Category Archives for "Customer Loyalty"
1. Supersize It!
Okay, okay… the real marketing term here us upsell it, but the word association takes me to McDonalds. You’ve been there… you pull up to the window, place your order and they always say… “Would you like to supersize that?”
What bugs me is that I instinctively say, “Yes!” After all, for a few cents more I’m getting nearly twice the amount of fries and beverage. We won’t discuss the fact that a person with normal size kidneys couldn’t possible drink the supersized drink before it goes flat… and that if I were to eat all of the supersized fries I’d be perfect advertisment for an acne medicine company… but hey, I got a good deal!
When your customers have their wallet out and are reaching for their money, they are ripe for shelling out just a few more bucks to sweeten the deal. In fact, about 50 percent will say yes without a second thought. It’s the perfect time to offer an upgrade or an extra warranty.
2. After The Sale Offers.
Have you noticed that novel sequels seem to go like hotcakes? Once the author has caught the audiences attention with the first book, they can’t wait to get their hands on the follow up.
The same idea carries over with your customers. A customer who is happy with the product and service you provided the first time, is much more open for a second experience.
The backend product you offer doesn’t even have to be your own. Affiliate marketers are rolling in proceeds on ebooks that cover material associated with their products. It’s an easy and painless process to market this way… the affiliate handles all the sales, while you collect the commission.
3. Reward Referrals
Customer surveys that ask 3 basic questions: What did you like best about the product?, How can we improve the value of the product?, and Who do you know that would benefit from the product?
In a nutshell, you are letting the customer know that his needs and opinions are important to you, and that you want to help someone else fulfill their needs too. You’ll gain valuable insight into customer satsifaction, provide material for valuable testimonials, and get tips on potential customers.
Upselling, backend selling and referral selling work together to increase the number of sales you net, without increasing advertizing budgets. Try it… you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to increase your marketing effectiveness within your current customer audience.
Contact Information:
Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com
(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax
Are you your own worst marketing enemy? Hey, I’m sure you wouldn’t intentionally turn customers away… but we all make mistakes. In the following article you’ll find some tried and true ways to lose sales and kiss your profits, mortgages, goodbye!
1. Distract Them
You know what I’m talking about is Instant decision to spend. You’ve been to Web pages where there were a TON of clickable links. You start clicking away, get 10 screens open… and yeah, you forget which is the original site and why the heck you were there in the first place!
This one is especially true for Internet marketers. Let me ask you… how many clickable links are on your Web page? Don’t send your customers to other places before you’ve made a sale. Once a prospect heads out for greener pastures, they’ll probably never find their way back.
2. Give Them An Unpleasant Surprise
You’ve probably made a purchase, got set to write the check and discovered extra fees that you weren’t counting on paying. No one even mentioned them until you were sitting there with pen in hand. Maybe it was that vacation package you’ve been dreaming about for a while. You’re left with a choice… grin and bear it, or walk off without the vacation.
Nothing leaves a bad taste in a customer’s mouth like last minute add ons to the price they pay. Yeah, sometimes they go ahead and go through with the purchase, but next time they’ll think twice before they trust you to give them the real scoop on the price… if they ever return.
Be up front! Are you planning to charge shipping? Don’t wait until they’ve already made the purchase. Let them know right up front. When they already know it’s part of the deal, they won’t have a problem with the fees.
3. Confuse Them
Eenie meenie minie moe… Have you ever been there… which item is the better buy and the right one for you? It could be that you walked out without making up your mind, thinking you’d return later. But now for the biggie…Did you make it back?
Customers who leave without making the purchase are at high risk for changing their minds about making the purchase at all. That’s why it’s important to keep the decision as simple as possible. Make it a “yes” or “no” choice and you’ve effectively guaranteed they walk out with the item in a bag.
The marketing place is competitive enough without making things tough on the customer. These three keys to sending customers away, are keys you’ll want to watch out for. Don’t make the mistake of wiping out your own profits.
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Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com
(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax
There are a lot of excuses floating around about why people don’t buy. Maybe you’ve heard some of them: it’s too expensive, it’s not at the top of my “must have” list right now, or even when a deals too good to be true… it’s too good to be true. Customer objections are more easily overcome than you might imagine. Let’s take a look at 3 simple ways to wipe out those objections.
1. It’s Too Expensive.
Don’t be fooled! Most of your customers can get the money to buy the product… it’s not a matter of having enough. Let’s face it… what they’re really saying is that they can get a better deal somewhere else, or a deal that gives them a better value for their buck.
Now, don’t give in to the temptation to drop your prices to “rock bottom” just because you hear them say it’s too expensive. There are ways to wipe out these objections without wiping out your profits!
Make it look like a better deal. I mean, take a really good look at your product. How can you increase the perceived value? Maybe you can add a manual, a CD, or a downloadable book full of information about the product. Let them think they are getting more for their buck, and the deal seems a lot sweeter to them.
Think about this… we all expect to pay more when we visit a specialist. Sure, Wal-Mart is great if we’re looking for a generic product, but when we want something from someone who knows what they’re talking about we head for a market “specialist”… and expect to pay a little more as part of the deal.
How can you become a specialist who demands respect, and can get away with slightly higher prices?
• Find niches within your market to address. Hey, if you look closesly you’ll discover groups within your market that stand out… businessness men and women, young mothers, retirees, etc.
• Dig in, do a little research and figure out exactly how your product relates to the special needs of these niche groups.
• Speak to them as someone in the know. Revise your sales materials to address the specific needs of each group. Let them know you understand what they want and need, and watch your profits skyrocket.
2. I Have More Important Things To Get Right Now.
Yeah, buying now doesn’t seem too important until… the deal’s too sweet to pass up, and you have to get it today to get the deal.
What I’m talking about is banning the option of procrastination. Really what your customer is saying is … I have no reason to buy today. Make the deal irresistible, and put a deadline on it. It’ll spur them into making the purchase a priority, NOW.
3. I’m Skeptical… It’s Too Good To Be True.
Most customers have been burnt by deals that seem too good to be true… they ended up costing more than they were worth. The only way you’ll ever overcome the skepticism is to build a relationship of trust.
Unconditional money back guarantees eliminate the risk of loss, and show the customer that you are truly concerned with their satisfaction.
Let testimonials speak for you. Evidence that you’ve delivered and gained customer satisfaction in the past goes a long way toward banning customer fears.
Be available. Customers feel like everything is okay if they can pick up the phone or send an email and get quick answers to their questions.
It really doesn’t take a lot of rocket science to get through the shell of hard core customers. These 3 tips will get you off to a good start.
The Cutts Group, is a marketing company located in the Lehigh Valley, PA. We have been serving local, regional, and national companies for more than 12 years, we have a vast knowledge of *What's Working & What's Not*. There is a tremendous opportunity for businesses today… Since only 26% of businesses have invested any time or effort in online marketing, the market is wide open for those businesses that take the time to discover what the Cutts Group can do for them. These days, since 97% of consumer's research local companies online before making a buying decision, it is critical that businesses have an outstanding online presence and reputation, and are prepared when their prospects reach the zero moment of truth.
Contact Information:
Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com
(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax
1. Let Them Procrastinate
Yeah, procrastination has stolen millions of dollars from the pockets of business men and women just like yourself. The longer it works on the customer, the less likely they will be to open their wallet and hand over the dinero they’ve been hording there.
Here’s how it works… First, the customer leaves your store without making the purchase. Second, time causes the desire for the product to fade, and distracts them from making their way back. Finally, your “almost customer” totally forgets about making the purchase, and you can kiss potential profits good-bye.
Don’t let it happen to you! Make deals so irresistible they just can’t say no, and set an expiration date. Yes, put a little press on them to buy TODAY! Reward them for complying, and make sure they forfeit the deal if they don’t. Don’t be victimized by “almost sales” that could be turned into REAL profits!
2. Stay Off The Top Of Their Priority List
Hey, sometimes we need to be reminded of exactly what is and what isn’t important in life. Where we spend our money indicates its level of importance. Are your customers telling you that your product isn’t significant to them?
Put them where you want them to be with a dramatic word picture that evokes the emotions that drive purchases. Let me say it this way… If you’re trying to sell them a home business… let them feel the freedom of being their own boss, and setting their own schedule. Are you selling water skis? Get them on the water in the hot summer sun with the wind blowing their hair and water spraying around them. Let them FEEL the importance of the decision.
You CAN motivate buyers to put a high priority on your product!
3. Don’t Build Trust
Do your customers feel confident that your company will provide the services that it says it will? How many times have you raised an eyebrow at an offer that makes big promises? Yeah, if you don’t already know they are a reputable company, you’re likely to take claims with a grain of salt.
Unconditional guarantees give credence to your desire to please customers. Testimonials are evidence that you have a proven track record. Put some facts in front of your “almost customers.” Let them know a little bit about you and your staff. It’s always easier to trust a person, than a business.
Internet customers are at especially high risks for feeling a legitimate amount of distrust. After all, anyone can make grand claims, but who is responsible for upholding them? A personal photo, a little information, and a phone number where a contact can be reached go a long ways toward building trust on the Web.
How many “almost customers” have slipped through your fingers? You can effectively turn them into loyal customers who regularly frequent your place of business with the business savvy insights we’ve talked about in this article.
Contact Information:
Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com
(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax
Let’s be honest… everybody knows that people are in business to make money. Yeah, customer’s know you’ve got our eyes set on making a profit, but they still want to believe that you are in business for more than just their money. Do your customers know that you really care about them? Here are 4 “tried and true” techniques to show them you care.
1. Be Personal
I recently walked into a well-known store and spoke with a salesperson who really seemed to have it going on. I felt pretty good about the interaction, until I walked away and heard him reciting the same spiel he had just used with me moments earlier.
Customers are looking for personal one-on-one recognition. In this automated world, they are used to feeling like just a number, and crave to have real interaction. Take the time to discover their lifestyle before you try to sell them a one-size-fits-all product. Think about the ways the product will benefit THEM.
You’ll find that there are pockets of people with similar interests and needs. Hey, that’s the perfect opportunity to customize your sales campaign to the needs of different market niches.
2. Look Out For The Customer
Sure, you’ve sat and listened to boring sales speaches that went on and on about every feature, aspect and guarantee a product had to offer. Yeah, BORING! Customers don’t give a hoot about the specific details and credentials of you and your product nearly as much as they want to know how it will benefit them.
Make sure your advertisements on the Web, sales letters, and other promotions point out the advantages to the customer. Keep the focus on them. How will the modern features make life easier? How will your credentials make you better equipped to help them?
3. Stay in Contact
There are a lot of customers who don’t buy on the first visit. Sure, there are a fair number of impulsive shoppers, but not everyone shells out the bucks the first time the idea pops into their head to make a purchase. Wise shoppers take a little time to consider it first.
What happens in the meantime? Well, that depends on you. Do you follow up regularly with customers? Give them a little additional information each time, and build a relationship of trust. Before long, you’ll have a loyal customer spreading the word about your business.
Internet marketers need to devise ways of getting email addresses to use for follow-up strategies. Free newsletters and complimentary reports are perfect for opening the door for future communications.
4. Be “Question Friendly”
Nothing says, “I really care,” like taking the time to thoroughly answer a question – no matter how small. Think of it this way… a customer who is asking questions is considering the possibility of making a purchase. Hey, it might not be today or tomorrow, but someday you’ll reap the benefits of the time you spend answering their questions.
Is it easy for your customers to ask a question? Now, I’m not talking about calling an automated answering service that you spend 25 minutes pushing buttons and end up back at the main menu. Can they ask questions, and get personal answers?
Always provide a phone number where a person can be reached, or an email address that someone will personally answer. You can save a lot of time by posting a frequently asked question page, where they can find answers without the effort of making contact.
Assuring customers of their importance is one of the greatest ways to make loyal, life-long customers.