One of the most important aspects of running a business is your level of customer retention. Making a one-time sale simply isn’t enough; you must aim to create a loyal customer base that will stick with you over the years. And to effectively build this type of brand trust and client loyalty, you need a strong retention marketing strategy in place.
Keep in mind that only about 10 to 15% of consumers are loyal to a single brand in any given industry or niche – yet this seemingly small percentage is responsible for approximately 55 to 70% of all sales. In this blog, we’ll explore the most effective client retention strategies and how to implement a working retention plan for your business.
Customer Retention Marketing Strategies
1. Surprise your customers
Everyone loves getting a surprise. Even something as small as a handwritten note can go a long way in showing your customers that you care.
One way to gather customer insights and surprise your customers is to offer a birthday discount. Your customers will be more than happy to provide their birthday information in exchange for a customized discount code.
This discount can be worth as much as you like. Some common birthday discounts are:
- $10 off
- 20% off
- 30% off
- Free shipping
2. Build trust with communication
Establishing a strong line of communication is critical to building a trusting brand-to-customer relationship. The more trust you can build, the more value your customers will find in your products and services.
If a customer has a complaint, the way you handle it will determine if that customer gives your brand another chance. One bad experience is enough to send customers over to your competitors. Reach out for feedback. And listen to what your customers have to say. If you address problems in a polite, problem-solving manner, you will be well on your way to building a long-lasting, trusting relationship with your customers.
3. Incorporate marketing automation
One of our favorite retention strategies is to use a marketing automation platform. It will handle many repetitive tasks and streamline the workflow between your marketing team members. It also enables you to develop more customized marketing campaigns that will resonate with your target audience.
Client retention gets much easier once you start automating marketing tasks like follow-ups. When a customer makes a purchase, your automated marketing program can send out a follow-up email asking for feedback or a review. You can also set up triggers for product recommendation emails, which can generate future sales.
4. Offer valuable information
Another great retention strategy is to provide your customers with insightful information. You can do this with engaging blog posts or educational emails. For example, if you sell cameras, create a quick how-to guide to send out to every customer who bought a camera. It can be in the form of a blog article or even an entertaining infographic. Your customers will gain valuable information on how to use your product, and you will establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry or niche.
5. Host a webinar
If you want to provide even more in-depth training to your customers, offer a free webinar. Returning to our camera example, you can teach the customers who bought cameras how to customize the settings via manual mode. Not only will this empower your customers with valuable knowledge, it will also allow them to use your product more efficiently. Webinars can be useful tools for any retention marketing strategy.
You Need a Client Retention Plan
As you have learned by now, having a solid client retention plan in place is critical to scaling your business. You don’t just want to sell a product one time and never have that customer come back. Your goal with retention marketing should be to build a strong community of loyal customers who come to your business for all of their needs within your industry or niche.
To learn more about retention marketing or to tweak current strategies, contact us or get a demo.
Originally published on the SharpSpring blog
– My Left Foot is a Gold Certified SharpSpring partner.
