by Kelly Smith
In sales and marketing, you’re always looking for ways to stay top of mind with your customers. You want to build relationships with them to help develop brand loyalty, repeated sales, and promote word-of-mouth advertising.
However, it’s a fine line to walk when you’re constantly trying to reach out to your customers without pestering them. So here are four easy methods to stay in touch with your customers without compromising your relationship with them.
The Newsletter
The first method is an oldie but a goodie. Having a weekly, monthly, or quarterly newsletter is an excellent way to provide valuable content and information to your customers without being intrusive. If you have a large customer base, segment the database and make sure you’re sending out content that is valuable and tailored.
The amount of newsletters you send should be determined by how much quality content you can provide. Use a tool that will allow you to track open rates so that you know how effective your newsletters are.
The Social Network
No matter what your industry is, there is a social media channel for you. By being active on at least one platform, you’ll remain top of mind with your customers (and potential customers) in a way that’s time effective, allows for customer feedback and interaction, and allows you to differentiate yourself through your brand personality and voice.
To best use this method, you need to know which platforms your customers are most likely to use and focus your efforts there. Also remember that social media is not a good place for a sales pitch. Post useful, interesting, and entertaining content to your social media account, just be certain the posts relates to your business and your company values.
The Personal Touch
This method is for your repeat, high value customers. Make sure to have a personal touch interaction at least every quarter. That doesn’t mean you make a face-to-face appointment to discuss the weather, sports, and politics. It means being aware of your customer’s preferences and business. Set up Google Alerts so you know when your customer’s name or business is in the news. Make sure you are mirroring their style of interaction. Do they always call you? Then use the phone. Are they more prone to long e-mails? Take your cue from them. Finally, never underestimate the power of a personal handwritten note.
The Live Event
Hosting a customer appreciation event, a networking party, or a fundraiser is a sure way to get yourself in front of your customers. You’ll be viewed as generous and considerate, and you’ll be able to make introductions and become more of a business partner rather than just a vendor. If you decide to use this method, be prepared for a great deal of planning and offer some incentive for your customers attending, whether it’s the location or some discount or product samples.
Kelly Smith works at CourseFinder, an Australian online education resource. She also provides career advice for students and job seekers and is passionate about the Australian startup scene.