Share what you know with millions of people
Focus is the best place to turn what you know into remarkable content
0
What kind of loyalty programs can small and medium sized businesses easily implement?
Events
- Dos and Don'ts of Small Business Marketing May 29 @ 11 am PT
- Lead Nurturing 202: The Next Generation May 31 @ 11 am PT
- The Tricks to Paid Media June 6 @ 11 am PT
- Display Advertising for Brand Awareness June 20 @ 11 am PT
Related Activity
9 Answers
Hi Shannon,
One of the very simple things that I have found to be the most effective in promoting and developing loyalty in the SME sector is to put in place a programme of contacting the customer on a regular basis and arranging to go and see them or talk on the phone. Nothing like a bit of personal service to make people feel good.
Adrian
By far the most cost effective program a small or medium sized business can implement to promote loyalty is to measure customer loyalty.
This can be done inexpensively and simply. The real payoff is the revenue increase that comes when loyalty increases. Loyal customers recommend you to others buy more goods and services from you and even stick with you when a service glitch happens.
It just makes sense to measure loyalty, determine what makes some customers loyal and what would have to happen for passively satisfied customers to become loyal customers.
Large companies like Southwest Airlines and Enterprise Rent-a-Car have built their businesses measuring loyalty and expanding it. Now, smaller companies can do the same with an affordable approach built on the exact same principles these big customers use.
Adrian is right. The simplest, fastest and most cost effective "program" to implement is a regular series of formal and informal conversations with your customers. Whether it's email, text, Facebook, Twitter, whatever, open the channels of communication, ask for feedback and be extremely responsive when answering.
The loyalty gained from a highly responsive social engagement will far outweigh anything else you can implement.
Check out www.capturecode.com. Its unique and more importantly they help SMB to measure the effectiveness of their program.
Cinco Squared Customer Loyalty program is super flexible and completely unique. www.cincosquared.com. Their prices start at just $29. They have a video on YouTube. I know a pizza shop owner near Pittsburgh increased sales by 14% after implementing Cinco Squared.
Offer something free between ordering cycles where you can meet the customer to have the conversation that Adrian recommends.
My hairdresser offers a free neck shave between cuts (good example).
The link below is to a video that demonstrates how businesses can incorporate an effective direct mail or email campaign with your customer loyalty program. Sort of like a "digital scratch-off":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSfYStJNkmo
Check out engagebuilder.com a mobile solution that builds opt-in list, has a check in feature (loyalty program) that generates points and real-time rewards, get insight with engaging surveys and email marketing all in one platform. www.engagebuilder.com
Choosing the Best Customer Loyalty Program:
http://customerloyaltyprograms101.blogspot.com/
Answer This Question