There are many ways you can connect with customers, but which are the most effective? Business owners are always on the lookout to find new ways to build on customer relationships, and now there are more ways than ever to do so. It’s all about discovering the most appropriate tactics that suit your business niche and target audience.
Ultimately, your main aim is to improve the experience for your customer base and allow them to reach you in the easiest way possible. You don’t have to limit yourself to a single strategy, though. There are several methods which you could combine to connect your small business with customers, as follows:
- Send a newsletter
Newsletters are the ideal way to inform your customers about any sales or promotions that your business is offering, or even any milestones that you’re proud of. However, you must have your customer’s permission before sending email newsletters. You could either ask them face-to-face or include a pop-up box on your website home page that asks whether they’d like to become a subscriber. To generate a positive response from this campaign, it may be worthwhile offering an incentive such as a discount code or free gift after signing up.
- Attend exhibitions
It can be difficult to grow your customer base in the early days of starting a business; however, attending exhibitions is a successful way to get your name out there and build relationships with customers. While exhibiting, you’re able to show off your products and services to a substantial audience who may never have found you previously. Your staff should be well-trained to communicate with visitors, but also don’t forget to bring along some custom designed business cards to hand out so that those interested can follow up on conversations and stay in touch.
- Provide Good customer service
First impressions count, so never underestimate the value of providing good customer service. Every aspect of the sales process may either enhance or undermine the reputation of your brand. Customers never forget how they are treated by a company, so this could impact whether they choose to do business with you again. Whether you have an online business or deal with customers face-to-face, here are some pointers to make a note of:
Face-to-face customer service:
- Welcome your customers as soon as they walk through the door
- Ask if they would like any assistance
- Know your products inside out so you can offer professional advice
Online customer service
- Answer emails promptly
- Offer a live-chat service on your website
- Add a feedback form to your website for improvements
- Guarantee a 24-hour call back service
- Start Blogging
While you may not be dealing with customers directly, blogging is an ideal way to connect with your customer base and find out more about where their interests lie. If you try to maintain a high-quality blog, you’re benefitting your business by holding a readership and generating discussions about your products, which builds communication and trust with potential customers.
- Join Webinars
You could go the extra mile and offer webinars for your customers to enjoy. You could either host the video yourself or invite a guest speaker to talk about a topic in your related field or chat in more detail about your products. This technique has been proven to build a long-lasting relationship with audiences and generates high conversion rates.
