20 Ways to Earn And Build Customer Loyalty

29. Choose The Right Employees

Once you are in the position to hire help for your business, make sure you choose someone who is actually good at customer service. While this tip may seem obvious to some people, there are so many people who choose to hire a friend or family member to help them with customers. This can be a huge mistake, if they are not so good with people. The personality of your employees is going to make a huge difference for your customer’s overall experience.

When hiring a stranger, make this person has past experience dealing with people. Also consider asking them test questions during an interview. One common question is asking what an applicant would do in a given situation. Their answer will tell you a lot about their personality, and their ability to service your customers.

28. Share Your Core Values

When we think of corporate culture, a lot of people have the misconception that “core values” are meant to be an internal thing that is a secret among employees. However, it can sometimes truly benefit your customer to know what your core values are, too. For example, if you have a vegan restaurant, and you have a core value of only using fresh and organic ingredients, your customers will want to know that, too, and it may be a reason why they choose you over another business.

27. Handwritten Notes

In today’s world, it is so rare to get hand written notes anymore. So, when we get a greeting card, or see a handwritten message, it means so much more to us now than it ever did before. Even something as simple as “thank you” with a smiley face on a receipt is enough to make a customer happy, and know that the service was friendly. Later on, if that customer is going through their old receipts, they will see that note, and it will probably make them smile, and it increases their likelihood of coming back.

26. Give Out Free Samples

If you go to somewhere like Costco or Sam’s Club on a Saturday, you know how crazy people get over the free food samples. Some folks are even willing to wait in line, if it means getting a tiny sliver of food. Even if you don’t have a massive selection of free samples, giving your customers the option to taste or try something ahead of time will increase the likelihood that they will buy something. More often than not, getting a free sample feels like getting a gift, and that person will feel obligated to do something in return.

25. Choose The Language Of Your Brand

When training your employees, it is important to tell them to choose the correct words when addressing your customers. For example, some apartment complexes will call their tenants “residents”, because it sounds way more respectful than the word “tenant”. There are also certain words that may come across as rude and has the potential to offend your customers. Even if it seems obvious to you, it may not be clear to your young part-time employees. So, it is important to educate your employees.

24. Create a Sense of Community

It is important to sign your business up for social media, and give your customers updates. This fosters a sense of community, which is extremely important for a thriving business. Remember that before social media existed, businesses have been organizing community events for years! For example, certain TD Bank offices have a community tree lighting ceremony, breweries and vineyards will have holiday events, and some art galleries will have single’s mixers. Try to brainstorm ideas about how your business could have a community event, and keep people updated on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Another thing to keep in mind is setting up a community atmosphere in your establishment. For example, one of the many reasons why breweries have become so popular recently is the fact that groups of people can come with their friends, and feel comfortable staying for an extended period of time. You may not have the space to accommodate these kinds of events, but try to do this whenever possible.

23. Make Things Easy For Your Customer

Okay, maybe it’s not necessary to wait on your customer hand-and-foot. However, keep in mind that it is your responsibility to make a customer’s experience as smooth as possible. Even if it’s something as simple as having a good organizational system, an easy way to ask questions, or any other issue they may run into, remember that they are paying you for either goods, or a service. And more often than not, they deserve for you to accommodate their needs, because they are paying you money. Of course, you cannot let someone walk all over you, either. Try to figure out where that fine line stands for your own unique situation.

22. Create a Loyalty Program

Everyone loves a loyalty program, especially when they know if a certain number of purchases will guarantee that they will eventually get a free product or upgrade. This motivates people to return to your business, over your competitors. Most of the bigger businesses out there have now converted their loyalty programs over to an app, rather than a plastic card you need to keep in your wallet. If you cannot afford to hire an app developer, don’t worry, because people still love the old school card stock that can be signed, stamped, or punched every time they visit.

21. Avoid Robo-Helpers

So many things in our society have become digitalized, and it can make a lot of aspects of the customer experience quick and easy. However, the vast majority of people want to speak with a human being when they are running into an issue. Make sure that you have a real live human available to help someone whenever possible.

20. Show Your Appreciation

It might sound very simple, but remember to show your customers that you truly do appreciate them. Even just a simple “Thank you, please come again!” can show them that you would love for them to come back.

19. Share Your Journey

In today’s world, just about everyone loves watching YouTube vloggers and reality TV shows. People like to have some insight into other people’s lives, and that can include the businesses they frequent, as well. If you are creating a social media platform, don’t stop at just new menu items or products. For example, sharing your journey can be as simple as having before-and-after photos to show how much remodeling you have done to your space, or a picture of the day you earned your first dollar. Just remember that there is a fine line between sharing, and over-sharing. Remember to stay professional, and avoid complaining, because it sends the wrong message to your customers.

18. Anticipate Problems, And Try to Find Solutions ASAP

Your customers will have problems no matter what kind of business you own. And when someone goes to you with a solution, you better be prepared with some answers to get the job done. For example, if you rent or purchase your very first space to run your business, you might see some problems that customers are going to have. Maybe your parking lot is too small, or your entrance is not easily visible from the street. These can be solved by putting up signs for additional parking, or asking permission from your town to put up signs near or around your business.

17. Exceed All Expectations

People love it so much when something exceeds their expectations. Whether it comes in the form of large portion sizes of food, or handing work in ahead of schedule, be sure to go above and beyond for your new customers. By just staying at the status quo or doing the bare minimum, it is not going to impress anyone or convince them to begin frequenting your business on a regular basis.

16. Be Transparent About Issues

There are some problems in your business that should not be broadcasted out to the world, like money problems or internal disagreements between employees. Then, there are other issues that customers will truly appreciate knowing about ahead of time. For example, updating your social media account to say, “Sorry, we have to close tomorrow, because a pipe burst” is so much better than trying to hide the problem, only for customers to come to a store with a “Sorry, we’re closed” sign without any explanation. By trying to sweep certain issues under the rug, people will think that you are hiding something, and they are less likely to trust you. Broken trust means a lost customer.

15. Spend Time With Customers

Depending on the field you are going into, there are some jobs that naturally lend themselves to spending a lot of time talking to a customer, like a hairdresser or barber. Then, there are other jobs where you can choose to either step back, or strike up a friendly conversation. For example, if you run a clothing boutique, you might ask, “Is there anything in particular you were looking for today?” That simple question might cause your customer to explain that he or she is going to a wedding. Having that memory of a conversation will give that person a positive memory associated with your business.

On the flip side, if your customer says, “I’m just looking”, it’s often code word for, “Please leave me alone.” Respect your customer’s privacy, and do not be too pushy, because it can often backfire.

14. Be Reliable

In today’s world, people expect to get what they need quickly and easily, all thanks to Amazon Prime. Because of this, there is very little margin for error in the world of retail before a customer decides to go to someone else. Whether it is answering e-mails quickly, or making sure you meet a deadline for a client, being reliable and trustworthy can make or break a customer experience.

13. Admit Your Mistakes

If you make a mistake, do not try to point the blame on anyone else, deny it, or try to cover it up. People can see a fake apology from a mile away. For example, you may remember the catastrophic United Airlines flight in 2017 when a man named Dr. Dao was dragged out of his seat, all because the airline over-booked the plane. The CEO’s immediate response? He blamed the customer. YIKES. The public was very, very angry at this, and even when he tried to back-peddle into an apology, it was far too late. United Airlines lost tons of customers, and their stock prices dropped.

No one is expecting you to grovel and plead with your customers when you do something wrong. People just want a sincere apology, and in most cases, that is enough to satisfy them so that everyone can move on.

12. Start a Mailing List

Aside from asking your customers to follow you on social media, it may also be helpful to ask for their e-mail so that you can add them to your mailing list, as well. There are a lot of people who do not want to give their e-mail away to a new business, especially if the are worried about privacy. But offering a free item or service in exchange for an e-mail address is often enough incentive for people to give it up. Websites like Mail Chimp make it easy to set up a mailing list, but just remember that you need to update your customers every week or two with sales, newsletters, and more. If you only update your mailing list once a year, people are far more likely to forget who you are, and it may actually end up in a spam folder.

11. Acknowledge Birthdays and Holidays

People love it when you acknowledge the holidays by decorating, or by offering special sales on major retail events, like Black Friday. Truth be told, if you don’t follow these expectations of retail, you might get some disappointed people who will choose to spend their money elsewhere.

And while it is not always possible to gather a customer’s birthday information, people love it when you can manage to pull it off. The luxury makeup chain, Sephora, is a great example of a company who knows how to do birthdays right. They have a policy that a customer is allowed to come in for a free sample during their birthday month. In most cases, they will have to show their driver’s license to prove their date of birth. If they forget to come in to receive their free item, they will not allow you to get it at any other time. In most cases, people who are celebrating their birthday will have extra cash from friends and family, or they will save up to splurge on themselves. So, the likelihood that a customer will buy something while they are picking up their free birthday item is far greater than if you never offered it in the first place.

10. Encourage Your Customers to Leave Feedback

Some people dread finding a negative customer review on Yelp, or they are afraid of receiving any kind of feedback, because they think it will destroy their ego, reputation, or both. The solution to this issue is to actually encourage people to give you more feedback, not less. Make sure that your customers have the opportunity to give their opinion anonymously, without pressure to write a positive review. There are several reasons why this is helpful.

Firstly, if you get one negative review online, and they are the only one who reviewed you, your rating goes down to one star almost immediately. But if that negative Nancy is just one of 100 people, you’re still getting 5 stars. Secondly, being open to honest feedback will allow you to gauge the true customer experience. Most people will be polite face-to-face, and a million people can say the experience was “good” or “great”, but then they never come back again. If you find out the reasons why they do not want to come back, it can only help your business grow and evolve.

9. Do Not Forget About Your Existing Customers

Sometimes, business owners are so focused on obtaining brand new customers, that they forget about the ones they already have. If you notice that the same people come into your shop over and over, or if you have a small but loyal client base, be sure to acknowledge that. Remember that these people are likely to be your very best customers, and they deserve you to give them a little bit of VIP treatment. Remember that even if they come in a lot, that loyalty can always change, and you want to keep these people coming back over and over.

8. Personalization

Ever wonder why Starbucks employees ask for your name with every order? Sure, it helps to make sure the wrong person doesn’t walk away with your chai tea latte, but the real reason is that it adds an element of personalization. When you address someone with their name, they automatically feel more noticed, and therefore, more appreciated as a customer. Try to incorporate a customer’s name into the conversation whenever possible.

7. Become An Expert People Can Trust

Even if you have not gone to school to get a PhD in whatever subject your business is under, there are still plenty of ways to prove that you are an expert in your chosen field. It is wise to do as much research as you possibly can. Read books and blogs, watch documentaries, and attend lectures as often as possible in order to understand all aspects of your business. It may take hundreds, if not thousands of hours of study before you truly feel confident in your craft. But remember that unlike a degree, no one is ever going to come along and hand you a trophy with the word “expert” engraved on it. Just be confident in the things you know, but don’t pretend to know more than you actually do, and don’t be afraid to admit when you do not know, by saying, “I’ll get back to you on that”. People can see through insincerity right away, if you just make something up.

6. Hold Special Events

Customers love special events, and it can cause a huge influx of people to come to your business at certain times of year. Think about the McDonald’s Monopoly contest. Even the most healthy eaters will suddenly buy a Big Mac, just for a chance at winning a million dollars. A “special event” can be as simple as a sale, or a limited-time release of a seasonal item. If people had fun with your special event, they will remember that for next year, and want to come back for more. Of course, you can have a special event a multiple times a year to keep people coming back again and again. On the flip side, if you normally offer a seasonal item every year, and then suddenly get rid of it out of the blue (We’re looking at you, Eggnog Milkshakes at McDonalds!) your long-time customers may feel disappointed, and they will not come back as often as they would have otherwise.

5. Have Clear Policies Listed Up-Front

It is extremely important to let your customers know your policies up-front. Maybe you have been in a situation where you go to a restaurant or store, and you are ready to pay for your items, and the cashier abruptly tells you that they are cash-only. Other times, you need to pay for at least $10 to $20 before using a credit or debit card. If there was never a sign anywhere in the store to indicate this policy, or if there was only a teeny tiny post card posted on the cash register, this is guaranteed to annoy your customers.

Even if people just so happened to have enough cash in their pocket to pay for their items, they often feel duped if they have to change their game plan. This lowers their likelihood to come back. Same goes with a “no return” policy. If people do not know this ahead of time, it may lead to arguments if they try to get their money back later. Make sure your policies are hung somewhere noticeable, and potentially in multiple places around the store, just in case they missed the first sign. Also, if your policies are so strict that it prevents people from coming inside, you may want to rethink your rules.

4. Be Flexible

While it is important to let your customers know about your policies up-front, it is also important to be flexible on the rules, for the sake of keeping the customer happy. For example, if you have a 30-day return policy, and they show up on day 31, your customer is going to be really upset if you do not accept the return. On the flip side, if you are flexible on the rules for this person, they will remember your kindness, and this will make them more willing to come back in the future.

3. Surprise Your Customer

Just about everyone loves a surprise, and it will bring a lot of happiness to their customer experience. In most cases, these surprises just boil down to having great hospitality. Bringing a small spark of joy to a customer’s day will have a lasting impact, and it will make them more likely to come back in the future. For example, if you run a restaurant, you could include free mints with their check. If you have an office where clients come to meet with you, offer them with a free snack and coffee while they sit in the waiting room.

2. Go Above And Beyond Your Competitors

One of the best ways to foster a great customer experience is to scope out your competition by becoming a customer of theirs. Pay attention to your own experience when you are at a rival company. What do you like, and what do you dislike? You can even (discreetly) take notes on your phone to remind yourself later of all of the little pet peeves you had at another business. Also keep in mind that your expectations may not be the same as someone else’s. Ask your friends and family how their experience could be improved in certain businesses, and try to take their suggestions to heart.

1. Put The Customer Above Everything Else

One of the most famous quotes by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos is that when he first created his online book store, he put the customer’s needs above everything else, even if it meant losing money or breaking even. By giving a customer a great experience, they will come back for more. Most major corporations know that they need to spend money in order to advertise and acquire a customer, but if they have that customer’s loyalty for years to come, the efforts up-front will more than pay themselves off in the long run. Good luck in your journey, and remember that sometimes, the customer really is always right.