5 Ways to Earn Customer Loyalty

You’ve made a sale – congratulations! Now comes the hard part: earning your customer’s loyalty. Like it or not, a single sale won’t do much for your business. But if your customer becomes a loyal follower, you’ve captured a lifetime of value.

So how do you build customer loyalty? It begins with four words: Go the extra mile. If you’re not quite sure how to put that idea into practice, read on:

Invest in High Quality Staff
Employees are crucial to building strong customer loyalty. You cannot afford to retain employees who don’t treat every single customer with respect and kindness. Hire high quality people, and build a team of individuals who are committed to outstanding service.

Provide the Unexpected
Any company can provide good products and services. If you’re aiming for dedication and loyalty, you’ll need to go beyond. Don’t just satisfy customers – delight them. Surprise them. Get to know them personally so you can anticipate their needs and deliver far above what’s expected.

Keep in Touch
True commitment is built on personal relationships. If you want loyal customers, you can’t send blanket messages and expect them to feel connected. Learn and remember their names and birthdays. Send them personal notifications about special events and promotions. Make them feel special and noticed, and they’ll keep coming back for more.

 Make Each Contact Count
Communication is tricky. Too much and your customers will be irritated. Too little and you’ll be forgotten. The key is to make sure each communication adds value. Use communication as a means to reward loyalty and bring new, interesting things to your customers’ attentions. If you send messages they value, they’ll want to maintain a relationship with you.

Be Responsive
Don’t ever ignore a message from a customer, no matter how nasty or mean-spirited. Listen carefully to each customer, respond as quickly as possible and if necessary, go above and beyond to repair the relationship. This simple habit is integral to building positive relationships, and can turn a hostile customer into a lifelong fan.

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