Many business owners understand the fundamental truth that customers are at the center, and should be highly valued. Unfortunately, many of the world’s largest companies do a lot of work that depersonalizes the customer. Instead of handling customer issues on their own, they outsource SEO work to save money. Rather than engaging with their customers on social media, a PR company handles that work for them.
There’s no question that these strategies save money up front, but at what cost? Isn’t it better to know your customer? What may be even more important than truly knowing your customer is to have them feel like they know you. If your customer feels like they know you, your employees, and your business in general, they’re much more likely to trust you, and that means that they’ll come to you first. What can you do to promote this kind of trust with your customers?
Give Something to Your Customers for Free
If you truly know your customers, you should know exactly what they want. There may be a way that you can give them something for free, without losing much. Don’t underestimate the power of a surprise, however. While giveaways and special promotions can be an effective growth strategy, surprising your customer with a free gift while they’re in your store, without asking for anything in return, is a great way to build trust.
Flatter Your Customers
Of course, you need to be sincere in your engagement with your customers, but there are a couple of ways to flatter your customers and make them feel special. Ask your most loyal customers if you can post a picture with them on social media. If they agree, make sure to flatter them in your post. Mention how valuable they are to you. This customer will surely be loyal to you in the future.
Another great way to flatter your best customers is to thank them in a very personalized manner. Most companies have policies that require employees to say “thank you” at the end of a customer interaction, but most, if not all of your customers know that this is a company requirement. What are some ways you can thank your customers personally? You could send a handwritten card to their home. Your customer will no doubt recognize that this is a sincere and personal sign of appreciation.
Ask for Feedback
Many of your customers have ideas about ways that you can improve your business. Particularly if they’re a loyal customer, they will likely see small ways that your business can improve. While broad sweeping surveys are great at getting a feel for your customers, a more personal interaction can win over all kinds of people. If you’re present at the store, you could simply walk up to a customer, explain your position at the store, and ask if there’s anything you can do to make their experience more enjoyable. If your customers are online, you could send a personal e-mail with a similar question.
Use Uniforms
Uniforms are often associated with trustworthy individuals. When your customers see you and your employees in uniform, they’ll recognize your position of responsibility, and that you’re there to help them. Uniforms such as those sold by Total Image Uniforms in Australia, make it easy for customers to find you and your employees, and get the help that they need.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.