7 Ways to Build Loyal Customers

If you haven’t noticed it already, the customer is in charge. It is easier than ever to comparison shop and switch from one business to another all from your phone, tablet or computer. However, research has found that in the online market, customers yearn for trustworthiness more than ever. This is especially true of younger generations. Customer relationships are a company’s most valuable asset. They are worth more than everything else combined, as zero customers equal zero business. Getting and keeping more customers who stay with you longer is crucial. If your customers are loyal to your business, they will be much more likely to choose you over your competitors. Loyal customers will be much more likely to tell their friends about you. Loyal customers spend more and bring in even more new customers. Loyalty is immensely valuable. 

“Research has shown that a 5% increase in customer retention rates results in a 25% to 95% increase in profits. ”

It’s easy to say customers are our most important assets but turning a CRM strategy into bottom-line results is hard work. It means winning the battle for customers’ hearts and minds every day, with each interaction at every customer touch point. Long-standing relationships only arise from trust gained over many transactions and by customers’ belief that the company wishes to keep them around rather than drive them away.

Creating a customer-focused company starts with the definition of a CRM strategy, which must then be filled out with new work processes, organizational changes, and even a revamped corporate culture.

To create customers for life, customers who will become advocates with the perception (and don’t forget that perception is reality) they need to believe that you do what’s best for your customers, not just what’s best for your bottom line. To do that you need to do these seven things:

1. Research. Find out what customers want and know what you are providing matches that: Do not start with the bottom line. Profit and cash flow are residuals of attention to the needs and preferences of your customers. Of course, profits are crucial. But long-term cash flow and profits come from regular customers.
2. Be Honest. Try to keep things simple; listen, communicate openly, and keep your promises: Deliver what you say you will. Far too many businesses focus on ways to keep customers, only to lose sight of the fact that their product or service simply isn’t what it should be. Make certain that the core of what you do is deserving of long-term customer loyalty, and then look for ways to nurture it. Make it simple to do business with you.
3. Exceed Expectations. Practice what you preach and preach what you practice: Treat your customers like you would like to be treated and then go even further. Give customers reasons to stay. Great service or products are terrific, but it never hurts to lure customers into the long-term fold. How about discounts for regular customers? Customer loyalty needs to be appropriately valued and rewarded.
4. Nurture employees. Research shows that a personal relationship with your employees is the key to keeping customers loyal and that a happy staff keeps customers coming back. Treat your employees as you would want to be treated year after year. Not only does that encourage staff to also do their bit to entice customer loyalty, it emphasizes a supportive, responsive environment. Employee loyalty needs to be appropriately valued and rewarded.
5. Refine. Use sensible marketing practices: Not many people enjoy being inundated with telephone calls and mailings, so don’t do it! Test, test, test and track the customers who come back. Once you know who your best customers are, the real work begins—convincing them to stay forevermore. Repeat purchase and retention rates capture the real financial ramifications of whether or not a company is delivering high value to its customers.
6. Evaluate ROI. Know the value of your customers, segments, and groups. Know who is likely to be loyal: Some customers are more trouble than they’re worth. Monitor what goes into keeping a customer satisfied; if it’s too costly or simply too much work, determine whether or not you have a fit. It’s wrong to say that everyone should be a lifelong customer.
7. Integrate Useful Technology. Just because a piece of software is Use effective CRM systems, don’t let the systems use you: Don’t be driven by the vendor or consultant – use them, they’re likely to know the technology far better than you. But let customers’ needs and everything above drive how you use the technology. Remember it is an aid not an end.

That’s all there is to it!