Improving Business Profits: Tricks to Get Returning Customers

As a business owner, the benefits of having repeat customers cannot be ignored. Surveys suggest that such customers tend to spend more money on a business they’re already familiar with, especially during the holiday rush. And while most brands are focused on getting new customers, know that this goal costs you more, and enticing them into buying your products is tougher.

So, instead of putting all your efforts and money into gaining new customers, it’s time to concentrate on customer retention. After all, repeat customers can be the best brand advocates you’ve ever had. Here are some easy tricks on how your business can get repeat customers.

1. Provide appealing incentives

One smart trick into encouraging customers to keep coming back is by offering them incentives through loyalty programs. You can provide loyal customers with punch cards, which might be low-tech but effective for a rewards game.

The problem is that you can’t possibly collect demographic details, and customers should remember to carry their cards at all times. If you want something more targeted, you can invest in electronic membership cards. This loyalty program allows you to offer a more valuable and convenient card system.

The third option is a mobile loyalty app, wherein the range of features could be limitless. It can reinforce brand awareness since a mobile app is always visible to your customers. You can even cut your marketing expenses when you invest in a customized app. You can even use it to reward customers.

2. Focus on customer education

Provide your customers with details about your brand and products or services. You can risk losing your customers if they’re confused about your business. You can boost their satisfaction and loyalty to your brand if they have extensive education about it.

Start by making an excellent first impression. Create a clear customer onboarding for all your offers and use different communication channels to provide the information. These may include social media, blogs, video sessions, and live streaming. You can also create video demonstrations and tutorials so your customers can get more familiar with using your products.

Other types of content you can produce include product walkthroughs, infographics, user guides, and onboarding emails. It’s also crucial that your team initiate engagements with customers to educate them about your brand. Ensure your marketing and sales teams can start meaningful conversations.

If you’re having trouble creating highly targeted content, spend time investigating gaps in customer education. You can send them satisfaction questionnaires, perform short interviews, or request feedback. These simple tasks can help you find out what things your customers still need from your brand.

3. Offer easy order tracking

Seamless order tracking is key to providing customer experience and retention. Instead of relying everything on a third-party courier, invest in an order management system for your customers. It should include information such as service and carrier details, delivery or shipping day, the package’s location, and other information. You can then customize the page with your brand logo, color, and language to instill your identity in the customers’ minds.

If you’re planning to send out order confirmation emails, add a personal note and links to your social media pages that can encourage customers to share your brand. Many brands also opt to add a clickable tracking button on the order confirmation emails so customers can easily check the location of their parcels. To strengthen the tracking experience, you can create a single-click tracking widget too.

4. Optimize returns processes

A positive return process experience is essential if you want to satisfy your customers and convince them to do repeat business. Your return process should be flexible, fast, convenient, and, whenever possible, cost-free. First off, the customers should easily understand your return process and policies, from providing the reasons for return requests to informing them about the return status.

To ensure a satisfying returns process, many retail businesses focus on optimizing reverse logistics to reduce costs and maximize sales. This supply chain management involves all return-related operations. You can consider investing in a returns management system for SAP to create an intelligent supply chain process. Find the software that can offer automated delivery emails, customized communication, and, most importantly, a branded shopping experience.

Final thoughts

By following these fundamental steps, you can encourage your one-time customers to repeatedly purchase your products or service. Don’t confuse repeat customers with returning clients. Returning customers aren’t the most dependable and loyal market as they may change their minds at any given moment. Focus your efforts on earning repeat clients who will keep coming back to buy from your brand.