Customers can either be your worst nightmare or your dream come true. All it takes is one bad customer experience for someone to go on Twitter and tarnish your reputation with a rant. However, once you gain a loyal customer, they’ll spread the news to all their family and friends resulting in more clients for you. It’s easy to see why retaining customers is in your best interest.
So what are the best methods for keeping your customers happy and avoiding them leaving you for competitors? Take a look at some of the best tips for making your customers stick around.
Offer Multiple Payment Methods
Whether you’re a brick and mortar store or online, one of the things that customers love most is a variety of payment methods. Limiting yourself to one kind of payment only will result in dropped sales. Consider having an ATM in your store for people who prefer to pay with cash as well as excepting all major credit cards.
Online stores should consider PayPal in addition to credit cards. Studies show that the more payment options you provide, the more customers purchase what’s in their cart.
Limit Wait Times
If there’s one thing people hate in today’s modern society, it’s long wait times. Surveys show that over two-thirds of customers will leave if a line is too long. While having a long line out the door can be great marketing, the initial buzz will wear off for people.
People will go somewhere that they don’t have to lose forty minutes of their day waiting for. No one wants to wait for more than a few minutes for a single donut or pair of shoes. Let’s face it; no donut is that good! Get your business organized and provide the right kind of customer service that limits wait times.
Constantly Innovate
The world is quickly changing, and so are products and services. Just because your business is doing well one minute doesn’t mean that it is up to standards the next. It’s important to keep your eye on the competition and constantly innovate, incorporating new ideas and methods. Innovation requires a constant effort to stay up to date and implement, which often requires the latest technology.
Don’t Let Your Competition Outdo You
No matter how well you’re doing, you should always assume that your competitor is on your tail. Never rest on your loyal laurels and constantly strive to be the best.
Getting too comfortable could result in a competitor sneaking up on you when you least expect. People want fresh and exciting ideas that aren’t stale. Take note of what your competitors are doing and outdo them.
By identifying the reasons why most customers leave and striving to avoid them, you should be able to retain your customers and attract more overtime.
