Reconnecting with existing rather than new customers can be key to efficient business growth. While we all try and avoid it, losing touch with customers over time is common in a busy business environment. Whether it’s through lack of communication, innovation or simply an oversight, losing valuable customer relationships can be a costly process.
Here are the Top 3 ways to build your customer relationships.
1. Newsletters
Newsletters are a cost-effective way of conveying a lot of information to customers at varying stages of loyalty without seeming invasive or coming across as spam. Newsletters are also commonly used to promote new products or services and generate/enforce brand awareness. While email newsletters certainly have their place, many businesses still rely on traditional printed newsletters to connect with customers at a more personal level.
You can attribute newsletters to sales by including exclusive benefits or use them to promote seasonal/limited-time offers. It’s always a good idea to include broader industry information within your newsletter and not focus solely on your business. This can create a level of authority regarding your industry and present information that may be more widely appealing.
# Our Top Tip – Include your personal company voice and language. Newsletters, in the most part, should be personal and relaxed in their design. We suggest including information about particular staff members, business growth and light-hearted news.
2. Thank you Cards
Whether it’s after a function, holiday period or even the end of financial year, thank you cards can be a great way to maintain customer relationships and loyalty. Taking a little extra time to properly connect with your customer-base can be a great way to set your brand apart from your competitors.
Thank you cards show you appreciate and acknowledge a customer’s loyalty. Best of all they are very cost-effective. Many companies rely on special discounts or clubs to ‘thank’ their customers. Thank you cards can fulfil the same purpose but at a much cheaper cost. Chat to us about finishing options to suit your business and portray your company’s personality.
# Our Top Tip – If possible, include some element of hand-written text within the thank you card. Even if it is just a signature, hand-written cards are a great way to reinforce a personal relationship.
3. Customer Database
Never has an accurate, up-to-date customer database been so important. You can use your database to keep track of a large volume of customers over extended periods of time. Knowing when and what your customers are purchasing can help improve your marketing. While an accurate database is invaluable, an out-of-date database is useless!
# Our Top Tip – A good database takes time and dedication. There are many questionable methods out there to build a database quickly – like buying contacts and information. These should be avoided at all times. Nothing beats a comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate loyal customer database.
Reconnecting with existing customers can be a much more viable option to growing your business than trying to convert new or potential candidates. Talk to Kwik Kopy today about how your business can rebuild your customer relationships and grow.
