide the same product or service. This being the case, it’s important that companies find ways to remain at the forefront of customers’ minds.
5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Company In the Forefront of Customers’ Minds
Say ‘Thank You’ In Some Way
It may sound simple, but you’d be surprised by the number of companies that fail to thank customers for their patronage. And a thank you doesn’t always have to be verbal. Consider giving a personalized gift to your customers or maybe offer some type of coupon. Some businesses make sure that a ‘thank you’ is automatically emailed to customers or is printed at the bottom of receipts.
Regardless of how a company says ‘thank you,’ know that customers will appreciate the simple gesture and likely remember you as a result.
Provide Excellent Customer Service
Never underestimate the power of customer service, which basically refers to taking care of your customer. And it’s important to remember that customer service is more than a smile. If a customer has an issue, they want to know that they’ll be able to easily reach the company and that their problem will be taken care of.
One simple way a lot of companies do this is using a call outsourcing team that works in the region you operate your business within, for example a US call center would be able to handle US based customers best. Not only will they speak the native language but will always be available during the correct time zone. Using a call centre can allow you to shift your focus to delivering a high quality product or service, whilst your outsourced call team handle customer queries in the professional manner they have been trained in.
This could even be as simple as implementing answering services for medical practice professions, if in the healthcare industry for example. This way, the customer won’t be greeted with a closed line, but a way to communicate a message out of hours if this is beneficial to them. Providing such a service is a great convenience to customers and one they will likely appreciate.
The most common ways of providing customer support are:
- Phone Line. This is probably the most common for brick-and-mortar companies selling goods, and it’s also essential for various service-based businesses, including professional practices such as law firms, consulting agencies, and answering services.
- Email. More and more companies offer email support, though a drawback is that responses are often delayed
- Chat. Chat is gaining in popularity with customers. And like phone support, responses are immediate
Make Things Easy for the Customer
If you’re a customer, there’s nothing worse than having to jump through hoops to get a problem taken care of. Most would agree that if something is not right with a product or service, the customer simply wants the issue resolved in the quickest way possible. In the case of a defective or unwanted item, for example, the company could do this by streamlining the return process and refund.
And don’t neglect the importance of virtual transactions. Make sure customers are able to make payments and conduct other transactions through the company website and phone apps.
Create a Company YouTube Channel
YouTube is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. What’s special about YouTube is that it’s primarily a video platform that provides both long and short-form content. And the sky’s the limit in terms of the content your company will be able to create. Consider posting acts of exceptional customer service, employee profiles, and even humorous skits.
Although some companies might shy away from this type of exposure, it’s pretty much guaranteed that customers would remember the company with the online comedy sketches.
Sponsor a Community Event
Every community has an annual festival or county fair that partners with businesses to help pay expenses. Such events are great opportunities for businesses to fly their corporate flag. Supporting community events shows customers that a company cares about what happens on Main Street and not just Wall Street.
You’ll also want to consider having a company representative and a designated area at the event to meet and greet attendees. There may be no better way to stay in the forefront of customers’ minds than by meeting and speaking with them face to face.
Wrapping Things Up
Although customers’ attention spans seem to be getting shorter and shorter, there are ways to stay relevant to them and remain at the forefront of their minds. This consists of providing above-average customer service, making business transactions convenient and easy, and having a presence at special community events when possible. Such actions will go a long way in making a company unforgettable in the minds of customers.
