According to a Teradata survey of global marketing and communications executives, thirty-eight percent of marketers say that customer acquisition and retention are their biggest challenges. Keeping customers loyal is becoming a pressing priority for businesses. Walker Information projects that by 2020, customer service will overtake price and product as the most significant competitive differentiator. Building customer loyalty is becoming the key to staying ahead of your competition. Here are a few steps you can take to keep your customers happy and keep your competitive advantage.
Know What Your Customers Want
Knowing what your customers want is a first step toward delivering customer satisfaction. The best way to find out what your customers want is to ask them by doing market research. For instance, an Accenture survey found that customers want more personalization, with 82 percent welcoming automatic loyalty discounts or coupons at checkout and 57 percent wanting real-time promotions delivered while they’re in stores.
Results can vary by industry, age, and other factors, so it’s essential to research your specific market. For example, a Consumer Federation of America survey of top consumer complaints found that false advertising was the biggest complaint against the auto and retail industries. In contrast, credit and debt service and utility customers’ most frequent complaints involved billing problems and disputes.
Share Your Company’s Values with Your Customers
Among consumers who feel a relationship with a brand, 64 percent say the basis of the relationship is shared values, a Corporate Executive Board study found. For example, Progressive’s website states that its vision is to reduce human trauma and the economic costs of automobile accidents. Its top values include integrity and the Golden Rule. These values get expressed through the company’s ads, emphasizing finding the best price for the customer, even if it’s from a competitor. Letting consumers know your values through your words and actions will attract and retain customers who share your vision.
Deliver Superior Customer Service
When asked what would lead them to spend more time with a company, 40 percent of consumers responding to a Bain & Company survey answered customer service; in today’s online environment with its instant expectations, delivering superior service means handling customer inquiries efficiently and quickly. However, an Accenture survey of top customer frustrations found that customers’ biggest service complaints involved having to contact a company multiple times for the same reason, being placed on hold for a long time, having to repeat the same information to various employees or over multiple channels, and dealing with employees or self-help sites that could not answer questions. An effective way to resolve several of these issues is to adopt a cloud-based customer contact center such as Aspect Zipwire, enabling you to provide 24/7 integrated omnichannel support without employing a large staff.
Deliver a Great Product
Excellent customer service needs to be backed up by a great product. An Elite Daily survey found that product quality is the crucial loyalty driver for millennial consumers, with 48 percent identifying a product’s quality as an essential attribute they check before making a purchase. Apple’s commitment to quality illustrates how delivering a superior product can successfully cultivate brand loyalty. Ensuring your product meets your customers’ expectations is the best way to ensure that one-time buyers become loyal repeat customers.
How are user personas defined?
