As business owners, we spend a lot of time doing a lot of work to keep our customers happy and to keep our businesses successful. There is no stopping or slowing down if you want your business to grow and to retain a top position.
Through various forms of marketing and customer retention, we often extend ourselves to build customer loyalty to us and our brands. There are ways however, to share this workload and these efforts with other people, specifically our clients.
Putting your customers to work for you can be an iffy prospect if you approach it from a traditional employer/employee perspective. When approached correctly however, there are several successful ways to make it clear and easy.
One of the most effective ways to inexpensively build a working client base is to get referrals from clients who already enjoy the products and services you provide. This is one way you can put your customers to work on your behalf.
But as easy as this would seem, there are right and wrong ways to do it. How do you go about inducing existing clients to honestly refer new ones to you? There are several methods you could employ but one basic way is just by asking them to.
Typically you’ll want them to target members of their own social networks just through simple word-of-mouth. The people that your clients refer to you, usually tend to match your existing clients’ perspective and outlook. This usually offers immediate potential client validation.
Client reviews are also a great way to push your products and services into heightened and active visibility. When your customers write about the positive experiences they have with your company, they are acting like brand ambassadors, spreading the good word and inciting interest on your behalf.
Help you customers to market for you
Here are a few more ideas that you can use to help your customers do more to market for you, easily and effectively:
- Create a referral discount program. Customers can get a discount percentage off their next purchase, if they refer someone to you who makes a purchase as well.
- Organize a competition. For the customer who writes the best review of your business, reward them with an open, public shout-out on all your social networks.
- Create graphic virtual pins and pictures that officially represent your company and a cause. Your customers can download these from your website and then post them on their own websites and social networks.
- Don’t be afraid to go old school and order marketing items through promotional items. T-shirts, mugs, pens and stickers are just a few of the most effective items you can use to help customers make you even more popular.
- Get customer testimonials and publish them on your site.
Putting your customers to work is a concept that must be built on reciprocity. They have to feel like they are being rewarded for their efforts on your behalf. Don’t abuse the enthusiasm of loyal customers by spamming them with things for which they have no need. Make your efforts targeted and poignant and their efforts will reflect this accordingly.