With the new year approaching, you are looking at the past trying to figure out what marketing strategies worked and what didn’t. You may want to try to implement new marketing approaches for the new year to build better customer relationships and sales. The beginning of the year is a great time to start new strategies, that way you can track them throughout the year. You may see better relationships or an increase or decrease in sales. Whatever you are looking into, the new year is a great time to start it.
So here’s one marketing tip that you may want to implement into your store. A loyalty program. This program can help increase customer loyalty and promote purchases. Which can in return, help increase sales. So start the new year off right with a unique customer loyalty program.
When starting up a customer loyalty program, you can either start big or small. You can be as creative or simplistic as you like with the program. Allocate your budget accordingly and go from there. The great thing about a loyalty program is that you can always build onto it. Start small and work your way up.
Begin with a rewards punch card, buy 5 items, get the 6th item free. Create added benefits like letting them in on the new sale that will begin in a week. Start a loyalty card, if they spend $200 or 200 points, they’ll receive a 50% discount off their next purchase.
Start A Dependable Marketing Plan: Sit down and figure out what works best for you and your customers. Consider timing, value, brand, value, attractiveness, rewards and how you are going to market it. Look for inspiration elsewhere. Create new spins on loyalty programs that already exist. Do you have a business that comes to mind, like a department store or locally owned store? What about your competition? Go to other stores, check out what they have to offer. You must understand your competition so while you’re there, see if they have a rewards program.
Once you’ve understood all the in and outs of your loyalty program, create a schedule. Determine when you would like to have it implemented and around when you would like to start seeing some rewards from the program. Figuring out a schedule and keeping to it will help you get the plan in place and set up a time table on when you should start seeing some gains from it. Plus, it keeps you organized and on top of things.
Create A Loyalty Based Mind Set: Implement the customer loyalty program into your store starting with your employees. Let them understand all the rewards and benefits that it provides your customers. Your employees, including you, need to completely understand and be knowledgeable on the loyalty program. Whether it be a simple punch card or an actual store credit care that offers reward points.
Whatever you decide, understand it completely! When telling your customers about your reward program, you want them to actually believe that it is truly beneficial towards them. They will love the idea that you created this program just for them. Customers will continue to use it, share it with friends and most importantly, come into your store time and time again.
Implement The Loyalty Program: Make sure you have EVERYTHING you need in place before you implement your loyalty program to your customers. You don’t want any mishaps or misunderstandings along the way, especially in the beginning. Sit down and write out everything you might possibly need in order to have a smooth system running. Do test runs on employees. Make sure it is extremely efficient to have a great launch for your loyalty program.
Market, Market, Market: So you’ve got your loyalty program in place, now it’s time to market. Get this new and exciting program out there for everyone to see and use. Send out emails to your mailing list, mailing cards, social media and in-store recommendations. Think about doing an open house for your customers, to show off your new products within the new year, and introduce it to them then. It will be a great launching point for the program.
Just get the word out. Otherwise, you’ve done all that hard work for nothing. Tell customers that walk into your store, talk up all the great benefits. Eventually, word-of-mouth will grow too. You’ve done all that hard work in implementing a great loyalty program, so market it to the best of your abilities.
Loyalty programs don’t have to be too extravagant. Remember, start with a simple punch card. For example, buy 9 items get the 10th item free. Just something small. Once you see that it’s taking off, build onto it. It’s simple. Add more rewards and benefits. Let them be the first to know on the upcoming sale. So simple with a variety of benefits that your customers will absolutely love. Always with them in mind.
Hope this was helpful! Until the next marketing tip, check out the latest news and wholesale suppliers at FG Market.
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