How to reward loyal customers
Growing businesses not only need to attract new customers, they also need to retain the ones they already have. Rewards are the perfect way of saying thank you to your customers, but they also help to build loyalty, so why deprive yourself? Among these different ways of thanking your customers for their loyalty, you’re sure to find the one that best suits your sector of activity.
Give them a little gift
You don’t need to spend a fortune when buying gifts to thank your most loyal customers. A simple gesture of gratitude will do the trick. Nor do you need to buy a gift for every customer, which would be too expensive for your business. Concentrate on those who have helped your business grow and thank them for what they have done for you with a small gift.
Generally speaking, customers appreciate all gifts because they don’t expect them. Calendars, notebooks, fruit baskets and personalised key rings are simple gift ideas. But there are also many original gift ideas that you can consider. You can also brand your gifts with your logo, thus contributing to your marketing.
Launch a loyalty programme
You can set up a loyalty card scheme that allows your customers to earn points. When they reach a certain number of points, or when the card is full, your company will offer them a discount or a free purchase on certain products in your shop.
Although customer loyalty programmes are excellent, they are not always applicable in all businesses. In some business sectors, this business model will not be feasible. But that doesn’t mean you can’t offer rewards to your best customers. You’ll need to personalise your thank-you notes in other ways.
Offer them special discounts
When your customers reach a significant spending threshold, offer them a discount on their next purchase. This could be 10% off the next product. For very good customers who spend a lot of money in your business, it’s a good idea to offer them permanent discounts as a thank you.
Invite your customers to an event
Do you organise a Christmas party for your employees? If so, why not invite your most loyal customers? Or organise a separate event if you think that’s a better option. You could also invite your customers to cocktail parties to preview a new product or concept. In any case, think about your calendar of events and whether it makes sense to invite your best customers to one of them.
Reward your customers and staff with incentive activities
Many company directors have realised the importance of these activities in maintaining good relations with their customers. Inviting your best customers to a corporate incentive event is an excellent way of thanking them for their loyalty. By organising a day of activities or an event in their honour, you can reap many benefits for your company:
- Create a friendly, relaxed environment between customers and your staff
- Gather recommendations and suggestions from your customers
- Promote closer marketing
- Strengthen customer loyalty and trust
The activities on offer can take many forms: outdoor activities, a trip, a sports day, etc. If you want to build customer loyalty and thank your customers, rely on WE ACTEAM. We can tailor-make programmes to meet your exact requirements. Contact us to find out more about our offers and together we’ll organise the event that’s right for you.
Offer a special level of service
What you offer your customers will depend on the type of business you run. It may be possible to offer special discounts on shipments of your products to your VIP customers, or to guarantee faster delivery options. Or you may be able to provide a follow-up service outside working hours. Think about the different ways you can offer preferential service to your loyal customers.
Celebrate your customers
Everyone likes to be recognised for their contribution. That’s why it’s important to celebrate your top performers. In the same way, it’s a good idea to highlight your best customers by mentioning their names on your website or blog, for example. You can also highlight charities and the causes they are involved in to reinforce their identity. Customers will have a stronger connection with your business if they know they are being recognised publicly. So think carefully about what you can do to celebrate the people who use your services.
Customer loyalty doesn’t last forever and it’s not always in your control. That’s why it’s important to constantly show them that you care, so that you can develop a relationship of trust with them. As the tips above show, you don’t need a sophisticated rewards programme. All you need to do is identify your most loyal customers and find an intelligent and effective way of rewarding them.
