One of the hardest things to do in business is attract customers, so when you have hooked one, you want to make the most of it and be sure you have them coming back again and again. Whether your business specialises in printing services or business phone systems, the following are some great ways to increase the rate of repeat customers:
Offer Discounts
Once you have someone interested in your business enough to buy something, a good way to have them coming back for more is by offering them some sort of discount on a future purchase. Depending on the nature of your business, this could be in the form of a punch card system where you work your way towards a free purchase, or even just a straight percentage discount for repeat customers. Regardless, people like free stuff, so make sure that you are giving them a reason to come back again and again.
Exceptional Service
Being the best at what you do is the best way to constantly be increasing the return rate of your customers, as once they have found you, where else would they want to go? The way you handle any problems will do a lot to either help or hurt repeat business, so if there ever is an issue with anything to do with your products or services, take care of it straight away and you’ll likely turn an unhappy customer into an impressed one.
Be Friendly
Apart from offering the best quality service and/or products that you can, it’s important that you and your staff are friendly and provide a welcoming and positive atmosphere for your clients. People generally respond well to others being friendly, so make a point of being nice and it may be what brings them back again next time.
Make It Easy
Having the process of dealing with your business be as simple and as easy as possible, will make the likelihood of repeat customers far greater. Where possible, have an appointment or reservation system so that no one is kept waiting long, and always be on time if you can, as this will make the client feel like you are taking their time seriously.
Also, make sure that you are able to accurately estimate costs and prices so that the client always knows exactly what they are getting and how much it is going to cost. If someone feels like they have been taken advantage of, you will never see them again.
Consistent Hours
Having consistent hours of business will make it easy for a customer to come back, as they will be able to tell when you are open based on when they came the first time. There is nothing worse than going across town to a business that is unexpectedly closed, so unless it’s an emergency, make sure your doors are open at the same times each week.
Most people don’t want to have to shop around to find the best deals, so if you are lucky enough to have someone new utilise your business’s services, make sure you are giving them lots of reasons why they can call off the search.
