Things Your Customers Wish You Knew About Them
Building a small business would work best if you could get inside the head of your best customer. You could quickly learn what their wants and needs were, easily matching their desires with your product. However, because this intrusive method hasn’t been discovered yet, we have to make do with some basic guidelines. Following these guidelines will help send the message to your customer that you care about their needs and want to provide them a solution that will leave a great impression and have them coming back for more.
Make Your Website User Friendly
When customers come to your website, they want to immediately find what they are looking for. A customer absolutely hates having to call or email your small business to gather more information. If you don’t take the time to ensure your site is user friendly, you WILL lose customers.
Additionally, the number one mistake business owners make is to use industry terms that make sense to them, but not to their user. A website absolutely should make sense to the majority of your users. Don’t be afraid to walk through your site with your customers and see what makes sense to them and where they get stuck on your site. This is an eye-opening experience and can help improve your business communications
Reviews Are More Important Than You Think
If a customer is unsettled or unsure about your product or service, a great review can really help encourage them to move towards a decision to purchase your product or service. Don’t waste your time making up fake reviews. Consumers are generally pretty savvy when it comes to understanding whether reviews are authentic or not. They can also detect the difference between an irrational customer and a genuinely bad review. Don’t panic if you see a negative review. Simply document ways in which you tried to resolve the issue so it wasn’t a bad experience for the customer. The best tip we can offer to you when it comes to “real” reviews from your customers is to be genuine. Encourage honesty and recommend the sharing of personal information that can help personalize the review.
Please note: There are very strict rules in place when it comes to paying people for reviews. It is genuinely frowned upon. If you are charging them to give you a review, then you have to make sure that it is okay with your audience.
Customers and Loyalty Programs
Customer loyalty programs provide immense benefits to your customers as well as your small business. With a loyalty program, you can offer in-store discounts, coupons and other rewards that encourage your favorite customers to keep coming back.
If you are concerned that a loyalty program will only work for large businesses, we urge you to reconsider. SecureGlobalPay has the experience to help your small business reach out to your customer through effective loyalty programs. A loyalty program can be a great way to reward your customers for helping your small business grow. Below we list some of the most popular ways that you can use a loyalty program for your small business success.
Mobile Friendly is Here to Stay
It’s hard to believe that a small business needs to worry about such a small screen to sell their products. However, more customers are turning to their mobile device to find product online. If you don’t think it’s worth the money to make your site is mobile responsive, you may want to reconsider it at this point. Mobile friendly is now a requirement by Google and they will penalize you if your site is found out of compliance. Additionally, customers will get frustrated and leave your site if it isn’t accommodating. Mobile is here to stay.
Make it Personal
Customers love things that are made just for them. Often finding ways to personalize your products for your customers will make them feel that you are willing to go the extra mile for their business. Even if it is something as small as learning and remembering your customers name. Making it personal can mean making money for your business.
Use Gift Cards to Encourage them to Keep Coming Back
Gift cards are great because they help customers who love your store encourage other new customers to make purchases with your small business. If the owner of a gift card chooses not to purchase any product from your store, then the money still belongs to your store. You still receive the money on the gift card. It is hard for many consumers to find products that match the exact amount of funds placed on the gift card. Typically, most customers want to use the gift card to the fullest, so they will spend just a little more than what is on the gift card and pay for the extra out of pocket.
Top Notch Customer Service is a Must
We understand how difficult some customers may be. The old adage that the “customer is always right” might not fit every situation. However, it is important that you strive to please most customers. Customers who are happy, will help you spread the word for your business.
It’s the Little Things
You don’t have to purchase extravagant gifts to make your customers happy. Often times it can be cheap little things that can help your customers feel appreciated. Little gifts or treats make the customers experience with your business something that they won’t forget.
Don’t Ignore Social Media
Social media is a great way to connect and network with your local customers. If you are not active on social media then you should consider the opportunities that you may be missing. Often times, customers feel more freedom to vocally express how they feel about your business to their friends on social media. Taking the time to manage your social media profiles and responding to any issues or complaints can make your business shine.
By following these simple guidelines, you can make a difference within your small business.
