Tricks To Stay In Touch With Customers Outside The Store

Every business needs to keep in contact with their customers. Keeping in touch not only reinforces the relationship but also helps to show that you care. So, maintaining customer relationships is the key to success in any business, and it can be done through a variety of means.

Companies use various channels such as email, social media, mobile apps, and push notifications to stay in touch with their customers. In this article we will explore how companies use these channels to maintain these relationships and what are the pros and cons of using them.

A personal connection with the customer is an important factor for any business. So sometimes you shouldn’t want to automate everything, but want to make it as personal as possible to exceed expectations. For example, the singer Taylor Swift has visited a few fans at home. That takes a lot of time and does not immediately generate revenue, but the story has spread enormously.

How do you apply this to your own business? For example, do you know a customer who has had surgery? Bring some flowers or send a handwritten card. Has someone ever told you about his hobby and do you come across something that fits in with this? Give it as a present. Of course you can’t do something like this all the time for everyone, but try to focus on making your relationship as personal as possible. That makes people talk about your business. So somehow you are in touch with people outside the store.

A newsletter is one of the best marketing channels, because people are more likely to open and read it than an advertisement on social media. Also, it is almost free. Furthermore, customers will view and read your content longer. For this it is important that the newsletters are informative and provide value for the customer’s interest.

Also, writing emails regularly will help you learn more about your customer’s preferences and interests. This will help you make better decisions later down the road. If possible I suggest that you should write a newsletter at least once a week or once a month.

So sending newsletters is a cost-effective way to stay in touch with excisting customers and reach new ones. The first step is to choose a newsletter system if you like to take action on this. There are many  newsletters system that offer free accounts . Some other companies don’t have a free account, but offer more advanced features to automate the complete process. We’ve compiled a  list of the best companies  that stand out for affordability, ease of use, functionality, and robustness.

The next step is to start collecting email addresses. You can do this on your website and in your physical store. Pop-ups are a great way to collect email addresses on your website, but personally I prefer to place the form just on the page or in the footer. You can make it easier for customers and collect more email addresses, if you don’t ask for much information. For example, only ask for the name and email address. Also people will leave their email addresses quicker in exchange for something – usually some sort of freebie or discount.

In-store you can place a tablet with a specific webpage opened. People can then easily enter their details on this after making a purchase or visiting the store. As an employee you can also easily promote this.

The era of social media is upon us. In a world where people are connected to each other through the web, it has become increasingly important for your business to have a presence on social media. Social media has been found to be an important marketing channel for businesses, as it provides them with the opportunity to reach a broader audience and connect with their customers better.

Social media has come a long way from being used exclusively as a platform for self-expression and chatting. The ability to connect with customers and potential leads through online profiles have made social media one of the most important tools in any company’s marketing strategy. So start posting and keep customers updated on your latest products and offers. With our  free content plan  you will discover how to post daily. Of course, you still need to put in the work.

Workshops, events and exclusive offers

If people like to purchase something, they want to know more about the product and also get a personalised experience. This are perfect ingredients if you have a physical store. Because you can organise one-on-one sessions with your customers. You can also offer them special deals and exclusive membership packages. In this way you can make the customer feel special, valued and appreciated.

Workshops are also an excellent opportunity for customers to learn about products more in-depth or try them out first hand. Events like VIP days make customers feel like part of something special by getting them access to exclusive products, early announcements or offer exclusive discounts on certain products. For example, exclusive offers on specific days make customers feel like they are getting something that no one else has or will for a limited time only – making them want it even more. In addition to realizing more sales, you also stay in better contact with people outside the store. Last but not least, you can create beautiful content about the event for Social Media and the newsletter.

We are not in an era of paperless communication. People still want to be reached out with offers, discounts, coupons, and the whole magazine extras. The only thing that has changed is the media which can be used to reach out to people. So a brochure or paper magazine is a good way of staying in contact with customers outside the store. You just need a budget to promote your business.

Online advertising will never replace what traditional advertising provides to businesses, but it does offer more personal touch. Also, instant targeting and cost-effectiveness being just two of its benefits of online advertising. Nevertheless, online and offline promotion are both great ways to stay in touch with your customer.

We already talked about personalization at point one in this article. Chat conversations are a great way to do that. As you may know, newsletters and Social Media are often viewed quickly, but a WhatsApp message is read even better and faster.

So this is a great way to keep in touch with customers outside the store. For example, if the order can be picked up or a service has been completed. This also creates a personal bond and deeper connection with your audience. After all, you’re on their friends list. So every time they open WhatsApp, your conversation comes up again.

Furthermore, you can also send a promotion as a text message to your customers. This can also be done in bulk via various systems, so that you do not have to type for hours. For example, cosmetic store Sephora sends out personalized messages for promoting their latest sales or discounts.

Stay in touch by automating the digital conversation

You can only help one person at a time. For example, if you call someone, you cannot respond quickly to an e-mail and vice versa. This can affect the customer experience. For example, if someone has to wait longer for service. That’s why automation of the digital conversation is an important part of staying connected with customers outside the store. The big advantage is that you also increase the self-reliance of customers. This gives you more time to really make a difference.

For example, in an e-mail system you can set that a contact will receive a series of e-mails spread over a few days. This is great if he or she visit a certain page or signed up for something. So if someone has viewed a product page, you can automatically show the customer that product again.

Automation can also work in a chat conversation. If someone sends a message, you can let the system automatically give an appropriate answer in seconds. For information and services, this works better and is more user-friendly for the user than searching on the website. In addition, you immediately collect more contact details from website visitors.

Sending personal cards

Handwritten cards are a great way to personalize customer experiences and make them feel more valued. They can be used as gift cards, birthday cards, or any other occasion card.

Furthermore, handwritten cards can make your company stand out because it makes your business feel more personal to the customer. It is also a good way for companies to differentiate themselves from their competitors by adding a personal touch to their customer care efforts. With a personal, handwritten card you show the recipient that you really want to invest time and have really thought about that person. Don’t have time to write them yourself? Nowadays, you have companies that can do this for you.

Retailers need to keep up with the ever-changing shopping environment. They need to adapt to the new trends and keep in touch with customers who are spending more time online. One way they can do this is by optimizing their physical store window displays.

There are many ways you can optimize your retail storefront windows such as using eye-catching colors, displaying seasonal items, using videos and animations etc., but the most important thing is that you should be able to capture the attention of passers-by. You can use techniques that will help you stand out from other stores to create a contact moment with your potential customer. In this way a customer notices your store and decides to visit it immediately or later.

Feedback is important to understand how the customer outside the shop feels about a company’s product and service. Constant feedback will help your business to improve and create more satisfying experiences. Besides that, it is a great way to keep in touch with your customers.

People are not shy about voicing their opinions on what they like and don’t like. Nevertheless, it is best for customers to share negative experiences with you and positive experiences with their friends. This isn’t often the nicest thing to hear, but it does offer an opportunity to improve.

An option for to get customer feedback is to send out an annual survey. In addition, you can also automatically send a review request after every purchase. This is another touch point (contact moment) in the customer journey.

Nowadays, it is clear that user generated content is becoming more and more important for businesses. It helps you boost your customer base by providing a way for people to share their experiences with the products or services.

Marketers are looking at ways to increase the quality of this content by getting advocates involved in it. Feedback from advocates leads to high-quality content which is also trusted by customers, thereby increasing conversion rates.

How to generate more user content? You can ask customers who gave a 5-star review to share a photo in exchange for a personal discount. Furthermore, you can make it possible when sharing a review to add a photo or video. Don’t forget to reward the customer for his enthusiasm.

So there are many ways to keep in touch with your customers outside the store. For example, by sending newsletters and posting on Social Media. If you have a budget you can spread a local magazine or start with online advertising. The key thing is to make the messages as relevant and personal as possible. Try to show the right message on the right time to the right person. Automation can help you with this and can save you a lot of time.

In addition to this you can exceed customer expectations by sending handwritten cards, organising VIP events and boosting user generated content. Last but not least, a great way to keep the conversation going is by asking for feedback. This allows you to develop a deeper relationship with your audience outside your shop. The advantage is that they think of you first when they need something. Happy building your relationships, it is just like (online) dating.